Advisory Board
Name
Role
![](img/people/ruby-garza-200.jpg)
Ruby S. De La Garza, MBA
USDA HSI Regional Director Texas
Ruby.Delagarza@osec.usda.gov
Advise on food and agricultural internship and career opportunities; Identify speakers for professional development workshops; Facilitate collaborations with USDA agencies
![](img/people/Cassandra-Diep-200.jpg)
Cassandra S. Diep, PhD
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
CSYeung@mdanderson.org
Assist with access to federal, state, and city agencies that focus on food and agricultural sciences; Mentorship
![](img/people/Foreyt John.200.jpg)
John P. Foreyt, PhD
Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX
jforeyt@bcm.edu
Mentorship; Professional development workshop
![](img/people/lisako-mckyer-200.jpg)
E. Lisako J. McKyer, PhD, MPH
Associate Dean of Climate and Diversity
School of Public Health
Texas A&M University
mckyer@sph.tamhsc.edu
Assist with access to Texas AgriLife Research and Extension; Mentorship; Professional development workshop
![](img/people/jayneal-200.jpg)
Jay Neal, PhD, MHM
Assistant Provost, Academic Affairs and Operations
University of Houston Sugar Land
jneal2@uh.edu
Assist with access to federal, state, and city agencies that focus on food and agricultural sciences; Food safety workshop; Mentorship
![](img/people/Lorraine-Reitzel-200-new.jpg)
Lorraine Reitzel, PhD, FAAHB
Associate Professor & Associate Chair
Psychological Health and Learning Sciences
University of Houston
lrreitzel@uh.edu
Mentorship; Professional development workshop
![](img/people/Fernandez-Rojas-200.jpg)
Xinia Fernandez-Rojas, PhD
Professor
Universidad de Costa Rica
xinia.fernandezrojas@ucr.ac.cr
Assist with the actual international collaboration; Research and Extension Specialist in the area of childhood obesity
![](img/people/templenorthup-200.jpg)
Temple Northup, PhD
Interim Director and Associate Professor
Jack J. Valenti School of Communication
University of Houston
ctnorthu@central.uh.edu
Gulf Coast Food Project; Assist with mentorship & guidance in the area of setting up and maintaining successful international collaborations
![](img/people/maria-perez-200.jpg)
Maria E. Perez, BSN, PhD
Instructional Assistant Professor
Hispanic Studies
University of Houston
Meperez@uh.edu
Assist with community outreach, cultural competence workshop
![](img/people/Toral Sindha200.jpg)
Toral Sindha, MBA, RD, LD
Houston and Harris County Regional Director of the Clinton Health Matters Initiative
tsindha@clintonfoundation.org
Assist with access to city agencies and community organizations that focus on food security
![](img/people/luis-torres-200.jpg)
Luis Torres, PhD
Associate Professor & Associate Dean for Research, Strategic Partnerships
Graduate College of Social Work
University of Houston
LRTorres@uh.edu
Assist with guidance in the area of setting up and maintaining successful international collaborations; Mentorship
![](img/people/Rita-Zapien200.jpg)
Assist with professional development workshops; WIC & diabetes expertise