Illinois
Melissa Joy Dobbins, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.
Midwest Dairy Association
Melissa is a registered, licensed dietitian with 15 years of experience in nutrition education and health promotion. Appearing regularly on television and radio, Melissa enjoys sharing expert advice on health and nutrition with consumers. She is a Consumer Communications Manager with the Midwest Dairy Council in Chicago, and is also proud to serve as a national media spokesperson for the National Dairy Council. Melissa can also be seen as the host of “Heartland Health Tips” on the weekly U.S. Farm Report – Town & Country Living TV show on WGN in Chicago and across the U.S.
Melissa was named ‘Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year’ in 2004 by the Chicago Dietetic Association. She is a Certified Diabetes Educator and has been published in The Journal of Nutrition Education and The American Dietetic Association's Manual of Clinical Dietetics.
Previously, Melissa was the Corporate Dietitian and media spokesperson for Jewel-Osco (Albertsons) grocery stores where she launched their “Nutrition In Focus” consumer education program. Melissa’s background also includes nutrition research and nearly a decade of hospital-based nutrition counseling and community health education. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Nutrition from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and a Master of Science degree in Nutrition Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Carla DeBoe
St. Louis District Dairy Council
Carla DeBoe is a nutrition educator for St. Louis District Dairy Council in the St. Louis office. She is responsible for radio, print, and TV interviews in south central Illinois and for some radio and print interviews in the St. Louis area.
She received her undergraduate degree in Nutrition & Dietetics from Langston University in Langston, Okla. She previously worked as a nutritionist with the W.I.C. (Women, Infants, & Children) Program for eight years before joining Dairy Council.
DeBoe is dedicated to promoting health through good nutrition and sound health messages to consumers in 17 Illinois counties and four Missouri counties. She presents programs frequently at local, regional, and state meetings on nutrition topics.
Jennifer DeHoog, R.D., L.D.N.
St. Louis District Dairy Council
Jennifer DeHoog, registered and licensed dietitian, works as a nutrition educator for St. Louis District Dairy Council in the Hanna City, Ill. office. DeHoog provides nutrition education services to 26 counties and does regular nutrition-related interviews on television and radio in north central Illinois.
She is a 1997 graduate of the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, with a degree in dietetics. DeHoog also completed her dietetic internship at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria in 1998.
Joyce Fikri
St. Louis District Dairy Council
Joyce Fikri is a Licensed Nutrition Counselor and a veteran nutrition educator with St. Louis District Dairy Council. She serves as the organization's Illinois Information Coordinator and provides nutrition education services to 28 counties in central Illinois from the Springfield office.
Fikri has been involved in developing, testing and implementing nutrition education materials for St. Louis District Dairy Council. She is a frequent presenter at local, regional and state meetings on a variety of nutrition topics. She has completed more than 100 print, radio and TV interviews on nutrition-related topics such as children's health, sports nutrition and dashboard\desktop dining.
Fikri is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau with a bachelor's degree in home economics with an emphasis in dietetics. She is an active member of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and Women in Management.
Local Spokespeople
Please click on the state you cover to view the bios for the spokespeople in your area. To schedule an interview, please contact the local dairy council with which each spokesperson is affiliated.