Bio:

KAYLEE MICHNIK, PhD, has worked as a Registered Dietitian and community-engaged researcher for over a decade, contributing to school food research, evaluation and childhood nutrition. She worked extensively over the past five years evaluating one of Canada’s largest universal, school food pilot programs to date and has worked with governments, school boards, health professionals, families and students towards health promoting and nourishing school food programs.

STEFANIE FOSTER, B.A., B.Ed., is a project manager at the University of Saskatchewan with over 10 years of experience designing, implementing, and evaluating school food programming in a variety of professional capacities including as an elementary school principal, a non-profit manager and a researcher. Her expertise includes program development, qualitative research and community engagement. Her work includes the creation of evaluation frameworks, food literacy resources and knowledge mobilization tools to support equitable and sustainable school food systems.

NOOSHIN JANNATI, MSc., is a Master’s student in Community and Population Health Science with a Master’s degree in Nutrition Sciences  and experience in public health nutrition research and practice. She has over three years of experience as a dietitian and community nutritionist in public health centers, contributing to child-focused nutrition initiatives. Her research interests center on child health, particularly school-aged nutrition and school food programs, with an emphasis on diet quality, food environments, and nutrition promotion in school settings.

AMBERLEY T. RUETZ, PhD, is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan and a leading researcher in school food policy and program implementation. She is the co-editor of the book School Food Programs in Canada: Models for Success and a Co-Investigator on the How-To Guide for School Food Programs in Canada series with Dr. Rachel Engler-Stringer.

NATALIA ALANIZ‑SALINAS, MPH, MSc, is a third‑year PhD candidate in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan. She also serves as a Research Manager with the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU). Her work focuses on the implementation and evaluation of school food programs, drawing on experience as both, a practitioner and a researcher. Natalia’s research interests center on improving equitable access to healthy school food environments and strengthening evidence-informed policy and program development.