Staff
Simone Frei, Manager
Simone Frei, MPH, MA, is the Manager of the Healthy Youth Program. She has worked in mental health and social services for almost 20 years before she started the Healthy Youth Program in 2009. Her passion about teaching families and youth to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle and her belief that "it takes a village" to fight childhood obesity have been crucial in developing the Healthy Youth Program. Simone is committed to provide evidence-based and high-quality programs to all youth and families in need, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Nova Elwood, Nutrition Educator
Nova Elwood is a dietetics student at OSU and a mother of three. She has worked with various community agencies providing nutrition education for children and families. Working for the Healthy Youth Program is a natural fit for Nova as a future dietician and as someone who is passionate about childhood obesity prevention. As the Nutrition Educator for HYP, Nova is primarily involved in recipe development and overseeing cooking and nutrition classes.
Kim Holmes, Community Relations Coordinator
As a mother of two, good food and an active lifestyle has been a cornerstone to her family. Kim believes that supporting families and children in making healthier decisions has great impact for their lives now, as well as in their future, and has the added benefit of strengthening our communities. Kim brings 15 years of fundraising and community outreach experience to the Healthy Youth Program. Her professional life has focused on improving lives through education and protecting human rights and civil liberties. Kim works to promote the Healthy Youth Program by speaking with parent and community groups, grant writing and donor outreach.
PROGRAM ASSISTANTS:
Yuritzy Gonzalez-Pena, Bilingual Assistant
Mary Kohl, Garden Assistant
Samantha Kraft, Education Assistant
Dan Lovejoy, Garden Assistant
Godfrey Yeung, Web Development and Design
Candace Russo, Garden Manager
Candace Russo, MS, is the Healthy Youth Program’s Garden Manager. She has more than 15 years of professional experience in environmental education, science and horticulture, and has enjoyed gardening and healthy eating since she was a child. Candace is committed to sharing and exploring the process of "soil to seed to plate," which highlights environment and lifestyle links between quality soils, wholesome food and healthy bodies. At the Healthy Youth Program, Candace is involved in the Spartan Garden, Lincoln Garden, and Chefs in the Garden. She also provides food for the Fresh Grown Cooking classes, and works on program development, writing, art and design work.
Casey Bennett, Program and Internship Coordinator
Casey Bennett is a graduate student of Public Health at OSU and one of the Program Assistants at the Healthy Youth Program. Her background is in food banking, developing programs to meet the food security needs of children and families. A passion for improving access to healthy, affordable food for low-income populations and supporting healthy and active lifestyles brought her to OSU and the Linus Pauling Institute. At the Healthy Youth Program, Casey coordinates interns and volunteers as well as supports the team in various capacities, from cafeteria research to program development, and helps with day-to-day, behind the scenes logistics so that our programs run smoothly.
Kara Olsen-BecerraNutrition Educator
Kara Olsen-Becerra, BA, is a nutrition educator for the Healthy Youth Program. She has spent the last 10 years working in education and community outreach. She has a passion for nutrition and healthy feeding principles and practices with children and families. She is excited to be able to help families gain knowledge and skills that will help them to be confident and make choices that lead to healthy living, even on a tight budget. Kara is the proud mother of 3 young children and in her free time she likes to garden, cook, sing, and spend time being silly with her family. As a nutrition educator for the Healthy Youth Program, Kara will be involved in recipe development as well as facilitating cooking and nutrition classes and education with youth and families in the community.
