Chair
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Levin Dotimas, MS, RD, CD
Levin graduated in 2017 from Brigham Young University (Provo, UT) with a BS in Dietetics and a minor in French. He later graduated from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK) in 2021 with an MS in Nutritional Science, which included his dietetic internship. He passed his RD exam shortly thereafter. When looking for RD jobs, he vowed to never end up in Provo and in food service management. At the moment, he is the Patient Meal Services Manager at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, UT where he manages an amazing group who is dedicated to making sure that the patients have an excellent meal experience in the hospital. Although not quite the career path he had originally planned, he enjoys his job and the relationships he gets to build with his team. In his spare time, Levin takes a clogging dance class and also performs with World Dance Company, a group that showcases traditional dance styles from several countries like the USA, Philippines, India, Hungary, Ukraine, etc.
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Past Chair
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Nikki Nies, MS, RD
Nikki is the Nutrition Associate Manager at Northwest ISD in the Dallas Fort Worth, Texas metroplex where she ensures quality, consistency, and adherence to standards for the K-12 school meals. Her previous experience includes working in the retail, regulatory and long term care space. She is the 2018 Texas Academy Northeast Registered Young Dietitian of the Year recipient. Nikki received her Master's in Nutrition from Benedictine University in Lisle, IL.
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Secretary
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Janice Chow MS, RD
Janice Chow, MS, RD, is a San Francisco Bay Area-based Registered Dietitian and recognized nutrition expert. Through her private practice, The Mindful Chow, she empowers Asians to break their cultural obsession with thinness using the Health At Every Size ™ approach. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science from UC Berkeley before completing her Dietetic Internship and Masters of Science in Dietetics & Nutrition at Tufts University. Janice has 8 years of experience in clinical nutrition and nutrition education promoting cultural competencies. Her writing and expertise have been featured in numerous media outlets including WellSeek, Good Housekeeping, MSN, etc. She has been an active volunteer in the dietetics field, currently serving as the Secretary of the Asian American & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Member Interest Group. She has been a preceptor for clinical rotations and a mentor for Diversify Dietetics. A fun fact about Janice is: her mom gave birth to her naturally on her birthday, so they share the same birthday!
You can find Janice on Instagram @janicehychow.rd.
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Treasurer
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Zhiping Yu, Ph.D., RDN, LDN, FAND
Zhiping is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of North Florida. She received her doctoral degree in Nutritional Science from Pennsylvania State University and her bachelor's and master’s degrees in Food Science in China. She is a Registered Dietitian and a Florida licensed Dietitian and Nutritionist. Besides teaching, Dr. Yu’s primary research interests are in the prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases such as eating disorders, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. She is an active member of several scientific societies and serves in a number of committee positions.
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Nominating & Awards Committee Chair
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Yanjie Yu, MS, RDN, CDCES, CDN
Yanjie obtained her Master’s in Nutrition and Exercise Science at Queens College and her BS in Human Nutrition from Washington State University. She completed her Nutrition Coordinated Program with Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, WA.
Yanjie has an extensive resume and over 15 years of clinical and community experience in hospital and outpatient settings. Yanjie is specialized in weight management, diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy, and other chronic disease conditions. She is always looking to expand her knowledges and skills in the field. Yanjie has been serving as a Treasurer at her local chapter in Long Island, NY since 2019.
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House of Delegates (HOD) MIG Delegate
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Hilary Wu, MS, RD
Hilary is currently the DPD Director at Cal Poly Pomona where she helps to train students to become future dietitians. She is also a clinical dietitian at San Antonio Regional Hospital and skilled nursing facilities in Southern California. She had the opportunity of moving back to Taiwan to work in food service and public health for several years prior to earning her Master of Science in Nutrition from Cal Poly Pomona. In her spare time, she enjoys sipping a cup of coffee with her dogs at home.
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Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access (IDEA) Liaison
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Maggie Tsai, MS
Maggie came from Taichung, Taiwan. She received her Master of Science in Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition from Tufts University and finished the DPD program at Simmons University. Now, she is a dietetic intern at Yale-New Haven Hospital, CT. She hopes to become a dietitian specializing in genetics, but she is also open to other specialties.
During the internship, she has recognized a lack of diversity among nutrition professionals. As an IDEA liaison and an AAPI member, she wants to make AAPI more visible and recognized by other RD and RDs2be. Outside of work, she likes to go on neighborhood food tours with her husband.
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STANDING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
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Nominating and Awards Committee Member
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Katharine Chew MS, RD
Katharine 'Katie' Chew is a clinical dietitian in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA at a local hospital and skilled nursing facility, and formerly a Dominican University Head Start Dietitian with the Chicago Early Learning Program. Katie served as the AAPI Nominating and Awards Committee Chair from 2019-2021. Now, she continues to be a part of the AAPI Nominating and Awards Committee as a committee member. |
Nominating and Awards Committee Member
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Jerianne Cusipag, RD
Jerianne is currently pursuing her Master of Education degree in Community Nutrition Education at Teachers College Columbia University. She was born and raised in Manila, Philippines and worked as a dietitian in Doha, Qatar. Her interests are in pediatric nutrition and nutrition education. She just moved to New York and is looking forward to exploring more of the city.
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Social Media/Communications Committee Chair
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Kimberly Baishnab, RD, LD, CLS
Kimberly is a WIC dietitian and Certified Lactation Specialist in Iowa, and particularly loves working with infant and toddler nutrition and breastfeeding. She has been an active member in AAPI MIG for the past several years and enjoys volunteering her time with other dietitians. Among her many interests include cooking, mushroom farming, badminton, and loving on her puppy Lilo. She is also currently busy in the development phase of opening a private practice! |
Social Media/Communications Committee Member
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Karen Xingyun Xie, Dietetic Intern
Xingyun is originally from China, and currently lives in Buffalo, NY. Xingyun is currently working towards her Master of Science degree in nutrition and dietetics at D’Youville College. Her interests are in clinical nutrition with a special emphasis in pediatric diabetes care and nutrition. Xingyun believes providing proper nutrition education will be beneficial for kids to practice self-care and insulin management along with healthy eating and exercise to promote quality of life for the lifespan.
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Social Media/Communications Committee Member
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Brianna dela Torre, MS, RDN
Brianna currently works for the Fairfax County Health Department as a WIC dietitian following the completion of her master's program at the University of Pittsburgh in 2022. Her primary areas of interest and expertise surround nutrition education in public health and through the media. Brianna joined AAPI during the first year of her master's program and is excited to continue connecting with her fellow RDNs on the topics of food and nutrition.
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Social Media/Communications Committee Member
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Yifei Wang, MS
Yifei was born and raised in Kaifeng, an ancient city of Henan Province, China, and she considers Beijing and Los Angeles her second and third hometowns where she spent years working, studying and living until she moved to Boston in 2021. She is a gerontologist by training with professional experience in the health and senior care industry. She is currently pursuing her master’s in Nutrition Interventions, Communication, and Behavior Change (NICBC) program at Tufts University. She is also in the DPD program at Simmons University to become a dietitian. Yifei is passionate about improving the nutrition and health of older adults with Chinese backgrounds through evidence-based, culturally tailored nutrition interventions and education. Yifei also wants to be a social media influencer in the nutrition field. She is a dog lover, a big fan of hotpot, and has recently picked up a new hobby: playing the acoustic guitar.
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Website Coordinator & Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee Member
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Elaine Huang
Elaine was born in Taipei, Taiwan but grew up in Shanghai, China. She received her bachelor's degree in clinical nutrition from the University of California, Davis, and completed her dietetic internship at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee. She is currently studying for the RD exam while volunteering at the local food bank to promote health in the community. As an IDEA committee member and website coordinator, she wishes to encourage connections between Asian professionals who are interested in nutrition.
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Membership Committee Chair
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Dustin Reed, MS, RD
Dustin is originally from Lexington, Kentucky, where he spent his childhood on a historic horse farm in the area. He attended the University of Kentucky where he received his Bachelor's and Master's in Dietetics. His current role with Compass is as a Customer Experience Manager on the corporate level. In addition to his work experience, Dustin sits on the executive board for several non-profits and manages political campaigns. He currently resides in Richmond, Virginia.
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Membership Committee Member - Regional Networking Coordinator
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Monica K. Esquivel, Ph.D., RDN, CSSD
Monica is a Filipino Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and serves as an Assistant Professor and Dietetics Program Director at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In this role she seeks to improve diversity and representation of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders and Filipinos in the dietetics profession. Her research is focused on addressing social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, through community based participatory research projects to improve the health and well-being of medically underserved populations. Outside of work she enjoys outrigger canoe paddling, being outdoors and spending time with her family.
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Membership Committee Member
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Shuhao Lin, MS, RDN
Shuhao is currently working towards her Ph.D. degree in Human Nutrition at University of Illinois at Chicago. Her research focus is the effect of intermittent fasting and weight loss to help prevent diet-related chronic diseases. Originally from Beijing, China, she has always been passionate about diverse food cultures. She wants to utilize her knowledge and background to promote more diversity in both nutrition research and nutrition counseling.
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Membership Committee Member
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Zheng Zeng
Zheng is currently working towards her Master of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics and Dietetic Internship at the University of Pittsburgh. Her interests are in clinical nutrition and research with special emphasis on digestive diseases, pediatric nutrition, and diabetes care. Zheng is passionate about the Health At Every Size™ approach and hopes to provide weight-inclusive, compassionate care after finishing her MS/DI. In her spare time, she enjoys learning about photography, hiking, and exploring cafes/restaurants with friends.
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Membership Committee Member
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Edith Yang, RD, CSR, CLT
Edith Yang, RD, CSR, CLT is a registered dietitian Board-Certified in Renal Nutrition, a Certified LEAP Therapist, cookbook author, and the owner of Healthy Mission Dietitian, Inc. Her practice is in the Los Angeles area and is insurance-based, providing both in-person and virtual sessions nationwide. Her practice specializes in kidney nutrition, weight management, GI issues, food intolerance/sensitivities, diabetes, heart health, and general nutrition. She obtained her Bachelors in Nutrition and Dietetics from Cal State University Long Beach and completed her internship through the CSULB ISPP program. She is actively involved with the Academy and loves to volunteer her time and serves as a mentor and a preceptor for students, interns, and other dietitians. Edith loves to connect with other dietitians and network. You can find more about Edith's practice at www.healthymissiondietitian.com or on instagram @healthymissiondietitian
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Membership Committee Member - Social Media Coordinator
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Kristine Wong, CPT
Kristine received her B.S. in Microbiology from U.C. San Diego and is currently attending USC's coordinated program to receive her M.S. in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity to become a Registered Dietitian. She loves empowering people to connect food to their health and helping others develop sustainable, healthy habits. She recently joined AAPI in 2021 but has already loved being part of a community of dietitians who share her culture and love of food. Kristine joined the AAPI Social Media team and Membership Committee and is excited to get involved to promote cultural diversity in the field of dietetics. You can follow her journey in nutrition and towards becoming an RD at @nutritionwithkristine.
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Professional Development Committee Chair
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Qianhui (Jera) Zhang, MS, MA, RD
Jera is currently based in New York City, where she is pursuing her doctoral degree in Behavioral Nutrition at Columbia University's Teachers College. Her focus is on dietary management of digestive issues and food intolerance, including celiac disease, the gluten-free diet, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and the low FODMAP diet. Besides research, she provides nutrition consultations to help individuals manage symptoms, and health startup companies develop nutritional management tools. She has also been trained in sociology and behavioral science with experiences at the United Nations and various NGOs. Jera loves Asian cuisines and hula hoop.
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Professional Development Committee member
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Lourdes S. Chew, M.S, RDN, LD
Lourdes Singson-Chew is from Manila, Philippines and graduated with Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from College of the Holy Spirit. She completed an internship at Veterans Hospital which influenced her love for clinical work. She has extensive experience as a Clinical Dietitian/Consultant in the long-term care setting. Lourdes completed M.S. Public Service Management from DePaul University. She has recently taken a role as a Nutrition Specialist for an Area Agency on Aging serving eight counties in Northeastern Illinois. She has been an advocate for seniors and is serving as a member of the Naperville Senior Task Force. Lourdes has experience in promoting diversity at her children’s school and is a volunteer with the Philippine cultural group. Lourdes enjoys traveling and has visited Malaysia, Singapore, Israel and several European Countries. Lourdes is excited to be a Professional Development Committee member.
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