Food Security Programs Director
Annmarie oversees the Food Council’s food security programs, providing management support to the Food Recovery and Access Working Group and implementing aspects of the County's Food Security Response Strategy. Annmarie previously served as the Project Leader/Nutrition Educator for the University of Maryland Extension’s SNAP-Ed Program in Montgomery County, where she partnered with schools, food assistance providers, and farmers markets to implement nutrition education programming and promote policy, systems, and environmental changes aimed at creating a more equitable local food system for those facing food insecurity. Annmarie is a Registered Dietitian and a Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist in the state of Maryland. She holds a BS in Dietetics from the University of Maryland, College Park; as well as a BA in English from Brooklyn College, and a Master’s in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Director of Policy and Partnerships
Michelle provides management support to the Food Council’s Food Education, Policy, and Strategic Planning work, and facilitates our collaboration and systems-based community initiatives. She is passionate about collaborating across sectors to create a healthier and more equitable local food system. Previously, Michelle spent a decade with academic, government, and nonprofit organizations working to make healthy choices easier for under-resourced communities. She earned a B.S. in Human Nutrition from The Ohio State University, a Masters of Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, and is also a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
Executive Director
‘Nanya Chiejine has over 13 years of experience in public health practice with a strong background in program evaluation, research, and public policy. She has worked with state agencies, academic institutions, and non-profits to implement and evaluate health programs and initiatives focused on improving health care delivery, reducing health inequities and addressing social determinants of health. She brings a robust experience in public health leadership, implementation of policies to reduce health disparities and translation of data into policy formulation and systems change.
‘Nanya comes from National 4-H Council as Director for Well Connected Communities where she is building the capacity of Cooperative Extension to implement policy, systems and environment changes that reduce food insecurity across 50 communities nationwide. She leads 23 land grant universities (LGUs) to implement Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-being through evidence-based strategies interventions that improve health and well-being through community engagement and multi-sector partnerships.
‘Nanya previously served as Associate Director at Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development where she led quality improvement initiatives for the Government of the District of Columbia Developmental Disabilities Administration to improve workforce development and health care delivery to DC residents with intellectual and development disabilities. Prior to that role, served at the Michigan Department of Community Health, where she led a state-wide program for children with special needs. Her passion for reducing health disparities has had her engaged in global health, where she worked with an international NGO to evaluate the impact of interventions designed to eliminate infectious diseases in Northern Nigeria.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Environmental Health from the University of Michigan. She is currently a Bloomberg Scholar in Food Systems at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Nanya resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and two children.
Policy and Outreach Coordinator
Jack is a native of the DMV area and is passionate about breaking down barriers to the food system through just policy. Jack recently received his Master's Degree in Food and Agricultural Policy from American University. Jack has previously worked in environmental and nutrition education, and now focuses on how to connect the Montgomery County community to the food system. Jack believes that one of the key steps in creating a more just society is through the strengthening of our food system
SNAP Outreach Assistant
Daniele is a SNAP Outreach Assistant at Montgomery County Food Council (MCFC). She is a dynamic and compassionate community advocate, driven by a strong sense of service and a deep commitment to aiding underserved populations. She has 12+ years of expertise in customer service, management, and event coordination in the US and in Brazil. Proficient in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, she bridges communication gaps for diverse populations. Her educational background includes an MBA in Management with a concentration in Finance from Strayer University. She is also committed to giving back to her community. Her volunteer experiences in organizing events for the homeless and supporting children in need highlight her dedication to making a positive impact. Daniele's passion for giving back aligns perfectly with the Montgomery County Food Council's mission of ensuring universal food access.
Agriculture & Sustainability Specialist
Lorien provides support to the MoCo Made Initiative and the Farm to Food Bank program, and aids in addressing other local food economy, agriculture, and environmental sustainability issues. She is devoted to working towards a healthy, equitable, ecologically sustainable food system for all. She has worked on food system issues for nearly two decades, from laboring on farms, to leading agricultural and nutrition education, to nonprofit program coordination, to researching community nutrition and beginning farmer programming. She has implemented and evaluated programs for agricultural cooperative extension, first with Virginia Cooperative Extension, then with University of Maryland Extension. In addition to her role at MoCo Food Council, she currently operates a one-acre vegetable farm in the Montgomery County Agricultural Preserve, selling directly to consumers within the county. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Longwood University, a M.S. in Agricultural Extension Education, and a PhD in Agricultural Life Sciences, Community Viability, from Virginia Tech.
Food Access Initiatives Director
Allison is the Food Access Initiatives Director at the Montgomery County Food Council. Her efforts include managing the Council’s SNAP Outreach Program, coordinating the Benefits Outreach and Enrollment Workgroup, and supporting the Food Security Community
Advisory Board. Allison is a registered dietitian who recently relocated to Montgomery County from Las Vegas, where she was a health educator in the Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Southern Nevada Health District and served as the registered dietitian liaison on the Southern Nevada Food Council. Allison received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she also completed her dietetic internship. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Wellesley College.
Food Access Coordinator
Sharon Strerath is a Food Access Assistant for the Food Council's SNAP Outreach Program. She assists English and Spanish-speaking residents in applying for SNAP. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management from Vatel International Business School Hotel & Tourism Management and previously worked in the hospitality industry, which gave her the opportunity to travel to different countries, gain experiences, and focus on the service of customers. She enjoys working at the Food Council because it allows her to assist people from our community, and through that contributes to their nutritional well-being.
Director of Programs and Impact
Elizabeth is the Director of Programs and Impact, leading efforts to track and capture the Food Council’s impact and funding opportunities to support our programming. Prior to holding this position, she was a member of the Food Council's Food Security team, working on implementing the County's Food Security Plan and connecting residents to food and SNAP benefits. Her other passion is the Takoma Park Silver Spring Food Co-op where she serves as board president. Prior to joining the Food Council, Elizabeth was a chef, a food educator, and an attorney practicing energy law. She holds a B.A. from Holy Cross College, a J.D. from Georgetown University, and a certificate in pastry arts from L'Academie de Cuisine.
Program Coordinator
Ester is the Program Coordinator at the Montgomery County Food Council. Her efforts include engaging with community partners to raise the visibility of MoCo Made by developing resources that help highlight program participants. She works closely with the Food Economy and Food Education Working Group through collaborative and administrative efforts. Ester previously worked for the University of Maryland Extension’s Expanded Foods and Nutrition Education Program in Montgomery County, where she partnered with schools, churches, and other community organizations to serve marginalized community members with quality nutrition education programs, aimed at making food education accessible to those facing food insecurity. Ester has a passion for helping others improve their quality of life through food education. Ester earned a B.S. in Community Health from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, Global Campus.
MCFC Vista
Bitta supports the Food Council's Food Security programs in Montgomery County, contributing to capacity-building initiatives that strengthen local food systems. With a recent BA in Environmental Analysis from WashU, she brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective, blending environmental sustainability with social equity. Bitta is passionate about promoting sustainable and equitable systems and is committed to shaping policies that integrate food systems and environmental health, advocating for solutions that foster long-term ecological and social well-being.