Ashlee Linares-Gaffer, MS, RDN, FAND
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
- M.S., Nutrition and Dietetics, The State University of New York College at Oneonta
- B.S., Nutrition Sciences-Dietetics, The University of Arizona
ABOUT
Ashlee Linares-Gaffer is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and an Associate Professor of Practice. Her teaching activities focus on career and graduate school readiness, leadership development, and developing agricultural and food literacy among future dietitians.
In 2019, she was accepted into the 2nd cohort (2019-2020) of the Hispanic Serving Institution Fellows, a program which is aimed at developing “the scope and depth of work around our HSI designation and provide a venue for community-building and career development for faculty and staff through a project-based leadership experience, mentoring and coaching, and a series of targeted workshops.” Since engaging in this professional and leadership development program, Ashlee has been awarded two USDA-NIFA Hispanic Serving Institution Education grants (SOPA and SALUDABLES), which are focused on serving nutrition students at the UA Yuma Campus. She is also Project Director on one USDA-NIFA Multicultural Scholars program grant (NOURISH). All of her grant-funded education projects expand experiential learning, professional development, academic, career and financial support for nutrition students from underrepresented backgrounds, who are pursuing careers in dietetics and other health-related professions.
Ashlee’s professional experience in the school also includes previously serving as the ISPP Dietetic Internship Coordinator (2014-2019), developing and overseeing academic advising services and the Student Nutrition Advising Center (SNAC) (2015-2019), and serving as the School’s Director of Student Success (2022-2024).
Ashlee is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a past president for the Southern Arizona District for the Arizona Affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She served as the inaugural Diversity Liaison for the Arizona Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Cultures of Gender and Age Member Interest Group, a role which focuses on recruitment of underrepresented minorities into the profession of dietetics and has delivered numerous professional presentations and events related to this cause. In 2020, Ashlee was recognized as a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This designation recognizes commitment to the field of nutrition and dietetics and celebrates professional accomplishments and pursuit of life-long learning.