SCAN's Executive Committee

Carla Addison, RD, LDN is a Penn State University graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Nutritional Sciences. She completed her dietetic internship at West Virginia University Hospitals. At Heinz North America, Carla’s position as a Corporate Dietitian is to support all nutrition initiatives, analyze product nutrition information and transmit emerging nutrition science.

Previous to Heinz, Carla has worked for Oxford Athletic Club as a sport and weight management consultant, Highmark as a nutrition educator at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh (JCC) and as a volunteer with the Growing Strong Girls program.  In her free time Carla enjoys seeing music, running, Pilates, cooking and spending time with her family and friends.

Mark is a professor in the Department of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University. His research involves two primary areas: 1) how diet and exercise independently and interactively influence lipid, energy, calcium metabolism, and appetite and 2) sports dietetics. He is the author of the CRC Desk Reference on Sports Nutrition published by CRC Press. Mark has been a member of SCAN since 1995. He has presented his research at the annual Symposium, reviewed books for SCAN’S PULSE, and served as the 2003-2004 chair of SCAN’s Nominating Committee. Mark has served as your PULSE editor since October 2003 and welcomes any constructive feedback you may have.

Roberta is an instructor in the Department of Kinesiology at Rice University, where she currently provides individual instruction to student athletes. She is also a faculty member of the Baylor College of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Adolescent Medicine and Sports Medicine where she is an instructor in nutrition as well as the clinical dietitian in the Adolescent Medicine and Sports Medicine Clinic. She is also currently the dietitian for the Houston Texans franchise. Throughout her career, she has contributed to the publication of the numerous nutritional articles and book chapters as well as giving several media presentations. She is a past chair of SCAN. Roberta currently serves as a liaison for SCAN to the American College of Sports Medicine and is the ADA Media Spokesperson for Houston.

Athan has 6 years of experience as director and manager in the environmental and alternative energy fields and 6 years of experience as researcher in marine science. During 2011-2012, Athan led contract negotiations that secured $125 million in financing for energy related projects in Northeast Ohio. Between 2007 & 2010, Athan served as the Program Manager for the statewide non-profit, Green Energy Ohio. In that capacity, Athan developed and managed programs and initiatives reaching 10,000+ Ohioans. He also continually served the needs of the organization’s 1,000 members and raised over 1 million in funding to support these activities. A native of Cleveland, Athan holds a B.A. in Biology from Colgate University, where he studies climate change on the Antarctic Peninsula. In 2006, Athan received an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the College of Charleston, where he studied environmental policy and worked as a graduate assistant for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. In his free-time, Athan is an avid outdoorsman, cultivates his organic garden and thoroughly enjoys cooking.

Heather is a registered dietitian and is a board certified specialist in sports dietetics. She owns Nutrition CheckUp, a nutrition consulting practice located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that specializes in sports nutrition, weight management and family wellness. In her practice, Heather provides nutritional guidance and expertise to a variety of clients, from casual exercisers to competitive athletes. She also works with families looking to improve their life with nutrition and physical activity. She frequently writes on sports nutrition and weight management topics and speaks to consumers and professionals on eating right when it matters most.

For the past three years, Mangieri has served as a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, helping translate science into practical messages that can be understood by the public. She has been quoted in hundreds local and national publications including Fitness Magazine, Cosmopolitan, More Magazine, Woman's Running Magazine, ELLE, Woman’s Health Magazine, Men's Health, Men's Fitness, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, La Times and USA Today. She has also been featured on Self.com, MSN.com, ESPNW and Foxnews.com among many others.

Formerly, Mangieri was a part-time faculty member in the Department of Exercise Science at Chatham University and was an instructor at The University of Pittsburgh, Department for Sports Medicine and Nutrition. In 2012, Mangieri was the recipient of the Keystone award, being recognized for her leadership in demonstrating outstanding professional standards to serve and advance the aims of Pennsylvania dietitians. In 2008, she was recognized as Pennsylvania’s Young Dietitian of the Year. Mangieri is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University where she studied human nutrition. She earned a master’s degree from University of Pittsburgh in Wellness and Human Performance.

Personally, Heather lives a very active & fulfilling life in Pittsburgh with her three children. A proud marathon finisher, she is always up for an outdoor adventure & enjoys running, crossfit and traveling.

Connie Diekman, M.Ed, RD, LD, FADA is Director of University Nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Diekman is a Past President of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Diekman served on the ADA House of Delegates Leadership Team from 2004 – 2006 and was a member of the ADA’s Board of Directors from 2004 - 2009. Previously she served as a delegate from the state of Missouri to the House of Delegates (governing body). She is a former chair of the American Heart Association – Missouri affiliate.

Diekman is also a former media spokesperson for the Academy. In this position, she has been quoted in thousands of magazines, newspapers and on the internet. She has appeared in countless radio and television interviews at the local level and on national shows, ranging from the TODAY show to the Oprah show. Diekman currently serves on several advisory panels providing her expertise in communications, especially related to nutrition and consumer behavior change.

Prior to her appointment at Washington University, Diekman was in private practice working with physicians, corporations and as an instructor at St. Louis’ Fontbonne University. For seventeen years she was the voice of the “Eating Right” minute on WBBM radio in Chicago. She is a former television nutrition reporter with St. Louis’ NBC affiliate and the local FOX affiliate.

Diekman has received numerous honors, including the Alumni Distinguished Service Award from Fontbonne University, the Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Award from the Missouri Dietetic Association, the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year – Missouri, and the Dr. Arthur Strauss Award, from the American Heart Association – St. Louis.

In addition to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Diekman is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders and The Obesity Society. Diekman earned her master’s degree in education - counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition - dietetics from Fontbonne College (now University). She completed her dietetic internship at St. Louis’ Barnes - Jewish Hospital.