Yvette Lucero-Nguyen, Panelist

MPH

She/Her/Hers

Director for the Center for Women’s & Gender Equity and the Stryker Institute for Leadership Development and is the Co-Director of UNC’s Lactation Support Program. Over the past 13 years, Yvette has focused her work on advocating for increased access and inclusivity throughout policy, services, support, and resources. Since COVID, she has worked diligently with her team to convert all services, support, and resources to meet COVID guidelines while ensuring that equitable access be maintained. She enjoys every opportunity she gets to engage authentically with students as they seek to explore pieces of their identity and gain empowerment through their voices.

Alena Clark, Panelist

PhD, MPH, RDN, CLC

She/Her/Hers

Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Co-Director of the Lactation Support Program at UNC. Dr. Clark’s current research focuses on developing and evaluating programs that support lactating working parents. Dr. Clark is a registered dietitian, is involved in many organizations that advocate the need to promote healthy lifestyles for women, parents, children, and infants, and has worked in various settings including hospitals, public health agencies and academia. In her spare time, she loves to hike, camp and raft with her daughter, dog, and husband.

Kelsey Munn, Panelist

RD, IBCLC, CDN, CLC

She/Her/Hers

Registered Dietitian and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with a specialty in Maternal-Infant Health and Lactation. Kelsey currently works at Bellevue Woman's Center; the region’s only inpatient facility dedicated to the care of womxn and infants. At Bellevue Kelsey works as the Community Lactation Consultant; where she assists with inpatient care, outpatient lactation consultations, organizing support groups and education classes, representing lactation on multiple internal and community boards and committees, and (pre-COVID) attending conferences and expositions to market the hospital. Kelsey also works as the NICU’s Registered Dietitian assisting and educating families on their infants’ nutritional needs. Kelsey worked for New York State WIC for several years before moving into her current position at Bellevue. In Kelsey’s spare time, she enjoys exploring the Northeast with her fiancé, cuddling her senior dog, and frequenting local farmers markets.

Jallissa Nilta, Panelist

Da Spirit Plug, MA

She/Her/Hers

Educator, healing product maker, & doula. She creates natural products for the body and soul, offers support with birth planning, postpartum support, breastfeeding, melanated mother/parenthood, conscious/liberating parting, while also creating spaces to explore, reflect, and grow one's love for self.

Luz Sosa, Moderator

She/Her/Hers

Office Manager & Programmatic Support Specialist, Center for Women's and Gender Equity