PA NEN Team

Serina Gaston, M.Ed, CHES, Executive Director
Email: sgaston@phmc.org

Serina holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from West Chester University. In 2007, she completed her Master of Education with a concentration in Health from Pennsylvania State University and attained her certification as a Certified Health Education Specialist (C.H.E.S.) in October 2008. In 2017 she earned a Professional Human Resource Management certificate from Villanova University.

Excited to be PA NEN’s new Executive Director, Serina is looking forward to working with the Board, NEN membership, PA NEN staff, state and local officials and others to ensure that the mission is fulfilled through programs, strategic planning and community outreach. Serina has spent 19 years working in public health developing, implementing, and coordinating programs and initiatives relating to chronic disease prevention and management with community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, schools, and federally qualified health centers all across Pennsylvania. Throughout her career, Serina has facilitated improvement of operations and policy, systems and environmental changes through acknowledging and reducing barriers, capitalizing on strengths, adapting to change, and enriching collaborations.

Erika Siracusa, RD, LDN, Health and Wellness Coordinator
Email: e siracusa@phmc.org

Erika holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Simmons College in Boston, MA. Erika started her career in food service management with Morrison Healthcare where she specialized in patient experience at various hospitals throughout the country. She later completed her dietetic internship with the Priority Nutrition Care Distance Dietetic Internship to attain her Registered Dietitian credentials. During her dietetic internship, she found her passion for community nutrition at a regional food bank in Connecticut where she supported a national food bank and food pantry nutrition initiative called Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP). Erika is excited to join the Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network as a Health and Wellness Coordinator to support the mission of the organization and contribute her knowledge in nutrition, wellness, and food insecurity.

Isabel Hachten, Program Assistant
Email: ihachten@phmc.org

Isabel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, PA. She has been a research assistant for two research projects during her time in undergrad. For one of the studies, she will be presenting a poster at the 2020 Annual APA Convention with her mentor, who is a previous professor of hers, and a fellow Elizabethtown College graduate. Isabel has interned with Someone To Tell It To, a nonprofit in Harrisburg, and Triscari, a marketing firm in Camp Hill. Through these internships, she acquired a broad range of skills in marketing, writing, communication, and web design and development. She is excited to start her career in public health with the Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network as a Program Assistant. In this role she will be responsible for managing PA NEN’s social media platforms, website as well as assisting with the coordination and management of the Social Marketing Committee.

Philadelphia SNAP-ED

FOOD SECURITY BY THE NUMBERS

SNAP recipients use their benefits to boost local economies, reduce food insecurity, and consume more fresh produce.
Every one dollar of SNAP benefits has an estimated economic impact of $1.70 Learn More

During the 2018/19 school year: 55,000 students reached by Eat Right Philly SNAP-Ed partners

Students reached by Eat Right Philly SNAP-Ed partners: 924

Parents and caretakers reached by Eat Right Philly SNAP-Ed partners: 3.4 million Learn more