Event Reminder: Nutrition and Physical Fitness Mini-Symposium

Speaker bios and organization information:

Derrick Adkins

Mr. Adkins is a 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist and a 1995 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Champion in the 400 meter hurdles. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Adkins was raised in the New York City suburb of Lakeview, on Long Island. He graduated from Malverne High school in June of 1988.  Derrick graduated Georgia Tech, where he achieved a degree in mechanical engineering with honors.

Today, Adkins is an employee of New York Road Runners (NYRR) Youth and Community Services division, visiting doz- ens of NYC public schools each school year to motivate students toward achievement in both their school work and their extracurricular endeavors. He delivers an engaging, inspiring presentation called “The Olympic Mentality,” encouraging students to strive to be their “personal best selves” in the areas of academic success, as well as their nutrition & fitness goals. (www.nyrr.org)

Dr. Jessica Chow

Dr. Jessica Chow is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Brooklyn College. Dr. Chow graduated from Queens College (CUNY) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Exercise Science, and a Master of Sci- ence and PhD in Exercise Physiology from Springfield College. (http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/academics/schools/naturalsciences/undergraduate/kinesiology.php)

John Honerkamp

Mr. Honerkamp has coached runners of all ages and abilities for 15 years. He was an assistant coach at St. John’s Uni- versity (Queens, NY) for five years, working with mid- and long-distance runners, and was the recruiting coordinator for all events. A 1998 graduate of St. John’s, Honerkamp was an eight-time All-Big East and six-time All-East (IC4A) athlete while running for the Red Storm.

He is an eight-time top-10 finisher at the U.S. Track & Field National Championships and a member of the American record-holding 4×1500-meter relay team. Recently, Honerkamp has dabbled in the longer distances: He ran the 2010 ING New York City Marathon in 2:44:22, and the Long Island Half-Marathon in 1:12:24. And Honerkamp practices what he preaches: he trained for the 2011 Berlin and ING New York City marathons using the Official NYRR Training Plan. (www.nyrr.org)

Pamela Warren

Ms. Warren received a Master of Science in Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the Graduate Center and Brooklyn College (CUNY). Warren is also a Certified Holistic Nutritionist by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. While working as a clinical nutritionist, she developed a program to eliminate confusion about what constitutes good health, how nutrition influences health, and how each individual can take control of their health through good nutrition. At the Art of Conscious Living, Ms. Warren is passionate about and deeply committed to teaching and empowering her clients to achieve their deepest level of sustained good health naturally and holisti- cally. (www.artofconsciousliving.com/The_Full_Story.html)

Nutrition Club at Hunter College

The Nutrition Club organizes students in the Nutrition and Food Science major (Master’s Degree) at Hunter College to discuss current research in the field, plan on and off campus events, get involved with community nutrition in the neighborhood, and bring in speakers or facilitators to further our knowledge of the dietetics world. Speakers: Claudia Yannaco, Elyse Metelka, Julia Sharkey Buckley (www.hunternutritionclub.org)

Urban Yoga Foundation

Urban Yoga Foundation (UYF) is a non-profit organization that educates and empowers communities to be proactive about issues affecting their health. Through yoga and related holistic approaches, UYF programs help individuals manage stress, develop mind-body awareness, and health consciousness. UYF’s values are based in the true meaning of yoga: to unite. Their vision is to unify communities by using yoga as a foundation of healthy lifestyle choices, academic and creative expression. Founder, Ghylian Bell, received her children’s certification from Next Generation Yoga for Kids, which then led to her ISHTA yoga certification (Integrated Science of Hatha Tantra and Ayurveda) with teacher Alan Finger at BeYoga in NYC. (www.urbanyogafoundation.org)