Cassandra J. Nguyen, Ph.D.
Co-Founding Director
Cassandra Nguyen is an Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension in the Department of Nutrition at UC Davis. Dr. Nguyen completed a PhD and MS in nutrition at the University of Illinois after earning a BS in dietetics from Central Washington University. She leads the Applied Community-Oriented Research in Nutrition (ACORN) Lab that focuses on practical ways to improve nutrition by aligning food programs, community food access, and household food practices to make healthy lifestyles attainable for more people.
Jennifer T. Smilowitz, Ph.D.
Co-Founding Director
Dr. Smilowitz is an Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension. She has a well-established research career in clinical nutrition and lactation research that targets health in the first 1000 days from pregnancy through early childhood. As a lactation education counselor, Dr. Smilowitz built a multi-collaborative outreach program focused on infant feeding that educates families on lactation and breastfeeding. Her current research and outreach programs focus on critical issues that identify and address gaps in health equity across the lifespan, support community health and reduce chronic disease risk.
Emily Yager
Marketing Specialist
Emily is a public affairs and marketing professional with over a decade of experience leading public relations and media campaigns at the state and national level. Currently a Marketing Specialist at UC Davis, she leads digital strategy promoting the latest nutrition research, community engagement and program development.
Sofia Trujillo
Web and Graphic Designer
Sofia is an undergraduate student at UC Davis studying Cognitive Science and Design. She is heavily involved in the design community on campus, serving on the executive board of two campus clubs outside of her classes. Her interests include human-centered design and using her creativity to make a difference in her community. She enjoys spending her free time baking, watercolor painting, and traveling with friends.