Executive Committee 2025-2026

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Cicely Thomas DCN. M.Ed. RDN. LD.FAND
Chair

Cicely Thomas DCN, M.Ed., RDN, LD. FAND is the WIC director of Northwest Georgia Health District. June, she begins her role as the president of the National Organization of Blacks in Dietetics and Nutrition with many years of experience in leadership.

Dr. Thomas received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Georgia Southern University, a Master of Adult Education from the University of Georgia, and a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition from the University of North Florida. She is Vice President of the Georgia Public Health Association. She served as the 2023-2024 President - for the Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Public Health Community Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. She is a board member of the Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians appointed by Governor Brian Kemp in 2021. She is the immediate past chair of the Nutrition Section for the Georgia Public Health Association. Dr. Thomas represents small 3% of African American Registered Dietitians in the US with enthusiasm and works diligently to advocate for diversity in the nutrition profession by serving as the Diversity Liaison for the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group and diversity committee member for the National WIC Association. Dr. Thomas is the owner of Challenge Your Choices Dietetics LLC. She has also partnered with Nourish as a registered dietitian. Her personal goal is to reduce health disparities by providing nutrition education and counseling, advocating for the nutrition profession and prioritizing educating the community on nutrition policies and the importance of medical nutrition therapy to manage and reduce chronic diseases. Her desire to serve under-represented populations remains to be the foundation of her love for public health and community nutrition. “It is always a good day to work in Public Health.”

Lucy Balogun, MPA, RD, LD
Past- Chair

Lucy Balogun is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and state of Georgia Licensed Dietitian. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs. Her formal education was obtained from Purdue University and Indiana University and interned at the University of California Hospitals and Clinics. She was selected by Purdue University as one of the 110 Diamonds of the Department, as a celebration of the Nutrition Department’s 110th year in education of students.

She has been working in the field of nutrition for over 20 years. She has worked with a variety of clients, providing nutrition information to children and adults. Her employers included Clayton County Public Schools, Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Program, Georgia Cancer Specialists, Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She has published in professional journals and spoken at professional conferences. Her professional volunteer activities include 2024-2025 Past-Chair of the National Organization of Blacks in Dietetics, past Treasurer. and is on the Academy Foundation Scholarship Committee 2024 - 2025. From 2020-2023 she served on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Nutrition and Dietetics Education Practitioners Task Force for Diversity in Dietetics, and from she was 2016-2017 Diversity Chair for Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Flat Rock AME Church has been her home church for more than 25 years where she served Usher, Trustee and Women’s Missionary Society President. She currently serves  on the Atlanta North Georgia Conference Board of Directors as the Women’s Missionary Society Promotion of Mission Education Director.

She is married to Ola Balogun and they have one son, Eniola.

Sharon Cox, MA, RDN, LDN, FAND
Chair-Elect/Sponsorship Chair

Sharon is a visionary leader in food and nutrition management, with extensive experience in strategic planning, project management, and change management across healthcare, education, and both for-profit and non-profit sectors.

As the former Owner and Co-Founder of Cox Duncan Network, LLC (CDN), Sharon identified and assessed stakeholder needs to promote business growth. She tailored content and tools to meet the specific goals of diverse organizations, resulting in an expanded suite of services that addressed evolving customer demands. By focusing on sustainability and scalability, she enabled organizations to align their services more effectively with their missions. Additionally, she created and led training programs, including conference presentations on CDN’s unique model, which highlighted accelerating nutrition equity through a systems-based approach. This model educates stakeholders on both upstream and downstream strategies vital for ensuring nutrition security across all communities.

In her previous role as the Director of Compliance and Quality Assurance at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Commission on Dietetic Registration), she reinforced her dedication to advancing health equity and population health. Sharon conducted detailed research and delivered actionable insights to boost organizational objectives related to health equity. Moreover, she facilitated the launch of the CDR Prior Approval Program, granting over 100,000 credentialed practitioners’ access to essential professional education, all while collaborating with various stakeholders in the healthcare and food industries.

Sharon held roles as a Senior Consultant at Tecker International, where she led strategic planning sessions for over fifty organizations, significantly improving operational efficiency and market presence. As the AVP of Food and Nutrition Services at Carolinas Healthcare System, Sharon provided strategic leadership across multiple facilities, managing a $55 million food and nutrition program across sixteen facilities.

Sharon is acknowledged as a pioneer in healthcare room service. She significantly enhanced patient satisfaction scores from the 13th to the 99th percentile, while also increasing overall meal consumption within a two-year period.

As a volunteer leader, Sharon served on the Academy Board of Directors where she was the Board liaison to NOBIDAN for multiple years, supporting the leadership team in both strategic and operational planning. sShe is currently Chair-Elect of NOBIDAN and also serving as Sponsorship Chair of NOBIDAN.

With a solid foundation in innovative leadership and stakeholder engagement, Sharon is committed to continuing to make a significant impact on the food and nutrition sector.

Sharon holds a master’s degree in education and health care management from NYU and is a licensed dietitian in North Carolina.

Veronica J. Oates, Ph.D., RDN, LDN
Nominating Committee Chair

Since 2005, Dr. Veronica J. Oates' research has focused on promoting healthy eating skills and weight management behaviors among African Americans to prevent obesity and obesity-related health problems. Her first major funded intervention intertwined cultural and self-empowerment with media literacy, nutrition intervention, and physical education.  Research, teaching, and training expertise include nutrition education for obesity and diet-related chronic disease prevention, including pre and post-doctoral training in cancer control and prevention.  Her most recently funded grants involve microgreens analysis with the National Science Foundation and hypertension prevention with the American Heart Association.  Dr. Oates earned her doctorate in nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She earned a MS in Biology, and BS degrees in Biology, Chemistry and Family and Consumer Sciences from North Carolina Central University.  She is a professor at Tennessee State University.  Her teaching focus is building the capacity to train and diversify human sciences for the 21st century by strengthening the curricula and co-curricular activities.  As a registered dietitian nutritionist, her mission is to educate, encourage, and empower healthy lifestyles that reduce an individual’s risk for developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic disease related to obesity and overweight.  Her career objective is to serve local and global communities by developing interventions and programs that build self-esteem and self-empowerment among African Americans and other historically disadvantaged people of color. 

Lela Stapler, MPH 
Secretary

I am a Public Health Nutritionist for the Georgia Women Infant and Children’s (WIC) program with 14 years of experience. I attended Fort Valley State University for my undergraduate and graduate education. My bachelor’s is in family and consumer sciences with a concentration in food and nutrition and I hold a master’s degree in public health. I recently completed my dietetic internship with the Georgia’s Public Health WIC Program and plan to sit for the registered dietitian exam soon. I am active in several national organizations. I serve on the National WIC Association’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, Diversify Dietetics, and the Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. I have been a member of NOBIDAN for the past two years and I am excited to serve as secretary..

Makeda Mars, RD, LD
Treasurer

Hi there! I’m Makeda, a registered dietitian based in Central Florida and the founder of Lishe Means Nutrition. My practice is dedicated to empowering individuals through nutrition coaching and education.

In addition to my work with clients, I’m also deeply committed to advancing the dietetics professional in ways that encourage us to embody wellness. My mission is to help others, including fellow healthcare providers, discover how to build sustainable habits into their lives so they can thrive both professionally and personally.

With connections to Panama, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, I have a global perspective on food, culture, and health. I encourage everyone to embrace foods from their own cultural heritage and beyond, celebrating the diversity that enhances our lives.

When I'm not coaching clients or leading workshops, you can find me experimenting in the kitchen, exploring new restaurants, or soaking in the ocean. Traveling and experiencing different cultures and cuisines continues to inspire my approach to nutrition.

Patricia Brathwaite - Woerdings, EDD, MPH, RD, LD, FAND

MIG HOD Representative

Dr. Patricia Brathwaite-Woerdings (Dr. Pat) daily activities are a testament to her unwavering dedication to the science of nutrition and her profound love for education. She specializes in medical nutrition therapy in nephrology and is a fervent lecturer on nutrition. Her mission is not only to help others understand the significance of nutrition but also to ignite a similar passion for learning in them, encouraging them to apply this knowledge in their daily lives.

At the core of Dr. Pat's life is her unwavering commitment to her family. Her marriage to her best friend, Selwyn, their children, and grandchildren are her top priorities. They share a deep bond over their mutual love for travel and new experiences, which further strengthens their family ties.

Dr. Pat's commitment to advancing the dietetic and nutrition profession is unwavering. Her inspiring leadership roles within the Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition are a testament to her dedication. She has led numerous initiatives, and her efforts have significantly contributed to the advancement of the profession.

She was elected to continue serving as the Delegate for NOBIDAN at the House of Delegates, a position she has held since 2023. For the past 10 years, she has served as a program reviewer for ACEND, and from 2019 to 2023, she also served on the ACEND Board. During this period, she also served as the Delegate-at-Large at the House of Delegates and as a member of the ACEND Nominating Committee, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, the Standards Committee, and the Policy and Procedure Committee. For NOBIDAN, she served as the Chair of the Nominating Committee and later as a member of this committee. From 2016 to 2017, she served as the President of the Miami Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Dr. Pat is determined to continue advancing the profession of nutrition and dietetics, as well as to continue her efforts in helping to prepare the next generation of dietitians.