Nancy Harris, MS, RD, LDN
Nancy Harris is a clinical dietitian in the ECU Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. She has worked as a registered, licensed dietitian providing nutrition care and education for acute and chronic diagnoses for hospitalized inpatient, ambulatory outpatient, medical school, private practice, dialysis and residential care facilities. Specifically related to pediatric weight management, she has worked with Growing Up Fit! and KIDPOWER grant supported programs as well as the nutrition component of ECU's Camp Golden Treasures. She was a pediatric dietitian with the ECU Department of Pediatrics and has also worked with camps for children with congenital heart disease, diabetes, cancer and sickle cell. Her expertise is primarily related to service delivery.
Linda Kean, PhD
Dr. Kean is a faculty member in the ECU School of Communication, with a focus on health communication. She is interested in how the media presents messages about food consumption and the effects those messages have on media consumers. She is specifically interested in looking at media literacy as an intervening variable.
Kathy Kolasa, PhD, RD, LDN
Kathy Kolasa is a professor and associate director of the ECU Pediatric Healthy Weight Research and Treatment Center. She has more than 30 years experience in projects focused on applied nutrition, eating habits and nutrition education in school-based and child care settings, nutrition education for nutrition staff and teachers, nutrition interventions in clinical settings and evaluation of nutrition education and dietary interventions. She is approaching retirement but would enjoy being a nutrition consultant on a project that is designed to prevent or treat childhood overweight/obesity.
Bonnie Lesko-Franklin, RD, LDN
Bonnie Lesko has worked in Public Health and WIC programs for 11 years. She also has experience with Medicaid reimbursable nutrition services for high risk pregnant women and pediatric patients. She is rostered in NC to submit Children's Special Health Services (CSHS) applications for children with special needs. She completed NC Lactation Educator Training in 2004 and has experience in culinary arts and hospitality management.
Allison Spain
Allison is a Health Fitness Specialist at the ViQuest Center in Greenville. She coordinates ViQuest's youth weight management programs that are funded by the Pitt Memorial Hospital Foundation. She is currently collaborating with the Food Literacy Partners Program, Community Schools of Pitt County and Pitt County Schools on a physical activity and nutrition program supplemental to the Healthful Living curriculum in several Pitt County high schools. She is interested in the psychological aspects of obesity and weight management and enjoys collaborating on obesity projects involving both children and adults. She is also interested in pre- and post-care/weight maintenance for bariatric surgery patients. Allison is an AFAA Certified Personal Fitness Trainer.
Donna Ware, MS
Donna Ware has a BS and MS in Home Economics Education and a BS in Institutional Management. She is a certified School Nutrition Specialist. She has worked with Pitt County Schools as the Child Nutrition Director for over 34 years. Ms. Ware has also served as the Fit Together Grant Coordinator for Pitt County Schools and the Health Promotions Coordinator at the Pitt County Farmers Market. She has also done contract work for Pate-Dawson Company in Goldsboro, NC to promote cooperative purchasing for the Child Nutrition Program in North Carolina. Her areas of interest are getting children to eat healthier and consume more fruits and vegetables and in promoting fresh fruits and vegetables at the Farmers Market.
