Our Mission

Picture

​SNAP4CT helps Connecticut residents receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits make affordable and healthy food and lifestyle choices.  

The SNAP4CT.org  website and social media pages offer nutrition and health information 24/7, accessible by computer or mobile device. Whenever possible our materials are provided in both Spanish and English, and our site can be viewed in Spanish using Google Translate.  

SNAP4CT is an online initiative of Husky Nutrition at UConn Health which engages Connecticut residents in highest need in food, nutrition, and physical activity programming, policy development, and research.   

SNAP4CT is funded by the USDA, an equal opportunity provider.

Take a Tour of Our Website!​

The Husky Nutrition Team 

Ann Gleason Ferris, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita, Medicine and Public Health
Director, UConn Health SNAP-Ed

Ann’s 40-year career as a pediatric nutritionist has focused on the food and nutritional issues of children and families.  Her B.S. comes from Simmons College and her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts.  For all of her career, she has been fortunate to have incredible students, staff, and colleagues to work with and funders willing to support what they do.  Now as an emerita professor, she continues her work on childhood obesity prevention part-time while enjoying grandchildren, family, friends, travel, and life.
​
Fun fact from Ann: I come from a long line of fisher women and men.  It must be in my genes to want fish most evenings for dinner.

Susan Furbish, RDN
Assistant Director of Outreach & Education

Susan is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Assistant Director of Outreach and Education at UConn.  She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Amherst College and completed the Coordinated Undergraduate Program in Dietetics at the University of Saint Joseph.  Susan loves all things about food and nutrition:  growing food, cooking and sharing with others are what fulfill her and make her happy.  She also enjoys yoga, hiking, and snowshoeing.  ​
Fun fact from Susan: I love all fruits and veggies. And my dog, Riley, loves veggies too!  Carrots are his favorite.

Susan Coleman
​Administrative Program Coordinator

Susan joined the University of Connecticut in 2004.  She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Connecticut State University and 15 years of experience in early childhood education. Since 2007, Susan has been leading Husky Reads, a literacy-based health and nutrition program for preschoolers.  In addition, she manages the Husky Scholars Summer Internship Program.  Susan’s love of books and reading is a natural match for her diverse role.
Fun fact from Susan: My favorite memory from childhood is picking and eating tomatoes straight from our backyard garden.  

Catalina Quesada, MPH, RD
​​Community Education Specialist

Catalina is a bilingual (English-Spanish) Registered Dietitian with a master’s degree in public health from the University of Texas-Houston.  Catalina has worked in clinical and community nutrition settings over the years.  She joined the Husky Nutrition team at UConn Health in 2009 and currently works with individuals, teaching them how to eat healthy while on a budget.
Fun fact from Catalina: I love all things travel, food, nature, and animals.

Michelle Gibeault Traub, MA, RDN
Planning Specialist, Communications
Fun fact from Michelle: I love cilantro even though some people think it tastes like soap!

Karen O’Hare-Charles, MS, RDN
Community Education Specialist

Karen is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Sacred Heart University and master’s degree in food and nutrition from Framingham State University. She is passionate about teaching people how to cook and shop for healthy meals on a budget. In her spare time, Karen enjoys cooking, biking, and skiing.
Fun fact from Karen: I love learning to cook different cuisines. It allows me to explore the world without leaving my kitchen! 

Chelsey Hahn, MPH
Web and Marketing Associate

Chelsey is a strong advocate of health promotion. She has a master’s degree in public health and a bachelor's degree in mass communication. As a part-time member of the Husky Nutrition team, she is responsible for promoting SNAP4CT’s online nutrition education platforms. Chelsey is also the coordinator of UConn Extension’s Farm to School program, Put Local on Your Tray. She loves music, hiking, movies, reading, hugs, and her cat, Wasabi. 
Fun fact from Chelsey: I really love pickles and generally eat them while basking in the glow of the fridge light.

Heli Roy, Ph.D., MBA, RD 
​Nutrition Education Specialist

Picture
Heli received her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University, and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Louisiana State University.  She completed her dissertation at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.  Heli worked as a Public Health Nutritionist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for 15 years.  At Husky Nutrition, Heli works on special projects, and teaches the Husky Nutrition course at UConn. Heli loves growing an herb garden, using herbs in cooking, and exploring new recipes for vegetables.  She also loves traveling, hiking, knitting, ballroom dancing, and spending time with her grandchildren.  ​
​
Fun Fact from Heli: I love salads that make a meal. My favorite is one with chick peas, eggs, tomatoes, parsley or cilantro and any greens I have on hand.

Members of Our Consulting Team

Casey Calkins DeVivo, MS, RDN 
​​​Nutrition Educator

Casey is a new Registered Dietitian (2019). She completed a bachelor's degree in health sciences at Gettysburg College in 2015 and her masters in health promotion at the University of Connecticut in 2018. As an intern, she served as a member of the founding SNAP4CT team. Casey loves being able to give people food-related tips to make their lives easier and healthier!  When not at work, she can be found hiking, doing yoga, or testing new recipes.
​
Fun fact from Casey: I would always choose having small samples of many different foods over one big meal. That's why tapas are my favorite! 

Sumiya Khan, MS, RDN, CLC
​​​Nutrition Education Specialist

Sumiya Khan is a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist with over 15 years of experience.  Originally from California, she holds a bachelor’s degree in community nutrition from the University of California at Davis, and a master’s degree in clinical and counseling nutrition from Bastyr University.  Sumiya is passionate about cooking, food and nutrition education.  In addition to her work at SNAP4CT, Sumiya helped create and manages a program that highlights the culinary skills of refugees in Connecticut in economically viable pursuits that promote their culinary traditions, cultures, and stories.  In her spare time, Sumiya enjoys baking, reading, traveling and photography.
​
Fun fact about Sumiya: I love good quality chocolate, and won’t consider dessert unless it has chocolate!

Our Latest Publications
​​Husky Nutrition Annual &
Impact Reports 2017
Husky Nutrition Annual &
​Impact Reports 2018
Husky Nutrition
Impact Report 2019