Crew

JOAN Chung
Administrative Assistant

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JOAN Chung
Administrative Assistant

Education
Boston College, BA

Favorite Ingredient
Tahini
Guilty Pleasure
Eating too many slices of fresh sourdough
Get in Touch
joan@wellnessintheschools.org

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LAURA Culbreth
Program Coordinator, Florida

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LAURA Culbreth
Program Coordinator, Florida

Education
University of Georgia, BFA

Spirit Animal
House cat
Guilty Pleasure
Watching 30 Rock
Get in Touch
lculbreth@wellnessintheschools.org

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HOLLIE Greene
Program Director, California

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HOLLIE Greene
Program Director, California

Education
French Culinary Institute
University of South Carolina, Masters of Human Resources Management

Spirit Animal
Hummingbird
Guilty Pleasure
A homemade biscuit stuffed with a juicy summer tomato and slathered in mayo
Get in Touch
hollie@wellnessintheschools.org

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JESSE Kramer
Development and Outreach Coordinator

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JESSE Kramer
Development and Outreach Coordinator

Education
Northwestern University, BS

Spirit Animal
Jaguar
Favorite Book
The Green Mile by Stephen King
Get in Touch
jesse@wellnessintheschools.org

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ALLYCE Perret-Gentil
Program Director, Florida

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ALLYCE Perret-Gentil
Program Director, Florida

Education
Florida Gulf Coast University, BSN

Spirit Animal
Cheetah
Favorite Workout Song
Danza Kuduro by Don Omar
Get in Touch
allyce@wellnessintheschools.org

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RODRIGO Rabanal
Coach for Kids Coordinator

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RODRIGO Rabanal
Coach for Kids Coordinator

Education
DePauw University, BA

Spirit Animal
Red panda
Favorite Meal
Aji De Gallina (Peruvian Dish)
Get in Touch
rodrigo@wellnessintheschools.org

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LISA Saul
Development Manager, Florida

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LISA Saul
Development Manager, Florida

Education
Temple University, BS
Institute For Integrative Nutrition, Health Coach Certificate

Favorite Workout Song
Anything Motown
Favorite Ingredient
Avocado Oil
Get in Touch
lisa@wellnessintheschools.org

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WENDY Siskin
Senior Program Director

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WENDY Siskin
Senior Program Director

Education
Louisiana State University, BS
Certifications: ACSM, IYCA – YFS

Spirit Animal
She sees herself as a lion, but others see her as a giraffe.
Favorite Workout Song
Get On Up by James Brown
Get in Touch
wendy@wellnessintheschools.org

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MALLORY Stellato
Development and Outreach Manager

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MALLORY Stellato
Development and Outreach Manager

Education
Cornell University, BS

Favorite Ingredient
Cinnamon
Guilty Pleasure
House Hunters International
Get in Touch
mallory@wellnessintheschools.org

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MARJORIE Wolfson
Managing Director

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MARJORIE Wolfson
Managing Director

Education
SUNY Purchase, BFA

Favorite Meal
Linguini with Clam Sauce
Guilty Pleasure
Organizing containers
Get in Touch
marjorie@wellnessintheschools.org

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Program Managers

ERROL Anthony Valentine Jones
Program Manager

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ERROL Anthony Valentine Jones
Program Manager

Education
British Army, Royal Engineers

Favorite Workout Song
Uptown Funk
Favorite thing about WITS
He gets to have fun every day as he grows older!

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DEBORAH Soffel
Program Manager

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DEBORAH Soffel
Program Manager

Education
Baruch College
Natural Gourmet Institute

Favorite Ingredient
Fresh vegetables in summer and lots of fresh herbs grown in her little backyard in Queens.
Favorite Book
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

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ANNE Williams
Program Manager

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ANNE Williams
Program Manager

Education
Salem College
New York University
French Culinary Institute

Spirit Animal
Jack Russell Terrier because of her high energy and restlessness.
Favorite Workout Song
Anything by Bruce Springsteen or Billy Joel. Aretha Franklin works for her too.

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MARION Williams
Program Manager

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MARION Williams
Program Manager

Education
College of New Rochelle
Natural Gourmet Institute
The New School

Favorite Meal
Lobster, lobster, lobster!
Super Power
She would make everyone eat five fruits and veggies a day.

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Chefs

LEONOR Azpurua
WITS Chef, Florida

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LEONOR Azpurua
WITS Chef, Florida

Education
Johnson & Wales University

Favorite Book
Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Super Power
She wishes she were a mindreader.

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VICTORIA Baluk
WITS Lab Instructor

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VICTORIA Baluk
WITS Lab Instructor

Education
University of Delaware
American Fitness Professionals & Associates

Favorite Meal
Wood-fired pizza, arugula salad with shaved Parmigiano and a bright lemon dressing, accompanied by a glass of dry Italian red, preferably eaten in Italy.
Super Power
Physically duplicating herself. Dozens of times a day she wishes out loud that there were at least two of her.

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LAURIELLE Clark
WITS Lab Instructor

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LAURIELLE Clark
WITS Lab Instructor

Education
Howard University
Institute of Culinary Education

Favorite Ingredient
Fennel pollen
Guilty Pleasure
Chocolate bacon bars

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KATIE Cook
WITS Chef Liaison

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KATIE Cook
WITS Chef Liaison

Education
Loyola College
Institute of Culinary Education

Favorite Book
An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski
Favorite thing about WITS
Watching students discover new foods, whether it is during WITS Labs or at a WITS Café Day. She loves seeing their skepticism at first only to then watch them devour multiple samples.

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RICARDO Diaz
WITS Chef Liaison/RDN

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RICARDO Diaz
WITS Chef Liaison/RDN

Education
Natural Gourmet Institute
CUNY School of Urban Public Health

Spirit Animal
Ocelot
Guilty Pleasure
Homemade butter pecan ice cream

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ANNIE Dunlap
WITS Chef

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ANNIE Dunlap
WITS Chef

Education
Barnard College, BA

Favorite Meal
Zoodles and pesto
Favorite Book
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

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JENNY Ecclestone
WITS Chef

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JENNY Ecclestone
WITS Chef

Education
Queen’s University (Ontario)
University of Western Ontario
Institute of Culinary Education
Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science

Favorite Meal
Ribollita, a delicious Tuscan soup of beans, bread, and veggies
Favorite Book
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

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KISHA Figueroa
WITS Chef Liaison

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KISHA Figueroa
WITS Chef Liaison

Education
City College of New York
Institute of Culinary Education

Favorite Book
What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Southern Cooking by Abby Fisher
Super Power
Walking on water, soaring through the sky, and the ability to make everything taste like a cinnamon roll.

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CADY Frazier
WITS FoodCorps Fellow

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CADY Frazier
WITS FoodCorps Fellow

Education
Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts

Favorite Ingredient
Ume Vinegar
Favorite Book
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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YADIRA Garcia
WITS Chef

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YADIRA Garcia
WITS Chef

Education
NYU, BS
Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Certified Health Coach
Natural Gourmet Institute

Favorite Ingredient
Sofrito
Favorite Workout Song
Get Right by Jennifer Lopez

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KENT Gifford
WITS Chef Liaison

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KENT Gifford
WITS Chef Liaison

Education
Florida State University
Institute of Culinary Education
Natural Gourmet Institute

Favorite Meal
Duck Confit
Favorite thing about WITS
Seeing children who have never eaten from salad bars before try vegetables and like them.

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REBECCA Johnson
WITS Chef Liaison

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REBECCA Johnson
WITS Chef Liaison

Education
College of New Rochelle

Spirit Animal
Blue Jay
Favorite Book
Beloved by Toni Morrison

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Nancy Larson
WITS Chef

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Nancy Larson
WITS Chef

Education
California State University, Sacramento
The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone

What is your spirit animal?
Turtle
Super Power
Clean kitchen and house with a snap of my finger. Especially the dishes in the kitchen!

close
CATHY Loup
WITS Chef Liaison

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CATHY Loup
WITS Chef Liaison

Education
Barnard College, BA

Favorite Workout Song
Anything Michael Jackson
Favorite Book
M.F.K. Fisher's "The Art of Eating"

close
GISSELLE Madariaga
WITS Chef Liaison

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GISSELLE Madariaga
WITS Chef Liaison

Education
Rutgers University, BA
Hudson Community College, BS in Culinary Arts

Spirit Animal
Mongoose
Superhero
I wish I could be Captain Improv and pull ideas from the air.

close
CHRISTINA Martin
WITS Chef Liaison, New Jersey

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CHRISTINA Martin
WITS Chef Liaison, New Jersey

Education
Rowan University, BS
Atlantic Cape Academy of Culinary Arts, AS
eCornell Plant-Based Nutrition Studies Certificate

Favorite Workout Song
Despacito
Favorite Book
Living Danishly

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LAUREN Nilsen
WITS Chef Liaison

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LAUREN Nilsen
WITS Chef Liaison

Education
Institute of Culinary Education

Favorite Meal
Anything with shellfish or potatoes
Favorite Book
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

close
SHANI Porter
WITS Chef Liaison

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SHANI Porter
WITS Chef Liaison

Education
St. John’s University
Institute of Culinary Education

Spirit Animal
Blue-Ringed Octopus because she is a great multi-tasker.
Favorite Meal
Simply cooked seafood dishes

close
ANWAR Rasheed
WITS Chef Liaison, New Jersey

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ANWAR Rasheed
WITS Chef Liaison, New Jersey

Education
Community College of Philadelphia, AA
Art Institute of Philadelphia, BS
American Culinary Federation, CC

Favorite Workout Song
American Boy by Jayne West feat. Estelle
Super Power
Mystique's power from X-men. Enough said.

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NATALIE Mercedes Rivera
WITS Chef

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NATALIE Mercedes Rivera
WITS Chef

Education
SUNY Westchester
SUNY Albany
Natural Gourmet Institute

Favorite Meal
Yuca con mojo & guayaba pastelitos
Super Power
Magic

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ALIYAH Smith
WITS Chef

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ALIYAH Smith
WITS Chef

Education
Lehman College, BS

Favorite Book
Ayesha Curry's cookbook, The Seasoned Life
Super Power
I just want to spread love, give hugs and smiles everywhere I go and to everyone I meet.

close
ANDREA Sperling
WITS Chef Liaison

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ANDREA Sperling
WITS Chef Liaison

Education
Rutgers College
Natural Gourmet Institute

Spirit Animal
Curious cat
Favorite thing about WITS
Building new relationships and knowing that everyone at WITS has her back!

close
IRBANIA (EVIE) Tavares
WITS Chef Liaison

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IRBANIA (EVIE) Tavares
WITS Chef Liaison

Education
Hunter College, BA
The Natural Gourmet Institute

Spirit Animal
Owls, for their symbolism of wisdom.
Super Power
Wonder woman, I love her elegance and strong figure.

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SHADEE Young
WITS Chef

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SHADEE Young
WITS Chef

Education
Brunel University, London BA
Nutritionist & Wellness Consultant Certification, AFPA

Favorite Ingredient
Mushrooms
Super Power
Time travel

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Coaches

JAMEL Brundidge
WITS Coach

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JAMEL Brundidge
WITS Coach

Education
Missouri Western State University

Favorite Ingredient
Cheese
Favorite thing about WITS
Knowing that the students look forward to the time that the coaches spend with them during recess.

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PJ Cody
WITS Coach

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PJ Cody
WITS Coach

Education
Adelphi University, BS
Adelphi University – Sport-Based Youth Development Fellow, Candidate for Masters in Sports Management

Favorite Workout Song
The Hum by Dimitri Vegas
Favorite Meal
Eggplant Parm and Pasta

close
DAYON L. Floyd
WITS Coach

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DAYON L. Floyd
WITS Coach

Education
College of New Rochelle

Spirit Animal
Horse
Favorite thing about WITS
He loves seeing the kids and smiles on each and every one of their faces.

close
MALIK Fortune
WITS Coach

X

MALIK Fortune
WITS Coach

Education
Adelphi University – Sport-Based Youth Development Fellow, Candidate for Masters in Sports Management

Spirit Animal
Deer
Favorite Workout Song
Classic Man by Jidenna

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ALBERT Gonzalez
WITS Coach

X

ALBERT Gonzalez
WITS Coach

Education
SUNY Brockport
Adelphi University – Sport-Based Youth Development Fellow, Candidate for Masters in Sports Management

Favorite Meal
Mangu (plantains) with salami, eggs, and fried cheese.
Super Power
Hyperthymesia

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JASON Hadley
WITS Coach

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JASON Hadley
WITS Coach

Education
Bad Sport Business Management
UEFA b license soccer coach
Basketball/gymnastic and various other coaching certificates

Favorite Meal
Cream pesto grilled chicken pasta
Favorite Book
The Dice Man

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SARAH Merck
WITS Coach

X

SARAH Merck
WITS Coach

Education
East Carolina University, BS
Adelphi University – Sport-Based Youth Development Fellow, Candidate for Masters in Sports Management

Favorite Workout Song
Waves by Mr. Probz
Favorite Meal
French toast with turkey bacon on the side and a glass of orange juice

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JORDAN Mustapher
WITS Coach

X

JORDAN Mustapher
WITS Coach

Education
John Jay College

Favorite Book
The Secrets of a Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker
Super Power
Superman

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STEVEN Putkowski
WITS Coach

X

STEVEN Putkowski
WITS Coach

Education
Manhattan College
Adelphi University – Sport-Based Youth Development Fellow, Candidate for Masters in Sports Management

Spirit Animal
Turtle
Favorite Book
Never Let Go: A Philosophy of Lifting, Living and Learning by Dan John

close
MATEO Randolph
WITS Coach

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MATEO Randolph
WITS Coach

Education
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Favorite Workout Song
The Rocky theme song
Favorite Book
Candide, by Voltaire

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ROB Sanders
WITS Coach

X

ROB Sanders
WITS Coach

Education

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Lucy Sexton
WITS Coach

X

Lucy Sexton
WITS Coach

Education
Davidson College

Spirit Animal
Golden Retriever
Favorite Ingredient
Garlic

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ARIS Troy
WITS Coach

X

ARIS Troy
WITS Coach

Education
Adelphi University – Sport-Based Youth Development Fellow, Candidate for Masters in Sports Management

Favorite Workout Song
Lose My Breath by Destiny's Child
Favorite Ingredient
Coconut Oil

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