Kimberly Ornelas
My name is Kimberly Ornelas, and my passion lies in empowering communities through health and wellness initiatives. Originally from El Paso, I pursued my degree in Nutritional Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin in 2016. I love working with people and empowering them with new skills and competencies; it’s something I find deeply fulfilling. I’m dedicated to advancing the field of nutrition through innovative research, promoting health, and providing individuals and communities with education and resources. I’m excited about contributing to important research and community engagement efforts. I aim to leverage my experiences to promote wellness and address health disparities within the communities we serve.
Michelle Contreras
My name is Michelle Contreras, and I am the Laboratory Research Assistant for the Widen Lab. I earned my Bachelors of Science in Nutrition from The University of Texas at Austin in December 2023. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, I have been in Austin for almost five years. I will be supporting the MAGIC study and the Widen Lab. My passion is community nutrition, especially supporting the Hispanic population.
Ileana Martinez
Hello, I’m Ileana Martinez, and I came to Austin from Brownsville, TX to pursue my degree in Nutritional Sciences at UT, which I completed in May 2024. Through my work and volunteering experience in college, I found my passion to be working in community health, nutrition education, and bridging language and cultural gaps mainly in Hispanic populations. I seek to ease people’s access to basic needs and resources in the communities of Austin that need it the most.
Lorena Sandoval-Mejia
My name is Lorena Sandoval-Mejia and I am the Laboratory Research Assistant for the Widen Lab. I graduated with my Bachelors of Science and Arts in Biochemistry from The University of Texas at Austin in May 2024. During my undergraduate career, I also pursued a minor in Healthcare Communication and a certificate in Spanish for Medical Professions highlighting my interest in overcoming communication barriers in the healthcare field. Even though, I was born in Austin, I actually grew up in Toluca, Mexico. Therefore, serving the Hispanic and minority communities is one of my priorities.
Sara Dube, MPH, CHES
My name is Sara Dube and I’m a Senior Research Program Coordinator for the Magic Project. I earned my Master’s of Public Health degree from The University of Texas School of Public Health, and Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from The University of Texas at Austin, where I also graduated from the UTeach program. I am a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and I’m passionate about health promotion and public health.
