Joseph Fonseca
Edwardsville,IL
Summary
Adept at transforming organizational objectives into impactful training solutions, I spearheaded community nutrition programs at the University of Illinois, enhancing staff engagement and participant outcomes. My expertise in adult training theory and strategic planning, coupled with a talent for mentoring, community health programs, and obesity prevention across diverse communities.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
SNAP Education Regional Training Specialist
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
East St. Louis, IL
08.2022 - Current
- Collaborated with management teams to identify organizational objectives that can be addressed through tailored training solutions.
- Served as a community nutrition program leader for the SNAP Education program across 20 counties in Western Illinois.
- Trained, mentored, coached, and supported over 20 staff members to meet grant deliverables in obesity prevention and nutrition education outreach.
- Evaluated effectiveness of training programs by collecting feedback from participants and assessing their understanding of topics covered during trainings.
- Developed innovative training materials and contemporary communication methods to enhance staff, audience, and partner engagement.
- Adapted the existing curriculum for different audiences based on community and cultural needs, while maintaining fidelity.
SNAP Education Extension Educator
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Collinsville, IL
08.2020 - 08.2022
- Provided leadership, development, and evaluation of research-based nutrition programs to the greater East St. Louis area.
- Delivered community awareness initiatives, layered direct education nutrition classes, and professional development, aiming to increase nutrition security.
- Organized and led policy, system, and environmental (PSE) initiatives for limited-resource families and communities, with the goal of obesity prevention and food access.
- Initiated and fostered community collaboration with community stakeholders, organizations, and coalitions by providing technical assistance, backbone coordination, and capacity building.
- Provide unit leadership through strategic planning to work collaboratively and provide nutrition programs that meet families where they live, learn, work, play, shop, and eat.
- Cooperated with other extensions to promote curricula, develop materials, resources, and professional development presentations to support statewide nutrition education efforts.
AmeriCorps Vista
SIU Medicine Regional Programs
Canton, IL
09.2019 - 08.2020
- Provided community health education programming in the Western Illinois region, with allied community health partners, to rural communities.
- Supported community collaboration between health and service agencies, and organizations in various county-wide endeavors, such as the Illinois Department of Human Services, local food pantries, and primary health care providers.
- Facilitated, supported, and co-led advancement opportunities for health career opportunity programs for students in the Western Illinois region.
- Assisted local healthcare providers by helping to conduct biometrics, cooking demonstrations, exercise classes, and nutrition education among their patients.
- Compiled monthly reports and program evaluations to demonstrate community impact with AmeriCorps.
Strategic Campus Peace Corps Recruiter
Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs, WIU
Macomb, IL
09.2018 - 06.2019
- Participated in local job fairs and recruitment events for prospective hiring.
- Coordinated and facilitated presentations about Peace Corps volunteer opportunities abroad to prospective applicants.
- Managed interested applicants in a prep program, leading discussions on cultural awareness, community outreach, and professional development.
- Organized strategic Peace Corps Volunteer recruitment events by building relationships with campus departments, organizations, and stakeholders.
- Mentored, trained, and coached college students on resume building, interviewing, and cross-cultural sensitivity to prepare for overseas Peace Corps service.
Nutrition Manager
United States Peace Corps
Nelspruit, South Africa
08.2017 - 05.2018
- Provided on-site nutrition management, support, and technical assistance while leading baseline assessments on the nutrition screening process to test facilities' readiness.
- Oversaw 17 health facilities to monitor and evaluate their nutrition screening process to prevent undiagnosed malnutrition among mothers, infants, children, and people living with HIV.
- Coordinated, implemented, and facilitated workshops to mentor nurses and nutritionists on nutrition assessment, counseling, and support (NACS), and malnutrition screening.
- Conducted quality improvement plans with health facility managers to create plans to strengthen nutrition monitoring on malnutrition.
- Provide cross cultural training, materials, resources, and quality improvement in multiple languages.
Community HIV Outreach Projects
United States Peace Corps
Ladysmith, South Africa
01.2015 - 07.2017
- Collaborated closely with local community members, mobile clinics, and non-governmental organizations to reduce HIV by addressing community needs, and conducting baseline assessments.
- Supported local NGOs on community gardens and community HIV education for orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV.
- Communicated in the local language to facilitate educational programs on reducing HIV transmission, and sustaining the health and wellness of people living with HIV.
- Addressed the social and structural drivers of the epidemic and mitigated the impact of stigma and discrimination of living with caregivers, orphans, and people living with HIV.
- Mentored and trained other Peace Corps Volunteers who were new to the country through dialogues on projects, resilience, diversity, language, and experience with host country nationals.
Summercise Intern
Norton Sound Health Corporation
Nome, Alaska
05.2014 - 09.2014
- Engaged in nutrition outreach with cultural competence to provide health outreach to the larger Native Nome Alaskan population in chronic disease prevention.
- Developed and facilitated group exercises and healthy cooking demonstrations for youth, adults, and families to mitigate and prevent type 2 diabetes.
- Implemented presentations and mass media messages to promote healthy eating and lifestyle behaviors among at-risk populations for type 2 diabetes prevention.
- Participated in dietetic rotations: WIC, Maternal and Child Health, Inpatient and Outpatient counseling, Community Nutrition, and Food Service Operations.
Education
Master of Science - Health Sciences, Public Health
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL08-2020
Bachelor of Science - Culinary Nutrition, Clinical Dietetics
Johnson & Wales University, Denver Campus
Denver, CO05-2014
Associate of Arts - Culinary Art
Johnson & Wales University, Denver Campus
Denver05-2012
Skills
- Adult training theory
- Coaching and mentoring
- Compliance training
- Culinary Arts
- Cultural competency training
- E-learning development
- Feedback management
- Grant writing and compliance
- Group fitness instruction
- Hiring competence
- Mentoring and coaching
- PEARS data analysis
- Professional Development
- Program development
- Strategic Planning
- Talent acquisition and recruitment
- Technical training
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Full Professional
Certification
- CPR and First Aid Certified
- Certified Food Protection Management
- Certified Zumba Fitness Instructor
Accomplishments
- Successful thesis defense at Western Illinois University on "Dietary Consequences of Food Insecurity with Latino College Students in Rural America"
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, 2020
- Jonson & Wales University Resident Assistant of the Year, 2014
- Johnson & Wales University President's Award, 2013
Timeline
SNAP Education Regional Training Specialist
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
08.2022 - Current
SNAP Education Extension Educator
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
08.2020 - 08.2022
AmeriCorps Vista
SIU Medicine Regional Programs
09.2019 - 08.2020
Strategic Campus Peace Corps Recruiter
Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs, WIU
09.2018 - 06.2019
Nutrition Manager
United States Peace Corps
08.2017 - 05.2018
Community HIV Outreach Projects
United States Peace Corps
01.2015 - 07.2017
Summercise Intern
Norton Sound Health Corporation
05.2014 - 09.2014
Master of Science - Health Sciences, Public Health
Western Illinois University
Bachelor of Science - Culinary Nutrition, Clinical Dietetics
Johnson & Wales University, Denver Campus
Associate of Arts - Culinary Art
Johnson & Wales University, Denver Campus