NEEM’s humanitarian trips are led by a team of qualified Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). For each trip there are approximately 2-3 RDs. They are the ones who make NEEM what it is. They all share the same vision and values of NEEM. You’ll meet them at your info sessions and, trust me on this, you’ll love them! They’re the ones creating nutrition education, making improvements through evaluations, and using their knowledge to make a sustainable change.

Marisa Christensen, RDN, CD, ACE-CPT

Marisa Christensen, RDN, CD, ACE-CPT

Jaqueline Neid-Avila MDA, RDN, CD

Jaqueline Neid-Avila MDA, RDN, CD

Ellen Garr, RDN

Ellen Garr, RDN

Jennie Lueckler, RDN

Jennie Lueckler, RDN

Jamie Doxey, RDN

Jamie Doxey, RDN

Ellie Erlich

Ellie Erlich

Hannah Nickerson, RDN

Hannah Nickerson, RDN

Steven Christensen

Steven is a current student at Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry.  He is a member of NEEM’s Board of Directors and assists us by participating in meetings and offering advice. As a future dentist, he plans on joining NEEM’s cause by providing service to people in communities and countries around the world.  With a background in construction, agriculture, and healthcare, he brings a range of experience and vision for needs throughout the world.  Having provided humanitarian work from Nepal to the Navajo Nation (Arizona), Steven recognizes the need for service both locally and worldwide.  As an outdoor/sport enthusiast, you’ll likely find him running, fishing, or watching sports when not involved with school.

Landon Hobbs

Landon is a current medical student at the University of Virginia. Landon studied Neuroscience at Brigham Young University. Landon has performed humanitarian aid to those in the Dominican Republic and Las Vegas. He has used his ability to speak Spanish to serve in free clinics, help in translation services at hospitals and doctors’ offices, aid in Spanish immersion elementary classrooms, and to help current patients. In addition, Landon has served with the youth in local scouting organizations, helped teach elementary students about health and has volunteered hundreds of hours in local hospitals. Landon is currently working with special needs patients as their advocate and is also the Student Health Insurance Representative at UVA School of Medicine. Landon is an avid advocator for education and providing medical services to all who need them.

Jaqueline Neid-Avila

Jaqueline has more than five years of experience working as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Jaqueline earned both her Master’s and Bachelor degree from Utah State University. She started her career working with eating disorder clients and teaching intuitive eating principles and body positivity. Jaqueline currently works for Utah State University Extension focusing her efforts on community nutrition education and hunger solutions. Jaqueline still promotes classes based on a mindful eating approach. Jaqueline serves as a dietetic preceptor and has mentored many dietetic interns. When Jaqueline is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband planning their stateside and international travel adventures.

Abby Melim

Abby Veibell Melim will be graduating from Utah State University May of 2019 with her Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Global Communication and Minors in Spanish and Entrepreneurship. She currently works at Intermountain Staffing Resources as a Staffing Manager where she interacts with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds on a daily basis. The summer of 2019 she will be working at Goldman Sachs as an intern in their Operations Department. Abby lived in Chile and speaks fluent Spanish. She also speaks intermediate Portuguese, thanks to her husband who is from Brazil. Her area of focus in her schoolwork has largely been on Latin American history and intercultural interactions. She aspires to help others through utilizing her skill set in Global Communication, and Social Entrepreneurship to work in a variety of countries in need of aid.