Francoise Knox-Kazimierczuk, Ph.D RDN, LD, CLC, FAND

Dr. Knox-Kazimierczuk is an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati in the Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise, & Nutrition Science. A Registered Dietitian and Certified Athletic Trainer, she has over 15 years of experience in clinical and community dietetics and 10 years in athletic training. Her research focuses on racial and ethnic health disparities, particularly in birthing, breastfeeding, and cardiometabolic disease. With a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Health Promotion, Dr. Knox-Kazimierczuk works to shift narratives and policies through community engagement. She is an experienced DE&I facilitator, a member of the Green Umbrella Regional Food Policy Council, and serves on advisory boards for the American Heart Association and Cradle Cincinnati.

Ashley Felts, MS.

Ashley Felts is an operations consultant with over a decade of experience in educational and community programs. She has dedicated her career to supporting children and families through various initiatives. A Hampton University graduate, holds a Master’s in Executive Leadership and Organizational Change from Northern Kentucky University. As the Founder of Ops Solutions, she enhances operational capacity for businesses and nonprofits by designing efficient systems and processes. Known for her holistic and data-driven approach, Ashley aims to foster sustainable change in education and business, focusing on empowering organizations for greater community impact.

Angelica Hardee, Ph.D

Dr. Angelica Hardee currently serves as Vice President of Community Impact at the American Heart Association, where she’s dedicated to Greater Cincinnati/NKY’s community health initiatives. Dr. Hardee leads policy, system, and environmental changes focused on decreasing individuals with uncontrolled hypertension, reducing tobacco and e-cigarette use, and addressing nutrition security. In her role, Dr. Hardee works with community organizations and neighborhood coalitions to identify and address their health & wellness priorities.

Crystal Summers

Crystal Summers is an Assistant Professor and Program Head for Information Systems and Analytics at Northern Kentucky University, holding advanced degrees in Health Economics and Clinical Outcomes Research, Business Administration, and Health Informatics. She has contributed to local health organizations and higher education, and currently works as an IT Project Manager at the Innovative Healthcare Institute in Cincinnati, developing a cancer registry. Her research focuses on health habits, racial identity impacts, and prescription drug monitoring programs. Additionally, she serves on various professional boards, including the editorial board for the Annals of Student Research in Health Sciences, and is dedicated to advancing health informatics and information systems in education and research.

Emily Diefendorf

While living in Pennsylvania, Emily discovered her passion for local foods and relationships with the people that grow and produce that food. This passion turned into a career when a position became available at the Northside Farmers Market as an assistant manager and later manager. Over the next nine years, Emily focused on supporting the community and growers and producers. Emily wrote and received several grants to further the work of food and nutrition education and community engagement. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two children. In her free time, Emily enjoys being in nature, spending time with her family, traveling, reading, and knitting. Emily holds a master’s degree in Secondary Science Education from The Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Geology and Environmental Studies from The University of Tennessee.

Erika Jones

Erika is a registered dietitian currently working with women and children. She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and known for her practical approach to nutrition education. She believes in meeting people where they are. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants and spending time with family and friends.

Mona Bronson Fuqua

Fuqua is CEO/ chef of Je Nais Se Fuqua LLC. Culinarian, chef,and educator she has been an entrepreneur in the culinary and media fields since the early 2000’s. A lifelong Cincinnatian, Mona pivoted after careers with the Cincinnati Enquirer and TriHealth’s corporate media department completing first and second course of the FreeStore Foodbank Cincinnati Cooks program before going on to a culinary management degree from Cincinnati State. In 2016 Bronson-Fuqua added culinary education to the menu teaching demonstration and hands-on classes for Cooking for the Family through St. Francis Seraph Ministries, University of Cincinnati Communiversity, LaSoupe education programs, the Cooking School at Jungle Jim’s and Cancer Support Community of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Mona also teaches private classes, serves personal clients and caters for small groups. Public speaking opportunities are a favored way to share culinary knowledge including television, radio and appearances for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and The Cincinnati Enquirer’s -Storyteller’s Project. Mona is also honored to be one of five finalists considered for the international 2024 Duncanson Society Artist Residency through the Taft Museum. Je Ne Sais Fuqua LLC is Mona’s passion, purpose and legacy. While the idea of food as more than nourishment is not new, elevating marginalized cultural cuisine, healthy cooking, and historical knowledge of sustainable food practices to be truly valued as a key component to building generational wealth is a different path. Mona is constantly creating, improvising and improving a curriculum with a larger goal to create a public school to work program that captures youth as early as middle school. Meanwhile, she pursues every opportunity to increase her culinary knowledge and share it by feeding love and being fed love one bite at a time.

Charlie Harker

My name is Charlie Harker, and I am from Lebanon, OH. I am currently studying medical sciences at the University of Cincinnati. I am incredibly passionate about women's health and working to become an OBGYN!

Mallory Wooldridge

My name is Mallory Wooldridge, and I am from Frankfort, KY. I am in the Clinical Nutrition Master’s program at the University of Cincinnati. After graduation I plan on working as a pediatric registered dietitian.

Jaiden Hughes

I’m a third-year Nutrition and Dietetics student at the University of Cincinnati with a passion for making health and wellness more accessible to all. I love learning about how food can serve as a powerful tool for healing, empowerment, and building community—especially in spaces that have been historically underserved. I’m excited to be involved in research at the HEART Hub because its mission to uplift Black women’s maternal health through community-driven research and advocacy truly resonates with me. I’m inspired by its focus on cultural care and its dedication to creating meaningful, lasting change.

Ava Harle

Jenna Lowes