What Can I Eat? Train-the-Trainer Team

Sarah A. Stotz, PhD, MS, RDN, CDCES, Co-Facilitator & Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor, Nutrition Science, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University

Sarah co-facilitates the Train-the-Trainer Workshops for the "What Can I Eat?" Healthy Choices for American Indians and Alaska Natives with Type 2 Diabetes (WCIE AI/AN) curriculum and is currently the Principal Investigator on two studies evaluating the curriculum (National Institutes of Health, K01DK128023; American Diabetes Association,11-22-ICTSN-10).

Sarah is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator. Her research focuses on addressing food and nutrition insecurity as it impacts adults with nutrition-related chronic disease  (e.g., diabetes). Her work largely centers on serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities through nutrition education and food access interventions, and she strives to cultivate authentic, equitable, and respectful relationships with the Native communities she serves.

Kelli Begay, MS, MBA, RDN (Kickapoo, Muscogee, Seminole), Co-Facilitator & Co-Investigator 

Principal Consultant and Managing Director, Maven Collective Consulting

Kelli co-facilitates the Train-the-Trainer Workshops for WCIE AI/AN and consults with Dr. Stotz on current studies to evaluate the curriculum. Kelli is an American Indian diabetes and nutrition expert. She is the Principal Consultant and Managing Director of Maven Collective Consulting, an organization of Indigenous consultants and health professionals who leverage their lived experience with their expertise. Her work in Indian Country as a Registered Dietitian spans from her tribal community in Oklahoma to national leadership roles serving all Tribal Nations. 

Teresa Hicks, RDN, CDCES, Co-Facilitator

Diabetes Educator, Healthy Communications

Teresa is a co-facilitator of the Train-the-Trainer Workshops for WCIE AI/AN. She has over 23 years of experience working in diabetes education in Alaska Native communities.