Nominations for Position: President-Elect
Laasya Devi Annepureddy
Dartmouth College, United States
Tell us about yourself.
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Biological and Cellular Engineering at Dartmouth College, with a strong background in Biomedical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. My research interests are in maternal-infant health. My work focuses on analyzing mammary epithelial cells and human milk composition. I utilize bioinformatics tools to integrate multi-omics data sets, revealing novel insights into gene regulatory pathways and lactational stages. Recognized for my contributions, I have received fellowships and awards, highlighting my commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and innovation. As an enthusiastic mentor and peer tutor, I share my expertise with fellow students, embodying a passion for education and academic excellence.
How are you qualified for this role?
With a strong research background in human lactation, particularly through my Ph.D. studies at Dartmouth College, I possess a deep commitment to advancing knowledge in this field and promoting evidence-based practices. My leadership experience, including as a team lead on research projects and as a peer tutor/mentor, demonstrates my ability to effectively collaborate and foster inclusive environments. Furthermore, my track record of conference presentations and publications underscores my dedication to disseminating research findings and engaging with the broader scientific community. If elected, I am eager to leverage these skills to enhance society’s visibility and impact, promoting the importance of human milk and lactation.
What do you hope to accomplish in this role?
In this role, I aspire to support research initiatives that contribute to our understanding of human lactation and its impact on maternal and infant health. Additionally, I hope to enhance society’s visibility and influence by actively engaging with its stakeholders and advocating for policies that prioritize the importance of human milk. I hope to meet other scholars from the field and increase visibility of the organization. Through initiatives such as mentorship programs and knowledge-sharing platforms, I aim to nurture the next generation of researchers and practitioners in this field.
Nominations for Position: Secretary
Daniela Abigail Navarro
Ariel University, Israel
Tell us about yourself.
Abigail is a passionate registered dietitian, originally from Mexico. Holds a MSc in Nutrition Sciences by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel and a PhD in Epidemiology by Ariel University, Israel. I am an IBCLC currently working as a lecturer at the tenure track at the Nutrition Sciences Department, Ariel University. My main research interest is: Nutrition in the first thousand days. I do believe in the empowerment of women and that children are born full of unlimited potential.
How are you qualified for this role?
Since 2017 until 2023 I was part of the Board of Directors of the International Affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. I served in different terms as secretary and nominating committee chair. Currently Country Representative. I am part of the Ethics Committee at the University where work, serving as secretary of the research projects at the Nutrition Science Department
What do you hope to accomplish in this role?
I have previous experience at an international board of directors. Discretion and confidentiality are important values for my performance. I have a range of skills including excellent interpersonal communication, organization, time management, and attention to detail.
Oluwaseyifunmi Valentina Oladipo
Peking University, China / Nigeria
Tell us about yourself.
With an academic and professional background in healthcare, Oluwaseyifunmi Valentina Oladipo (MPH) is passionate about ongoing research in maternal and child health through breastfeeding promotion. She completed her Master’s degree in Public Health at Peking University, China, in 2023 with her thesis focusing on the “Knowledge, attitude and practices of Exclusive Breastfeeding among mothers, and role of healthcare workers attending Primary Health Centers in Imota, Lagos, Nigeria”. Previously, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2019, conducting a project titled “Breastfeeding Practices of Twins in Nigeria”. Her research interests include breastfeeding, maternal and child nutrition, and behavior change interventions.
Showcasing her deep interest in research, Oluwaseyifunmi notably serves as the research subcommittee team lead at the Department of Women and Children Affairs, African Union Youth Assembly (AUYA-WC), and also a Global Health Research Fellow at Toufik’s World Medical Association, Ukraine. Furthermore, she is an Africa Region Leader (2023-2025) at the International Working Group for Health System Strengthening (IWGHSS), and a member of prestigious organizations such as the Women in Global Health (Nigeria Chapter) and the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML). In her pursuit of advancing public health both nationally and globally, Oluwaseyifunmi has contributed as a co-author to research publications that have made a valuable impact in the field. Her unflinching commitment to Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 3 (Zero Hunger; Good Health and Well-being) continues to propel her to make positive impacts.
How are you qualified for this role?
“I believe I am well-qualified for this role based on my experiences as General Secretary of the Diocesan Guild of Stewards and my involvement in the Medical Community Development Service Group (MCDS) during my National Youth Service Corp (NYSC). As General Secretary, I actively participated in leadership meetings, contributing to discussions about the overall direction of the guild, addressing challenges, and devising strategies to enhance stewardship. I played a key role in providing valuable information, insights, and perspectives to assist the guild leadership in making informed decisions. Managing official communication for a 34-member organization, I handled emails, letters, and announcements, ensuring that members were well-informed about meetings, events, and important updates. Additionally, my collaborative approach with other guild officers emphasized effective coordination and teamwork among stewards.
During my National Youth Service Corp, specifically as the General Secretary of Medical Community Development Service Group (MCDS) in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, I organized weekly agendas, meetings, and appointments for the medical group. These experiences have honed my organizational and communication skills, fostering a strong sense of teamwork and a commitment to effective leadership. I have no doubt that my experience qualifies me for the duties involved in this position.
What do you hope to accomplish in this role?
My participation in precise meeting documentation to uphold accountability and transparency within the organization will be made possible by my assignment as secretary. Afterward, as a liaison between committee members and other interested parties, I would promote cooperation by making certain that pertinent information is distributed efficiently, organizing answers to questions, and facilitating correspondence with other committee members and outside parties.
While acknowledging that an individual cannot become a great leader by working alone, I would contribute to the coordination of events and projects by collaborating with colleagues to accomplish shared goals and objectives. In order to maintain continuity within the committee and the organization as a whole, I also hope to manage committee membership by keeping up-to-date contact lists and helping with the recruitment of new members.
Nominations for Position: Professional Development Coordinator
Narges Khodabandehloo
University of Manitoba, Canada
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Narges Khodabandehloo. I am currently in my second year of my MSc at the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. I am a trainee in the THRiVE Discovery Lab under Dr. Meghan Azad’s supervision. My MSc project title is “Lactating Parents Attending Winnipeg Breastfeeding Centre: A Descriptive Study.”
How are you qualified for this role?
I believe a combination of academic, clinical and leadership experiences have prepared me well for this position. I am a midwife actively researching Winnipeg’s breastfeeding/lactating population. During the short time since moving to Canada, I have been embracing opportunities for improving my leadership and communication skills. I have also volunteered to expand and disseminate my knowledge on breastfeeding and its benefits.
(To avoid redundancy, I have provided more details in my CV.)
What do you hope to accomplish in this role?
I eagerly look forward to bringing my perspectives and ideas as a student to this team. This will also be a great opportunity for me to enhance my collaboration and networking skills and contribute to the professionals in the field of breastfeeding/lactation.
Courtney Slater
University of Pennsylvania, United States
Tell us about yourself.
Courtney Slater is a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She is a pediatric nurse practitioner and certified lactation counselor. Courtney holds a previous master’s degree in nursing science and a bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience from The Ohio State University. Her current work focuses on issues of health equity in human milk and lactation research. Courtney has a particular interest in families and children with developmental disabilities and families from under resourced backgrounds.
How are you qualified for this role?
Courtney has presented her research on the effect of expressed human milk feeding on infant weight trajectories at the Eastern Nursing Research Society conference in 2023. Courtney has also given lectures to undergraduate nursing students at the University of Pennsylvania on human milk feeding practices in the primary care setting and following the maternal return to work. Additionally, as part of her PhD program, Courtney did her teaching residency with Diane L. Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN, FAWOHNN in her Breastfeeding and Human Lactation undergraduate nursing course, which has been recognized as a best practice by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Courtney is also currently working on several projects with Dr. Spatz, including submitting a pilot grant for a study focused on understanding the breastfeeding experience among underserved populations. Courtney is passionate about human milk and lactation research and is dedicated to dissemination and training efforts. If selected, Courtney will share this dedication with ISRHML TIG GC and work diligently to coordinate robust networking opportunities for all members and webinars for the Trainee Mentorship Series.
What do you hope to accomplish in this role?
Through this role, I hope to have a positive impact on the ISRHML community through the collaborative selection of important areas and topics of interest for the Trainee Mentorship Series webinars. Finally, in this role, I hope to establish long-lasting connections with fellow human milk and lactation researchers and advocates. The Professional Development Chair role is the ideal platform for networking opportunities. My goal for my time in this role is to maximize the networking platform for ISRHML members through diligent efforts in identifying and coordinating guest speakers and volunteers.
Aria Grabowski
University of Michigan, United States
Tell us about yourself.
Hi! My name is Aria Grabowski. I received my Bachelor of Science in Biology and my Master of Public Health in Nutritional Sciences and Registered Dietitian certification from the University of Michigan. Currently, I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. I am anticipating graduating in May 2025 with my doctoral degree in Nutritional Epidemiology. My interest in human milk and lactation developed during my MPH, when I had the opportunity to work with LiquidGoldConcept,Inc and at a local WIC agency. My current research focuses on environmental (heavy metal and diet) exposure during breastfeeding and its impact on both maternal and infant outcomes. Specifically, I am interested in how maternal diet during breastfeeding and heavy metals in human milk intersect to impact offspring metabolic and bone health. I am very passionate about ensuring translational research in human milk and lactation research to the clinical setting.
How are you qualified for this role?
Throughout my education journey, I have had the opportunity to be on numerous organization boards which has prepared me well for this position. Currently I am the chair for a PhD/MS workshop and on a school-wide Social PhD committee. As the PhD/MS workshop chair, I coordinate networking and research presentation opportunities in our department to advance professional development within the department. This has allowed for increased peer-to-peer feedback and connections with each other. Although on a much smaller scale, the feedback from this experience and lessons learned will help me as the professional development coordinator.
In addition to my numerous organizational boards, I have initiated a successful milk club at the University, which meets monthly to bring collaborators together and provide professional expertise and guidance to students interested in human milk research. This experience has trained me well to lead efforts to reach out to speakers, and organize and host webinars and workshops.
What do you hope to accomplish in this role?
The world of human milk research is a fantastic community. The research team I am primarily part of is not focused on human milk research, and as such I have had to become the human milk “expert” on my team. This has shown me how helpful members of this community are, but also how difficult finding resources can often be. As the professional development coordinator, I hope to be that bridge for trainees that are newly entering the field and struggling, as I was, to get connected to resources as I was. Through organizing and hosting webinars and efforts aimed at trainees, I aim to provide a space for the growing curiosity of our trainee members.
Additionally, I want to introduce more social networking opportunities with professional while in this role. From my experience at conferences, I have made the best connections in non-formal settings where trainees feel comfortable. I want to create this kind of environment with professional networking opportunities for trainees. This is a tall-task due to the impressive breadth and geographic range that ISRHML has, but I think it is an important task that I will aim to accomplish. Ensuring we create a supportive network of trainees is imperative to advancing each-other’s careers and the field.