Bianca A. Bautista works for the Illinois Nutrition Education Program (INEP) as a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Educator. Bautista manages environmental interventions in the communities of Cicero, Berwyn, and Wheeling.

SNAP-Ed Educators increase awareness of policy, institutional systems, and environmental programs as a means of addressing socioeconomic factors and by making healthy choices more accessible to communities.

Evidence-based policy, system, and environment education programs; provided by SNAP-Ed Educators focus primarily on preventing obesity and reducing hunger in communities. Bianca believes health should be a fundamental right and that organizations should prioritize “meeting people where they are” to provide equitable healthcare. 

Bautista graduated with a Master of Public Health from University of Illinois Chicago.

Her program concentrations include Health Policy, Administration, and Global Health. Prior to graduate school, she graduated from University of Illinois Springfield with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology, and a minor in Public Health within the Capital Honors Scholars Program.

Certifications:
Making The Healthy Choice The Easy Choice Cornell University
Systems Approaches for Healthy Communities Program University of Minnesota Extension
National Nutrition Certification Program Utah State University Extension

Research interests:
Bianca’s research interests include: the social determinants of health, hunger and health, health equity, and preventable chronic illnesses among minority populations in urban areas.