Program and Center Goals

The intent of ACL's Senior Nutrition Program is to reduce food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition; enhance socialization; and promote the health and well-being of older adults. To support the development and expansion of these programs, the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center supports the national aging network, former and future Innovations in Nutrition (INNU) grantees, and other OAA stakeholder organizations by:

1. Offering high-quality resources and education for the senior nutrition program network to develop impactful, cost-effective, and person-centered services that align with the purposes of the OAA Title III-C.
2. Providing impactful and responsive technical assistance to ACL and INNU grantees.
3. Acting as an advocate for nutrition programs to ensure the network’s strength and sustainability.

Helpful Resources

• Guidelines for website resources — Standards for selecting resources to be featured on the Resource Center's website
• Here to Help: Resource Assistance for Senior Nutrition Programs (YouTube)— 5-minute video highlights how the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center supports senior nutrition programs with tools, training, and resources
• Year One Communications Report — Initiatives outlined to support aging nutrition programs through strategic communications
• 2024 Ageism Webinars Research Article— Needs-based continuing education training for the national aging network

Request the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center to speak at your next event!

• Complete this form to send us a request
• Presentation Examples

Meet the Team

The Nutrition and Aging Resource Center is currently operated by the Iowa Department on Aging via a cooperative agreement with ACL. It was formerly operated by Meals on Wheels America from 2011-2020.

Alexandra Bauman (Alex), RD, LDN, Director, Nutrition and Aging Resource Center 

Role

Alex is the Director of the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center where she oversees the day-to-day activities of the Resource Center, staff, and contractors. She is also the State Unit on Aging Navigation and Supportive Services Director for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (IHHS) and manages the programs and services provided by the Older Americans Act. Alex presents at national and state conferences.

Work History

Alex is a registered dietitian with experience developing innovative programs, managing grants, developing partnerships, writing policy, and contributing to strategic plans. Prior to receiving the Resource Center grant, Alex was the State Unit on Aging Nutrition and Wellness Director. In that role, she managed Title IIIC and IIID programs for the state of Iowa and worked with local partners to provide training and assistance and develop new service delivery models. Alex’s efforts to pursue grant opportunities resulted in $6.5 million in additional discretionary grant funding during her first three years of employment with the State. Alex managed two ACL Innovation in Nutrition (INNU) grants and a Falls Prevention grant. Prior to her work at IHHS, Alex was a regional dietitian for nursing homes, and she also developed recipes and nutrition articles for her website and other companies.

Areas of Expertise

Alex has a broad understanding of the Older Americans Act nutrition and health promotion programs as well as how the nutrition programs correspond with the other provisions of the Act. She has provided individual technical assistance to State Units on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging when needed. Alex has particular interest and expertise in the areas of congregate nutrition innovation, nutrition guidelines, communicating with partners, strategic planning, grant writing and grants management, policy writing, and nutrition education.

Ashley Danielson, RDN, LD, Nutrition Coordination Director

Role

Ashley maximizes the impact of the Nutrition and Aging Resource Center by coordinating work between INNU grantees, nutrition content and marketing. She provides technical assistance to INNU Grantees, connecting nutrition professionals across the country. Ashley often presents at national conferences.

Work History

Prior to being a dietitian, Ashley worked in human resources, specifically as a recruiter in the healthcare arena (hospital and homecare). As a dietitian, Ashley worked in a food retail setting for five years providing client consultations, education within the grocery store, support marketing and promotional events, social media, and more. Her roles allowed her to advocate for older adults. Additionally, Ashley is a yoga teacher and loves being able to influence all stages of life.

Areas of Expertise

Ashley brings different levels of expertise to the team. Her background has provided a combination of leadership, recruitment, and partnerships with other businesses and healthcare professionals within the community. She enjoys creating and providing nutrition education content and working with marketing and social media channels to help others effectively.

Bambi Press, RD, LD, Healthy Aging Director

Role

Bambi is the Healthy Aging Director for the Resource Center and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Division of Aging and Disability Services. In this role, she provides technical assistance to support the aging network in building capacity and modernizing Older Americans Act nutrition programs. Bambi develops content for the Resource Centerand presents at both state and national conferences.

Work History

Prior to joining the Resource Center, Bambi was the program director for a home delivered nutrition program. She was involved in every aspect of delivering Older Americans Act nutrition services. Bambi has also worked as a consultant dietitian in long-term and acute care and as a private practice dietitian. Before pursuing her passion and becoming a dietitian, Bambi had a career in human resources management.

Areas of Expertise

Bambi has program management and operational experience focused on data-driven decision making, quality and process improvement. Bambi’s experience encompasses contracting, marketing, business development, program logistics, staffing and training, menu development including therapeutic meals, participant engagement, technology, diversifying funding and community partnerships.

Caroline McKinney, MS, RDN, LD, Nutrition Innovation Director

Role

Caroline manages the Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services (INNU) grantees for the Resource Center. She oversees program development and implementation; coordination amongst grantees nationwide, partners and the Administration for Community Living; and regular hosting of conferences to promote learning and collaboration opportunities. Caroline presents at national conferences.

Work History

Prior to joining the Resource Center, Caroline worked as a Nutrition Specialist Dietitian in an Intensive Care Unit at a Trauma Level I Hospital. Many of Caroline’s patients included older adults with complex nutritional needs.

Areas of Expertise

Caroline’s expertise lies in program and grants management as well as coordination and collaboration across organizations. She also has experience in conference planning and resource creation.

Catherine Rudolph (Cat), MS, RD, Graduate Research Assistant

Role

Cat supports all Resource Center research activities including conducting needs assessments that guide Resource Center product development, assessing the effectiveness of outreach and education, and determining satisfaction with the products and services provided. She helps to ensure that the Resource Center is meeting the needs of those the Resource Center is working to serve and support. Cat also assists with miscellaneous projects and presents research at state and national conferences.

Work History

Cat has worked in settings such as farmers’ market management and outpatient oncology. She has also been a group fitness and yoga instructor for over six years and has experience as a Community Partnership Liaison for a local yoga studio focused on building and sustaining studio partnerships. Cat has been involved in several service roles such as volunteering as a Registered Dietitian at a clinic for patients who were uninsured or underinsured, supporting community food security initiatives, and serving on public policy committees related to dietetics, hunger, and food system sustainability.

Areas of Expertise

Cat has expertise in qualitative and mixed methods research and program development and evaluation. She also has experience in aging health and nutrition, Older Americans Act senior nutrition programs, exercise science, food/nutrition insecurity and social determinants of health.

Denita DeRaad, Administrative Assistant 

Role

Denita supports the Resource Center by reviewing biweekly newsletters and resource documents produced by the team. Denita also arranges conference travel, schedules Zoom webinars and monthly meetings, and maintains fiscal processes.

Work History

Denita has work experience as an assistant editor of legal publications for the Iowa Legislative Services Agency; as a marketing communications specialist for small businesses; and as a certified personal trainer.

Areas of Expertise

Denita has expertise in proofreading and editing materials for readability, grammar and clarity. Her experience ranges from marketing communications to legal publications. She holds a certification in Applied Functional Science and a specialization in Active Aging.  She has provided technical assistance to stakeholders of IHHS Division of Aging and Disability Services.

Elizabeth Fridley (Liz), RDN, LDN, Health Promotion Director

Role

Liz is the Health Promotion Director with the Resource Center and coordinates Older Americans Act evidence-based programming, health promotion, nutrition counseling and nutrition education programs with Area Agencies on Aging in Iowa. Liz also creates content and presents at conferences.

Work History

Liz has worked with older adults as a dietitian in clinical settings in long-term care and outpatient hemodialysis. She also enjoys promoting movement as a group fitness instructor at a local gym.

Areas of Expertise

Liz’s expertise is in the areas of evidence-based programming, health promotion, malnutrition, and nutrition counseling.

Erin Hoisington, RDN, LD, Nutrition and Aging Content Director 

Role

Erin works with the rest of the Resource Center to share existing content and create new resources to support the aging nutrition network. Erin also manages a listserv and hosts monthly calls for State Units on Aging Nutrition Program Coordinators. Erin is a presenter for the Resource Center at national conferences.

Work History

Prior to joining the Resource Center, Erin worked with older adults in numerous long-term care and hospital settings. Erin also promoted health benefits of dairy foods on behalf of Midwestern dairy farmers.

Areas of Expertise

In addition to being a food and nutrition specialist, Erin’s expertise lies in being a connector: of ideas, people, and initiatives. With a degree in education, Erin is comfortable facilitating active and engaging sessions. She is passionate about working with State Units on Aging, creative and innovative thinking involving meal programs, collaboration, and connection.

Haley Ruppelt, RD, LD, Consultant Dietitian

Role

Haley is a Consultant Dietitian for the Resource Center and helps to cover surge staffing needs.

Work History

Haley has worked as a Consultant Dietitian in long-term care and as an aide in an assisted living facility since 2018.

Areas of Expertise

Haley assisted with developing the Instructional Campus for Aging Nutrition (ican!) and has provided technical assistance for INNU grantees during their grant periods.

Jocelyn Evans, RD, LD, CSG, Consultant Dietitian

Role

Jocelyn is a Consultant Dietitian with the Resource Center team.  Jocelyn attends INNU grantee calls, gathers information from the aging network, creates written materials and webinars, and assists the Resource Center team with administrative duties and staff relief.

Work History

Jocelyn started her career as a retail dietitian at a local grocery store before transitioning to working in long-term care communities. She currently consults in long-term care in addition to her role with the Resource Center.

Areas of Expertise

Jocelyn is certified in gerontological nutrition, and her expertise is in older adult nutrition and menu planning. She has worked with creating, reviewing and approving multiple menus for congregate and home-delivered meals.

Marissa Vance, MAC, Communications Manager

Role

Marissa is the Communications Manager for the Resource Center. She creates the social media marketing and promotion for the work that the Resource Center team completes.

Work History

Marissa has managed social media and marketing channels for different agencies and redesigned websites to improve user experience and organization of resources.

Areas of Expertise

Marissa’s expertise is in brand and marketing. She is the Resource Center expert in accessibility and 508 compliance of website materials. Marissa is also knowledgeable in website design and video editing, and she creates communication work plans to organize and streamline processes.

Sarah L. Francis, PhD, MHS, RD, Research Director

Role

Sarah oversees all Resource Center research activities, including conducting needs assessments that guide Resource Center product development, assessing the effectiveness of outreach and education, and determining satisfaction with the products and services provided. Sarah reviews new grantees’ evaluation plans and provides input.

Work History

Sarah is a healthy aging advocate, implementation scientist, and registered dietitian with over 20 years of experience in nutrition, dietetics, and community health. She has spent 17 years in the area of research and Extension programs in aging, food and health. Sarah has worked at various hospitals, served as a U.S. Peace Corps Community Health Volunteer, and was a Food Safety and Nutrition Extension Educator at the University of Wyoming. Currently, she is a Professor at Iowa State University in Food Science and Human Nutrition and a State Extension Specialist in Food and Health.

Areas of Expertise

Sarah’s expertise is in research and program development. Sarah is a subject matter expert for the Resource Center team on the Social Marketing Theory. Her work in Extension and research activities concentrate on three broad community nutrition and health programming areas including:

1. Needs and Preference Assessment
2. Program Development and Implementation
3. Evaluation and Revision.

The overall goal of Sarah’s research is to develop community-based nutrition programs and materials that produce measurable behavioral change.

Savannah Schultz, MS, RDN, LD, Graduate Research Assistant 

Role

Savannah assists with all Resource Center research activities, including conducting needs assessments that guide resource center product development, assessing the effectiveness of outreach and education, and determining satisfaction with the products and services provided.

Work History

Savannah previously worked on a collaboration effort between Iowa State University and the Senior Nutrition Program. Her master’s thesis was the mixed methods evaluation of an INNU grant project. Prior to her current role, Savannah served as an AmeriCorps VISTA, conducting evaluations for various public health programs with the local health department and university. In addition to her research duties, Savannah works as a long-term care dietitian.

Areas of Expertise

Savannah’s areas of expertise include program evaluation, research, ageism, and older adult policy.

Shelley Woodall, RDN, Program Assistant, ISU Research 

Role

Shelley supports Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Human Sciences state specialists with content creation and development of nutrition and wellness materials. Currently, she is completing her master’s degree in Nutritional Sciences at Iowa State University and is a program assistant with the research team at Iowa State University, supporting the Resource Center.

Work History

Shelley is a registered dietitian with over 25 years of experience in clinical dietetics, food-service management, and community nutrition fields. She has also worked in various acute, long-term care, outpatient, wellness, and public health settings as a consultant dietitian.

Areas of Expertise

Shelley’s areas of expertise include event planning and catering, nutrition education and wellness programming, diabetes management, supermarket tours, older adult nutrition assessment and care planning, menu writing, nutrition support and food-service management.

Vanessa Hamilton, MNSP Nutrition Consultant

Role

Vanessa is a Nutrition Consultant with the Resource Center team.  Vanessa conducts INNU grantee calls and helps as needed to provide technical assistance to INNU grantees.

Work History

Vanessa has experience working as a Nutrition Consultant in a clinical setting.  Prior to receiving her master’s degree in nutrition science and policy, Vanessa worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator as part of a team conducting clinical trials on cardiac implanted devices and hereditary cancer.  Vanessa has recently worked as a consultant for a global vaccine clinical trial. 

Areas of Expertise

Vanessa has expertise in regulatory compliance and data management in research.

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About ACL

ACL was created around the fundamental principle that older adults, and people of all ages with disabilities, should be able to live independently and fully participate in their communities. By advocating across the federal government for older adults, people with disabilities, and families and caregivers; funding services and supports provided by networks of community-based organizations; and investing in research, education, and innovation, ACL helps make this principle a reality for millions of Americans. Learn more