Meet Our Speakers

Stacy Bates is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with over 14 years of experience in nutrition communications, marketing, education, health services operations, and leadership. A dynamic presenter with a diverse background in operations, adult education, clinical dietetics, and nutrition marketing, Stacy brings a broad range of professional experiences to enhance her nutrition and communication skills leading H-E-B’s Nutrition Services Program. H-E-B’s Registered Dietitians play a vital role in impacting the health choices and nutrition literacy of Texans, as one of the largest dietitian-only clinical practice groups. Stacy earned the Progressive Grocer 2016 Retail Dietitian of the Year Award.

As the previous owner of Gruene Nutrition LLC, Stacy has served as a communications liaison and spokesperson offering ways to help individuals and families improve their healthy lifestyles quickly and confidently. 

Before becoming a dietitian, Stacy Bates gained valuable experience in food science and marketing through both industry and education. 

Stacy received her bachelor’s in nutrition science from Texas A&M University and completed her master’s degree in Human Sciences with a minor in Adult Education from Texas A&M University in Kingsville. Stacy currently resides in Cypress, TX with her husband, Colin, and two sons, Luke & Clay.

Sara is a graduate of University of Houston and currently a clinical dietitian working in pediatrics at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. She has previous experience working in mental health and nutrition, eating disorders, and bariatric surgery. She is a mentor for Diversity Dietetics and is passionate about making the field of nutrition more accessible to future generations.

Dr. Coheley is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition at Texas A&M University. She is a double DAWG having completed both her BSFCS in Dietetics and PhD in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Georgia. Dr. Coheley completed her Dietetic Internship at Emory University Hospital and worked as a clinical dietitian at Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia, before obtaining her PhD. Dr. Coheley’s research focuses on the relationship between whole egg consumption and pediatric bone health and cognitive function. During her doctoral work, Dr. Coheley helped secure of $550,000 in funding to complete the double-blind, placebo controlled, SCENE (Skeletal and Cognitive Effects of Nutrition from Eggs) study. Dr. Coheley currently serves as the President of the Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND). Recently, Dr. Coheley graduated from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Leadership Institute. She has received numerous awards and scholarships including the Emerging Leader in Dietetics award from GAND, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges award, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation’s Commission on Dietetic Registration Doctoral Scholarship.

Melissa Hawthorne, MS, RD, CDCES, LD is a registered and licensed dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist in Houston, Texas. She has over fifteen years of experience working with individuals to improve their health through nutrition. Melissa is the owner and founder of Hawthorne Nutrition, LLC. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science from Texas A&M University and her Master of Science in Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University. Melissa specializes in weight management, nutrition wellness, diabetes management, insulin resistance including Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), nutrition and pregnancy and pediatric/adolescent nutrition.
Melissa knew early on that her passion was in educating the community. Most of her nutrition career has been consulting one-on-one, group sessions or presenting to large and small organizations. 
In Melissa’s free time you will find her with her loving husband and children. You will also find Melissa on the running trails as she trains for her
next race.

Taylor Leahy is a registered dietitian based here in College Station. Taylor received her BS in Nutrition from Abilene Christian University in 2014, completed her dietetic internship with ACU in 2015; one of the only programs across the country that has a focus on nutrition and poverty. She received her Masters in Public Health in 2017 from Texas A&M University where she also holds a certificate in nonprofit management, and then completed her MS in Nutrition with ACU in 2019. Taylor started her career in dietetics working with individuals at an acute behavioral health hospital while also working in clinical dietetics at a local medical hospital. Taylor helped create the feeding protocols for intubated COVID patients at her hospital and works with a variety of patients daily. Taylor started her private practice in January 2020 where she works with individuals with a variety of health goals, but likes to focus on individuals with Dysautonomia. When not working Taylor enjoys being outside hiking and camping with her husband, reading a good book, or playing with her dog Titus. Taylor is a new mom to a baby boy named Finnegan and she looks forward to the first camping adventure as a family of three. 

Jill has been extensively trained in wellness coaching and has been a Registered and Licensed Dietitian since 1996.  She is one of the few dietitians in Houston who is board certified as an Eating Disorders Specialist  Dietitian (CEDRD-S), and currently supervises other CEDRD candidates (approved supervisor) through the first ever residency program for dietitians entering the field of eating disorders. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in nutritional science from Texas A&M University. She also obtained a Master of Science degree in nutrition and food management from The University of Central Oklahoma. Her primary focus the last decade has been disordered eating, eating disorders, and weight concerns. Currently, Jill works with primarily clients struggling with eating disorders providing nutrition therapy in her private practice. She runs a virtual binge eating group and provides dual sessions (nutrition and therapy) with Meredith Riddick, LPC-S, CEDS-S through A Collaborative Approach. Jill has been extensively trained in the following modalities: Family Based Treatment-FBT, Emotion Coaching Family Therapy-EFFT, ACT, CBT, and will be formally trained in RO-DBT. She has been married for over 20 years and has two boys who keep her busy!