Sara Dube, MPH, CHES
My name is Sara Dube and I’m the Senior Research Program Coordinator for the Widen Lab. 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. I joined the Widen Lab in 2019 to coordinate the Mother and Infant Nutrition (MINT) Study, and have a personal interest in bridging the gap between research and practice, and working on projects with under-served and under researched populations to address disparities.
Kimberly Ornelas
My name is Kimberly Ornelas, and I am the Research Program Coordinator for the MAGIC Project. Originally from El Paso, I pursued my degree in Nutritional Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin in 2016. My passion lies in empowering communities through health and wellness initiatives. 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. In my role, 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.
Fun Fact: My mom and sister named me after the original Pink Power Ranger from the 90’s.
Ileana Martinez
Hello, I’m Ileana Martinez, Research Engineering/Scientist Associate I, and I came to Austin from Brownsville, TX to pursue my degree in Nutritional Sciences at UT (Class of Spring 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.
Fun fact: My favorite movie is Little Women
Lorena Sandoval-Mejia
My name is Lorena Sandoval-Mejia, and I am a Research Engineering/Scientist Associate I 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.
Fun Fact: I speak four languages: Spanish, English, French and German!
