FSN Student Advisory Committee 2020–2021
Food Science and Nutrition Student Advisory Committee Members
FSN Student Advisory Committee Elected Officers 2020:
Chair: Rose Vernon-Giorgi
Vice-Chair: Lauren Londoño
Secretary: Aviva Schiff
Chair: Rose Vernon-Giorgi, NUTRITION
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Nutrition
Concentration: Applied Nutrition
From: Santa Maria, California
High School: Coastal Christian High School
Community College: Allan Hancock College
Currently located: Orcutt, California
Career Interest: I plan to work as a clinical Registered Dietitian working with renal and oncology patients.
Inner-Department Activities: Student Parent Coalition Club - Vice President, Student Assistant to the Dietetic Internship Director.
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: I love to garden, growing food and flowers. I also love hiking and jumping with my four children at the trampoline park.
Favorite Food: Cashews
Email: rovernon@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rose-vernon/
Valeria Diego, NUTRITION
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Nutrition
Concentration: Applied Nutrition
From: Sacramento, California
High School: Monterey Trail High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
First-Generation College Student
Career Interest: My goal is to become a Registered Dietitian. I want to serve and work with underserved Latinx communities.
Inner-Department Activities: Lead Scholar Mentor for Health and Well-being through the Cal Poly Scholars Program, Research Assistant with the Cal Poly Center for Health Research, Coach for PULSE, Dietary Aid, Latinx Cultural Association
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: I love to explore the SLO area on my free time! Some of my favorite activities are going to the farmers market downtown, and watching K-dramas.
Favorite Food: Poke and my mom's red enchiladas!
Email: vdiego01@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-diego-a34647187/
Elle Brandt, NUTRITION
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Nutrition
Concentration: Applied Nutrition
From: I was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota but I grew up in San Juan Capistrano, California
High School: San Juan Hills High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: I plan to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) after I graduate and eventually go to medical school to become a doctor.
Inner-Department Activities: I am the nutrition peer advisor and I also work as a Covid-19 screener at the Performing Arts Center and Poly Canyon Village.
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: I love to hike and lift heavy weights. I spend my money on concerts (when Covid-19 wasn't a thing).
Favorite Food: Tacos
Email: egbrandt@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elle-brandt/
secretary: Aviva Schiff, FOOD SCIENCE
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Food Science
Concentration: Culinology
From: Marin County, California
High School: Redwood High School in Larkspur, California
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: Open to a lot of different areas, but especially interested in product development or sensory.
Internships: 2019 Meal Preparation intern at Swanton Pacific Ranch.
Inner-Department Activities: Student Assistant on Cal Poly Chocolates.
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: I enjoy running and being outside, cooking, reading and spending time with friends and family.
Favorite Food: Pumpkin pancakes with chocolate chips
Email: avivais333@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aviva-schiff-b29373162/
Ashley hudson, NUTRITION
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Nutrition
Concentration: Applied Nutrition
From: Dana Point, California
High School: Dana Hills High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: I would love to become a Registered Dietitian and open up my own practice where I can specialize in women's health.
Internships: I have worked with a local Registered Dietitian, and my tasks included revising course content and social media management.
Inner-Department Activities: Nutrition Club, Research Assistant, PolyFit volunteer
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: I love being outside, whether it's hiking or going to the beach, and I love cooking up new healthy recipes.
Favorite Food: Tacos
Email: ashudson@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-hudson-/
Eleanor Hulse, NUTRITION
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Nutrition
Concentration: Applied Nutrition
From: Seattle, Washington
High School: The Bush School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: I want to be a Registered Dietitian. I'm not sure what I would like to specialize in yet, but I'm interested in community nutrition, nutrition policy, and the inner-workings of the food industry.
Inner-Department Activities: I have been involved in Nutrition Club and am excited to join the the new Nutrition Journal Club.
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Unsurprisingly, cooking is my favorite way to spend my free time. I also love walking and I dabble in embroidery.
Favorite Food: Anything with chocolate, or a good bowl of pho.
Email: eghulse@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-hulse-b7551b180/
Lauren Jaeger, FOOD SCIENCE
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Food Science
Concentration: Advanced Food Science
From: Saint Louis, Missouri
High School: Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School
Currently located: Saint Louis, Missouri
Career Interest: I want to create and develop food products that improve lives by working in Research and Development (R+D).
Internships: I was a Research and Development intern at Solvaira Specialties and a Research and Development intern at IsoNova Technologies, both in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Inner-Department Activities: Food Science Club
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Sailing, lacrosse, biking, cooking
Favorite Food: Pide
Email: lmjaeger@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-j-b3b378160
Alyssa Amaral, NUTRITION
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Nutrition
Concentration: Applied Nutrition
From: Gonzales, California
High School: Notre Dame High School in Salinas, California
Community College: Monterey Peninsula College
Currently located: Gonzales, California
First-Generation College Student
Career Interest: I want to become a Registered Dietitian with a specific focus in sports nutrition.
Inner-Department Activities: Nutrition Club
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Watching/playing sports, cooking, shopping, and spending time with my family.
Favorite Food: Sushi
Email: aamara02@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssaamaral/
Eve Olivares, NUTRITION
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Nutrition
Concentration: Applied Nutrition
From: Manhattan Beach, California
High School: Mira Costa High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: I am hoping to pursue a career in sports nutrition.
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Going to the beach, exercising, spending time with friends, cooking, and reading.
Favorite Food: Dark chocolate
Email: eeolivar@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eve-olivares-b63628194
Allison Stauffer, FOOD SCIENCE
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Food Science
Concentration: Culinology
From: Huntington Beach, California
High School: Huntington Beach High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: I am currently an Intern at Smucker’s and would love to enter the product development or quality assurance field.
Internships: Taco Bell, food innovation team and Smucker’s, Quality Manager
Inner-Department Activities: Food science club, Chocolate Production, CAFES Ambassadors, IFT Product Development Team
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Cooking, baking, playing with my dogs, arts and crafts, gaming
Favorite Food: Tiramisu
Email: Aestauff@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/allison-stauffer-844410170
Jackson Sizemore, FOOD SCIENCE
Pronouns: He/him/his
Major: Food Science
Minor: Packaging
Concentration: Advanced Food Science
From: Thousand Oaks, California
High School: Newbury Park High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Study Abroad: I studied abroad in Spain during the Summer of 2019. I was there for one month and studied the Spanish Language as well as Spanish Customs and Cultures.
Career Interest: I am interested in pursuing a career in the food industry, specifically in Food Safety or Sensory Sciences.
Inner-Department Activities: Current President of the Cal Poly Food Science Club, Student Manager for Cal Poly Jars Production Team, Former Student Assistant for the Sensory Analysis Team, Captain of the IFT College Bowl Team
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Traveling to new places, baking desserts, and playing piano
Favorite Food: Pot Roast with Spaetzle
Email: jtsizemo@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackson-sizemore/
Kimiko Casuga, BMS food science program
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Food Science (BMS Food Science Program)
Concentration: Advanced Food Science
From: Fremont, California
High School: Washington High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: Food safety and microbiology research.
Inner-Department Activities: Cal Poly Jam, BBQ Sauce, and Chocolates Production Student Assistant; Food Safety research; IFT MARS Product Development Competition Team (2021); Food Science Club member
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Cooking/baking with family, exploring new food stops with friends, watercolor, and catching up on new shows/movies!
Favorite Food: Japanese curry udon or sukiyaki
Email: kcasuga@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimiko-casuga
Kassidy Bates, FOOD SCIENCE
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Food Science
Concentration: Advanced Food Science
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
High School: 'lolani School
Currently located: Honolulu, Hawaii
Career Interest: Research and Development (R+D).
Inner-Department Activities: Women’s Beach Volleyball Club, Food Science Advisory Committee
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Surfing, cooking, beach volleyball
Favorite Food: Dark chocolate
Email: Kbates06@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassidy-bates-5a010017a/
Siena Whitaker, FOOD SCIENCE
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Food Science
Minor: I want to minor in environmental science or sustainability.
Concentration: Culinology
From: Denver, Colorado
High School: Kent Denver High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: I would love to continue baking and I also want to help people.
Inner-Department Activities: Food Science club
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Baking, reading, watching Netflix, finding good boba and sushi.
Favorite Food: Sushi or noodles
Email: sjwhitak@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/siena-whitaker-b664901ba
Jennifer Zielke, NUTRITION
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Nutrition
Concentration: Applied Nutrition
From: Atascadero, California
High School: Atascadero High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: I intend to become an RD and work with teenagers with eating disorders.
Inner-Department Activities: I am on the Student Advisory Board's peer mentorship program committee.
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: I love cooking, baking, and running! I also train in a martial art called Aikido.
Favorite Food: Anything with avocado
Email: jzielke@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-zielke
Blayke Harrison, NUTRITION
Pronouns: He/him/his
Major: Nutrition
Concentration: Nutrition Science/Applied Nutrition
From: Santa Barbara, California
High School: Dos Pueblos High School
Community College: Santa Barbara City College for one year in between my freshman and sophomore years at Cal Poly.
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: I hope to pursue research and teaching at the university level after completing my graduate degrees.
Internships: At Titan Sports Performance in Santa Barbara where I helped train and educate high school and collegiate athletes to perform better at their respective sport(s).
Inner-Department Activities: I am involved in research with two professors: Dr. La Frano (Food Science and Nutrition department) and Dr. Greever (Kinesiology department), and I am an instructional student assistant.
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Resistance training, watching movies, reading, and playing with my two cats.
Favorite Food: Potatoes
Email: bwharris@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blayke-harrison-4a97aa137/
Jordan Beiden-Charles, FOOD SCIENCE
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Food Science
Minor: Fruit Science
Concentration: Culinology
From: Boulder Creek, California
High School: San Lorenzo Valley High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: I plan to pursue Food Product Development with an emphasis in sustainability and reduction of food waste.
Internships: I had the opportunity to work at Swanton Pacific Ranch before it was affected by the CZU fire. I prepared two meals a day for upwards of 20 students and staff. While there, I had the opportunity to assist on watershed, marsh land, and range land work. Additionally, I completed a project related to local food sourcing for meal preparation.
Inner-Department Activities: College Bowl, Sensory Team, Laboratory Assistant, Research Assistant, Foodster Internship
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Cooking/Baking, Martial Arts, Hiking, Fermenting, Trivia, Board/Card Games
Favorite Food: Thai Curry
Email: jbeidenc@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-beiden-charles-she-her-b39859149/
david rodriguez, NUTRITION
Pronouns: He/him/his
Major: Nutrition
Concentration: Applied Nutrition & Nutrition Science
From: San Diego, California
High School: Eastlake High School
Community College: San Diego Mesa College
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, CA
Career Interest: I will be a Registered Dietitian with a private practice.
Inner-Department Activities: Working on research on Intermittent Fasting and its effects on performance.
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Working out, surfing and dancing salsa.
Favorite Food: Sushi
Email: drodri16@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-rodriguez-6bba111a0/
Other: I am a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise.
Degan Fisher, NUTRITION
Pronouns: He/him/his
Major: Nutrition
Minor: Biology
Concentration: Nutrition Science
From: San Jose, California
High School: Leigh High School
Currently located: San Jose, California
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Hanging out with friends, going to the beach, and going on hikes.
Favorite Food: Mac and Cheese
Email: ddfisher@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/degan-fisher-038930207/
VICE-CHAIR: Lauren Londoño, NUTRITION
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Nutrition
Minor: Political Science
Concentration: Nutrition Science
From: Pleasanton, California
High School: Amador Valley High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: Pursing a BS in Nutrition Science and a minor in Political Science to eventually work in the field of public policy and public health.
Internships: In high school (2017-2019). Go Green Initiative: I was responsible for creating Integrated Waste Management and Energy usage Reports and recommendations for the City of Pleasanton and Pleasanton Unified School District.
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: I love cooking, surfing, running, and hiking. I am also passionate about sustainability and zero waste.
Favorite Food: Vegan Mac and Cheese
Email: llondono@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-londoño-8922321aa
Abby Appleby, NUTRITION
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Nutrition
Concentration: Nutrition Science
From: Snohomish, Washington
High School: Snohomish High School
Community College: Everett Community College
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: I would like to go into dermatology.
Inner-Department Activities: Nutrition Club
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: I love to go on walks on the beach, spending quality time with friends, and exercising.
Favorite Food: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Email: aappleby@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn:http://linkedin.com/in/abby-appleby-6485631ab
Patrick Shenefield, FOOD SCIENCE
Pronouns: He/him/his
Major: Food Science
Minor: Packaging
Concentration: Culinology
From: East Greenwich, Rhode Island
High School: East Greenwich High School
Currently located: San Luis Obispo, California
Career Interest: I would love to work in product development. Hopefully I will be able to work in another country at some point in my life.
Inner-Department Activities: Food Science Club, Cal Poly Jams and Chocolates
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Music, Movies, Baking
Favorite Food: Fried Chicken
Email: pshenefi@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-shenefield-b219071
Cassandra Monterrosa, FOOD SCIENCE
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Food Science
Concentration: Advanced Food Science
From: San Diego, California
High School: James Madison High School
Currently located: San Diego, California
Career Interest: I want to pursue a career with food technology, but open to see where the world takes me.
Favorite Activities/Hobbies: Cooking, spending time with my dog, and finding new places to eat.
Favorite Food: Chicken wings
Email: cmonte06@calpoly.edu
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cassandra-monterrosa619
Other: I am involved in other clubs and organizations on campus. I am the DEI chair for Sigma Omega Nu and the DEI chair for Women in Science Society.
ANONYMOUS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, Food Science
Major: Food Science
Minor: I am adding an English minor in creative writing.
Concentration: Culinology
