“We are delighted to welcome Rachel to our team as our new nutrition and wellness educator,” said Ginger Boas, County Director of Illinois Extension serving Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion Counties. “With Rachel’s experience and passion for promoting healthy living, we are confident that our community will reap the benefits of a renewed focus on nutrition and wellness.”
Equipped with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Eastern Illinois University, Rachel comes to Illinois Extension from the Champaign-Urban Public Health District, where she worked as a WIC nutritionist. Rachel is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and Eastern Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
“I am very excited to be a part of the return of the nutrition and wellness program in Illinois Extension,” said Rachel Mannen. “Joining Illinois Extension is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible difference in our community members' lives. I can’t wait to collaborate with our team and community partners to develop and implement programs that empower individuals and families to make informed choices to enhance their well-being.”
Rachel is eager to educate the public on child nutrition, chronic diseases, community health, food safety, healthy cooking, and nutrition education. She hopes to provide the community with cooking demos to demonstrate easy ways to stay healthy, among many other fun and informative lessons..
Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. Illinois Extension is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.