Heather is the program director for Cooperative Extension's Healthy Homes Healthy Families program. This program is a hands-on education and training program delivered directly to homes and childcare settings. Heather works intensively with families in their homes and kitchens to help assess the type and quality of food they have in their refrigerators, pantries, and cabinets; to demonstrate healthy food preparation (including how to shop for healthy food and how to plan menus on a budget); and teach them to use parenting practices that help promote healthy eating and physical activity behavior in children 0-5 years of age. Prior to working in this position, Heather assisted the program director of the extension office's SNAP-ED and EFNEP programs.

Heather was born at Ft. Hood, Texas. As a child her hobbies were roller skating and dancing. She would choreograph dances to go along with popular songs. She still enjoys doing this with her children. When asked about any drastic changes from when she was a child she replied, "There is way more screen-time today, with TV, phones, and video games. Kids don't play outside as much, and there is not so much roller skating." Heather still loves to dance, but hasn't had much opportunity to roller skate.

To make money in high school and college, Heather worked as a waitress. Because she liked school and was good at it, she taught elementary school before working at the Extension office. Her first car was a Nissan Sentra, which she painted spinach green. On her birthday, Heather likes to eat shrimp scampi. The most exciting event in Heather's life is Motherhood. Her response: "Never a dull moment."

Why work with nutrition? Heather responded that she wants to provide information and resources for parents and caregivers, and teach them that it is relatively easy to have a healthy lifestyle.