Board of Directors

Co-Founder, President

Emily Estes is the Co-Founder of the Nebraska Eating Disorder Network, and serves as the Events Committee Co-Chair.  Emily is the owner of Sage Nutrition. Emily completed her undergraduate degree in dietetics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She went on to complete her dietetic internship and earn her Master’s Degree in Community Nutrition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Emily is certified in Trans-Disciplinary Obesity Prevention. She has extensive experience in the areas of weight management, eating disorders, and program development. Emily offers a wholistic approach to nutrition counseling, referring to the entire structure or makeup of a person including the body, mind, and spirit.

Vice-President, College Outreach Committee Co-Chair

Alyssa Newman, PsyD, is the Vice President of the Nebraska Eating Disorders Network and serves as one of the College Outreach Committee Co-Chairs. Alyssa is a staff psychologist at Creighton University’s Student Counseling Services (SCS) working with undergraduate and graduate/professional students. She also works with Creighton student-athletes in the Athletic Counseling and Performance Clinic (powered by SCS). At Creighton, Alyssa conducts individual therapy, group therapy, assessments, mental skills training, outreach, and supervises masters and doctoral-level trainees. To advocate and assist those with eating disorders, Alyssa directs the Eating Disorder Treatment Team, completes eating disorder assessments, communicates with community providers to coordinate care, provides outreach around eating disorders and body image, and co-facilitates a body image group entitled “More than the Mirror.” Alyssa has experience working at The Renfrew Center in Coconut Creek, FL at residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient levels of care. She also has experience working in community mental health and in university counseling centers. Alyssa received her MS and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University.

Treasurer

Andrea Laughlin was born and raised in Lincoln, NE and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nutrition and Health Sciences as well as her dietetic internship at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. She worked for over a year and a half at an inpatient hospital where she gained a lot of valuable experiences in the clinical nutrition realm. Currently a member of the team at Sage Nutrition, LLC,

Andrea provides 1:1 individualized medical nutrition therapy and nutrition coaching with a non-diet, Health at Every Size approach. Recently returning to her roots, she has the privilege of being an instructor for an undergraduate nutrition course that focuses on effective nutrition counseling. Outside of her passion-filled career, she values any opportunity that she gets to travel to new places, go on a long hikes or walks in nature, and meeting new people. She’s so happy to be a part of NEDN and hopes to connect with all of you in the near future.

Membership Committee Co-Chair

Krista Godfrey graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutrition Science. Her dietetic internship was completed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2011, and since then she has been dedicated to providing medical nutrition therapy to patients with a diversity of conditions. For the past 6 years she has worked in Children’s Hospital and Medical Center’s Eating Disorder program and Behavioral Health Department. Serving eating disorder clients has become a passion of hers. It is rewarding to watch nutrition heal the body and mind throughout the recovery process. In 2014, Krista became a Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition and completed her Master’s degree in Nutrition and Health Sciences in 2015. She now sees clients at her own practice, Life Cycle Nutrition, and continues to work with eating disorders and pediatrics. She would like help raise eating disorder awareness and support in the community.

Membership Committee Co-Chair

Liz Baker is the current Membership Committee Co-Chair on the Nebraska Eating Disorder Network Board of Directors. Liz Baker holds a Masters Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics from Saint Louis University (SLU), with an emphasis in Nutrition & Physical Performance. Her Bachelors Degree was completed at The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and she moved to St. Louis to complete her dietetic internship at SLU. Liz has been a registered and licensed dietitian since 2013 and is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Prior to moving back to Nebraska, Liz worked at an eating disorder treatment center at the residential level of care, providing one-on-one nutrition counseling, co-facilitating eating disorder groups and nutrition education groups, and helping to empower clients to repair their relationship with food, exercise, and their bodies. Liz’s passion for the treatment of eating disorders grew significantly through her work with the clients and collaboration with the treatment team. She is excited to be pursuing this passion in her hometown as a dietitian at Sage Nutrition.

Events Committee Co-Chair

Erin Sullivan is a Registered Dietitian, “The Office” fanatic, adventure seeker and coffee lover! She attended  Kansas State University where she completed her dietetics coordinated program and graduated with her bachelors degree. During her time in college is when passion for the eating disorder field began to grow as she observed multiple friends struggle with eating disorders and have little to no resources.

Erin moved to Lincoln 3 years ago to begin working with Hope Healthcare PC as the Registered Dietitian on staff. Erin loves getting to learn about her clients, provide individualized and compassionate care and watch the light in clients eyes as they see there is hope in this journey of treatment and recovery, that there is life apart from ED!

During her time in Lincoln, Erin has also worked in the clinical setting of a hospital, served as the Lincoln NEDA Walk coordinator and has become passionate about advocating in the college setting as this is the setting that sparked her passion for the field. Erin is excited to continue to build connection through NEDN and learn from all the amazing providers who are a part of this group!

Events Committee Co-Chair

Jenee Haines is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner.  She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA in 2008.  She went on to receive her Masters of Science in Clinical Counseling at Bellevue University in 2012. She has been in private practice since 2018.  Jenee is a member of the Association for Private Practice Therapists (APPT), a committee member with Nebraska Eating Disorder Network (NEDN) and is a Certified Professional Counselor accredited by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).

Jenee has clinical experience that spans across many levels.  She started her professional career working at Omni Behavioral Health Eating Disorder Clinic in 2011, working in Outpatient, Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization levels of care.  Jenee then went into private practice counseling in 2018, working with individuals in the Omaha and surrounding areas. She has centered her practice around the treatment of eating disorders. She additionally has held a PRN position, leading therapeutic groups with EDCare, Nebraska.  Jenee holds a strong passion for helping those who have difficulty with eating disorders, self-worth, body-image, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders and other mental health diagnoses.  

Social Media Committee Co-Chair

Katie Jones is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner and has worked in the mental health field since 2015. Katie earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with severe behavioral issues, major mental health issues, and/or eating disorders.

Katie has worked at Omni as a home-based therapist, and then Day Program Coordinator and Program Therapist at the Omni Eating Disorder Clinic. Currently, Katie serves as Director of the EDC Program where she provides clinical supervision and oversight for the program, in addition to providing therapy services to adolescents and adults with eating disorders and other major mental health issues. Katie is a member of the American Counseling Association, as well as the National Board of Certified Counselors. Katie trained in Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders.

Social Media Committee Co-Chair

Britni Shrader is an independently licensed mental health practitioner (LIMHP) who provides therapy services through her private practice in Omaha, Ne. She treats a variety of mental health issues, including eating disorders, depression, anxiety and much more. Britni obtained her bachelors in psychology through the university of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), and went on to earn her Master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from UNO in 2015.

Britni recognized an interest in eating disorders from the beginning of her training, but her passion grew larger when she began treating eating disorders in a IOP setting. Now in her private practice she continues to use her passion to help clients struggling with eating concerns. She became a member of NEDN in 2019 and enjoys spreading the awareness of eating disorders as well as being a part of an organization that strives to equip the community with resources that it needs in order to create supportive environments for those struggling.

Community Outreach Committee Co-Chair

Mary Lynn Kardell is the current Treasurer of the NEDN Board of Directors. As a Registered Dietitian, I have been providing ethical, evidence-based nutrition counseling for the past 27 years. I empower my clients to enjoy nourishing their bodies in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. My goal is to enable clients to feel at peace with food, physical activity and their body, instead of feeling controlled by diets, emotions, stress or restrictive eating. Utilizing realistic and effective counseling approaches, clients can develop the knowledge and skills needed to foster true health and well-being while feeling confident with their food and lifestyle choices.

After receiving my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I completed my dietetic internship at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. I started working as a member of the treatment team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Eating Disorders Program in 1991. After moving to Chicago, I was employed at Northwestern University Medical Center as a clinical dietitian for both eating disorders and solid organ transplant. I was the Editor of the Transplant Chapter for the North American Manual of Clinical Dietetics, 6th Edition. In 2004, I moved back to Omaha with my husband and three children and opened my private practice.

Through my work, I have observed the impact negative food and body talk have on my clients. I currently collaborate with childcare centers to educate providers, parents and children on ways to foster a healthy relationship with food, their bodies and physical activity. I am a consultant for Mosaic in Omaha, providing nutritional care for individuals with developmental disabilities. I volunteer extensively, both personally and professionally. I currently serve as the Marketing Assistant for Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and am a member of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals. (IAEDP).

Community Outreach Committee Co-Chair

Daniel E. Gih, MD is Associate Professor and Co-Director of Medical Student Education in the UNMC Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Gih came to UNMC in June 2016 and is a faculty member for the Creighton-Nebraska Psychiatry Residency Program where he supports education and provides clinical supervision.

He completed his medical education and training in the Big Ten; medical school at the University of Iowa, and trainings in adult and child psychiatry at the University of Michigan. Dr. Gih stayed on faculty there for five years. His clinical interests include psychiatric education, severe mood disorders in adolescents, electroconvulsive therapy, and eating disorders. While on faculty at the University of Michigan, he co-founded and directed the University of Michigan Comprehensive Eating Disorder Program, the state’s only academic partial hospitalization program for eating disorders for children and young adults. Dr. Gih holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Michigan and is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA).

College Outreach Committee Co-Chair

Whitney Larsen RD, LMNT, CPT is a bilingual Registered Dietitian and Licensed Medical Nutrition Therapist who specializes in nutrition and wellness counseling for Disordered Eating, Prenatal and Maternal Nutrition, Cardiovascular Disease, Hyperlipidemia, Diabetes, Corporate Wellness, and Mind Body Fitness. In addition, Whitney is a Certified Personal Trainer, holds a certification in Weight Management, and was named ‘Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year’ by the Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – Omaha District in 2016.
Whitney received her Bachelors Degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. She then went on to complete her dietetic internship with the University of Northern Colorado and later moved to Omaha, Nebraska where she obtained her first job as a Registered Dietitian working in prenatal and pediatric nutrition. Years later, Whitney began a career as a supermarket dietitian where she was able to combine her love of food and cooking with nutrition counseling. She also has consulted for various physicians clinics, has been a speaker at professional conferences, schools and corporations, has designed and implemented corporate wellness initiatives and teaches adult and child cooking classes.
Whitney’s focus is on being realistic and working with clients in a gradual and personalized approach to help them meet their health goals. Learning to enjoy eating healthy foods, being active and living in balance is the core of Whitney’s philosophy.

Website Committee Co-Chair

A Licensed Professional Counselor, Travis Stewart has worked in field of eating disorders since 2003 at every level of care. He is passionate about connecting people to resources and experiences that are transformative and healing.

An excellent communicator and teacher, Travis is a regular contributor to websites, podcasts, webinars and conferences on eating and body image issues and has spoken at schools such as Pepperdine University, Baylor University, Washington University, and graduate schools around the country.

Travis graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1991 with a degree in advertising and immediately began working with the international ministry of The Navigators, mentoring students. After 8 years, his desire to better understand how people change and heal led to obtaining a Master of Arts in Counseling (2001) and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies (2003) from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri where he now lives with his family.

Website Committee Co-Chair

Gus Macias serves as the co-chair of the website committee for the NEDN Board of Directors. Gus is a Senior Project Engineer at Union Pacific Railroad. Gus is a developer with 15 years experience in web and application development. He is a problem solver and is extremely attentive to the user interface design and making certain the client’s wishes are realized. He has a relentless curiosity for figuring out how things work and understanding new technologies. Gus’ previous employment includes, Wave Interactive, Godfather’s Pizza HQ and Texas A&M University’s AgriLife Research department.

Board Members-At-Large

Certified Professional Accountant

Michelle Hoppe serves on the Nebraska Eating Disorder Network’s Board of Directors, providing accounting guidance to the Executive Committee.  She received her degrees in Finance and Accounting from Creighton University in 2003, and graduated summa cum laude.  She worked as an Audit Associate with KPMG from 2003-2006 where she provided audits for not-for-profit organizations.  She worked as a CPA with Masimore, Magnuson and Associates from 2006-2012, and now works as a Business Analyst with DMSi Software.

In additional to her professional life, Michelle has served as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the St. Andrew’s Child Enrichment Center from 2010-2014, and has been a mentor with Teammates Mentoring since 2015.

Graphic Designer

Natalia Macias Correa is a graphic designer who created the logo for the Nebraska Eating Disorders Network.

A Provisional Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, Kaylin Boni has worked in the field of eating disorders professionally since 2011, but has extensive experience with eating disorders. Kaylin’s professional experience includes a variety of treatment levels ranging from outpatient therapy, partial hospitalization, and residential care in both California and Nebraska.

Kaylin graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2014 with a Bachelors of Social Work Degree, and again, in 2016 with a Masters of Social Work Degree.  Post-graduation, Kaylin began her provisional clinical experience in pursuit of becoming a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner at Children’s Hospital Eating Disorder Partial Program. In addition, Kaylin also provides outpatient therapy at Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Services.

Kaylin has a true passion for empowering people and helping those struggling with eating disorders to achieve self-love, true freedom, re-create a healthy relationship with food and their bodies, and to experience authentic joy in their lives once again. My hope is to foster the belief that each individual is priceless, has innate worth, and deserves healing.

By participating in the NEDN, Kaylin hopes to connect with other professionals in the field to not only bring greater awareness to our society, but to collaborate, grow, and learn from other professionals in order to provide the best care for patients.

Cathy Jewell works as the Mindful Movement Coach. She also teaches pilates and yoga for the Pilates Center of Omaha and Genesis Racquet Club in Lincoln. She has worked in the health and wellness field and specifically with eating disorders as a movement specialist for over 10 years. She enthusiastically shares her experience and resources with her clients to help them reconnect to their mind and body, empower their bodies in a positive way, help relieve stress and provide a holistic approach to movement and mindfulness.
Cathy earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master’s degree in Health Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She currently is the Clothesline School Coordinator for the Junior League of Lincoln and is a member of IDEA Health & Fitness Association.

Angela Lee is a proud Nebraska Native and the founder of SHOLDIT®. Always on the go and open to adventure, Angela needed a place to stash her stuff. After tirelessly searching for a stylish hands free alternative to a purse, this resourceful country girl from rural Nebraska took matters into her own hands. With a $20 sewing machine and no industry connections, Angela made a leap of faith in 2010 to sew her first prototype and eventually secured patents. SHOLDIT® has been proudly featured by top television and media outlets and sold by top retailers across the country. Angela brings a wealth of knowledge, connections, and innovative ideas to NEDN!