Dominique Harris is an Extension Educator for the Illinois Nutrition Education Program’s SNAP-Education Program. It is Dominique’s role as a SNAP-Ed Educator to provide policy, system, and environmental intervention support to the following focus areas: K-12 Schools, Early Childhood, Food Retail, Emergency Food, Community Adult, Community Youth, and Faith-Based. This includes conducting environmental assessments, working with organizations on an improvement plan, providing professional development, and technically assisting with nutrition policies, leading to systematic and environmental nutrition improvements for those eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  

Dominique received her Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education with a minor in Public Health from Illinois State University and earned her Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist and an active member of the American Public Health Association.

Prior to joining the University of Illinois Extension, Dominique has public health experience including interning at for a hospital system as a Community Health Intern and at a Federally Qualified Health Center as a Community Health Outreach Worker. Dominique’s professional career in public health includes working as a Community Health Educator at a local health department in Tobacco Control and Prevention, the Affordable Care Act In-Person Counselor Program, and in Chronic Disease and School Health.

Dominique has a passion for public health, especially having a positive impact on the health of the youth, as they are the future. It is Dominique’s never-ending goal to “Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” –Maya Angelou