Curriculum Vitae: Tara Dunker

CURRICULUM VITAE


CURRICULUM VITAE

Tara Dunker
M.S., RD
 

 

 

EDUCATION

University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

  • M.S., Community Nutrition and Health Promotion
    Leadership Education Minor 
    +Dietetic Internship at  Iowa State

  • B.S., Dietetics
    Psychology Minor

  • Nationally Accredited ServSafe Certified Instructor & Proctor

 

 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Food, Nutrition & Health Educator, Nebraska Extension-UNL
February 2019-Present
Beatrice, NE

  • Collaborate on food access, local food systems & health initiatives within an 11-county region in SE Nebraska (Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson & Saline + Fillmore, Seward, Nuckolls & Thayer occasionally).

  • Leverage partnerships with local, regional & state-wide non-profits, faith-based organizations, healthcare facilities, school districts & government agencies to alleviate hunger, lift up local foods & address public health concerns with policy, systems & environmental (PSE) approaches.

  • Deliver in-person & virtual educational programs, professional presentations, radio & TV interviews on a range of food, nutrition & health-related topics.

  • Author & co-author of over 100 published media articles, peer-reviewed professional publications & grant applications.

  • Of specific relevance in demonstrating my familiarity with SNAP-Ed & recent federal grant-related collaboration:

    • Deployed Growing Together Nebraska funds for a community-wide produce rescue & school garden program annually redistributing 2500-4500 pounds of produce to >1100 Beatrice residents.

    • .25 FTE currently being utilized by the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program for rural expansion & designated as an Investigator on a recently submitted DUFB dual-state GusNIP grant application.

WeCook Program Coordinator, Nebraska Extension-UNL
May 2015-February 2019
Lincoln, NE 

  • Coordinated a $648,750 USDA NIFA Children, Youth & Families At Risk grant.

  • Developed authentic community partnerships for program success.

  • Recruited, trained, mentored & managed 25-30 UNL students each semester.

  • Delivered bi-weekly inclusive programming at five Title I elementary schools.

  • Led the design, development & publication of a research-based curriculum.

  • Collaborated on program research, evaluation, reporting & sustainability.

 

 

NOTABLE HONORS

  • Nebraska Extension (Excellence in Extension Team Awards)

    • Research & Discovery in Food Safety | 2022 | Team Member

    • Farm to School Institute | 2021 | Community-Level Coach

    • Growing Together Nebraska | 2020 | Community-Level Coordinator

    • WeCook | 2019 | Program Coordinator
       

  • National Extension Association of FCS (Team Awards)

    • Regional 2nd, Educational Curriculum Package: Healthy Food Fast | 2021

    • Regional 2nd, Social Media Education: Food Safety | 2021

    • Innovative Youth Development Programming: WeCook | 2019
       

  • National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (Team Award)

    • Excellence in Healthy Living Programming: WeCook | 2018
       

  • Nebraska Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics

    • Emerging Dietetic Leader | 2018

 

 

LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATION & SERVICE

  • FNH Leadership Team
    Current | Appointed in 2020

    • Perform state-wide internal communication, professional development planning & annual reporting to administration.

  • Co-Lead Educator
    Current | Gage County Office

    • Coordinate hiring, onboarding & annual evaluations of support staff;draft & submit annual county Impact-at-a-Glance report; serve as NACEB contact/representative.

  • NERFSI Leadership Team
    Current Member | Past Annual Conference Chair

    • Perform state-wide internal communication, professional development planning & annual reporting to administration. 

    • In 2021-2022, served as chair for the Nebraska Food + Farm Conference.

  • Crete Welcoming Committee
    Member | MAY 2021 - PRESENT

  • Head Start Health & Safety Advisory Committee
    Member | MAY 2021 - PRESENT

  • Salvation Army of Beatrice
    Advisory Board Member | MAY 2021 - PRESENT

  • Child Nutrition Service (Beatrice)
    Board Member | NOVEMBER 2020 - PRESENT

  • Beatrice Community Food Pantry
    Volunteer & Board Member | AUGUST 2019 - PRESENT

  • Community Nutrition Partnership Council (Lincoln)
    Member (Inactive due to current position location) | MAY 2016 - PRESENT

  • Nebraska Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics

    • Treasurer (Elected) | JUNE 2019 - JUNE 2021

      • Managed the annual operating budget for an organization of >500 members using Quickbooks Online.

      • Led efforts to set annual budgets, utilize funds in the service of members & abide by 501c3 financial policies & procedures.

    • Annual Meeting Chair (Appointed) | JUNE 2017 - JUNE 2019

      • Managed a $35,000 annual operating budget, while generating income.

      • Led a team of 13 nutrition professionals in planning two consecutive annual
        conferences attended by approximately 230 state-wide colleagues.

    • Administrative Assistant | JULY 2013 - OCTOBER 2015

      • Planned & implemented professional events as part of a team.

      • Collaborated with local & national organizations, speakers & vendors.

      • Supported elected board members in carrying out their responsibilities.

    • Member | 2008 - PRESENT

 

 

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Presented or Co-Presented

  • Dunker, T., Guenther, H. (2022, June). Food in the Field: An adaptable, online program that meets busy rural families where they are by encouraging small shifts toward better health. PowerPoint presentation at the National Rural Grocery Summit, Wichita, KS.

  • Dunker, T., Stoner, N. (2022, May). Reducing Food Waste & Feeding a Community:Mobilizing Existing Resources in the Fight Against Hunger. Oral and poster presentations at the Bryan Health Connect Conference, Lincoln, NE.

  • Dunker, T., Guenther, H. (2022, May). Food in the Field: Rural Wellness & Filling Gaps in Nutrition Education for Nebraska Farm Families. Poster session presented at the Bryan Health Connect Conference, Lincoln, NE.

  • Dunker, T., Jewell, B., Sale, B., Long, C. (2022, February). Developing and Sustaining Food System Coalitions. Panel webinar at the Nebraska Food + Farm Conference.

  • Dunker, T., Guenther, H., Brison, C., Jones, G. (2021, May). Engaging New Audiences Through the Healthy Food Fast: Using Your Multi-Cooker Program. Poster session presented at the National Health Outreach Conference, virtual due to COVID-19.

  • Dunker, T., Carroll, J., Krehbiel, M. (2019, June). Pilot to Publication: Sustaining opportunities for WeCook through manualizing curriculum. PowerPoint presentation at the CYFAR PDTA Workshop, Washington, D.C.

  • Dunker, T., Krehbiel, M. (2019, May). Sharing Best Practices: An Out-of-School Time Cooking, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Program for Underserved Youth. PowerPoint presentation at the National Health Outreach Conference, Fort Worth, TX.

  • Dunker, T., Miramonti, A., Krehbiel, M. (2018, October). Assessing Nutrition Knowledge Using a Healthy Plate Photo Method Among Youth Participating in the WeCook Program. PowerPoint presentation at the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference, Columbus, OH.

  • Krehbiel, M., Franzen-Castle, L., Dunker, T. (2018, January). Food, Fitness, and Families: Lessons learned from two Extension cooking programs. Webinar for the Food, Nutrition, and Health Interest Group, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.

  • Walther, A., Krehbiel, M., Dunker, T. (2017, May). Examining new assessment tools for a 4th and 5th grade youth healthy living after school program, WeCook. PowerPoint presentation at the National Health Outreach Conference, Annapolis, MD.

  • Dunker, T. (2016, November). Creatively using your space, time, and materials. Webinar presented for the Click2Science Organization.

  • Dunker T., Krehbiel M., Chai W., Walther A., Franzen-Castle L., Jones G., Wieczorek M. (2016, October). Engaging underserved youth in fun food and fitness lessons to improve knowledge and skills. Poster session presented at the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.

  • Franzen-Castle, L., Krehbiel, M., Dunker, T., Jones, G. (2016, September). WeCook After School Program: Engaging Youth in Fun Food and Fitness Lessons to Improve Knowledge and Skills Among 4th and 5th Grade Participants. Poster session presented at the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Annual Session, Big Sky, MT.

  • Krehbiel, M., Dunker, T., (2016, September). WeCook: Fun with food and fitness. PowerPoint presentation at the Nebraska Department of Education 21st CCLC Conference, LaVista, NE.

  • Walther A., Dunker T., Kehbiel M., Franzen-Castle L., Chai W. (2016, July). Engaging youth in innovative food and fitness lessons to improve knowledge and skills among 4th and 5th graders. Poster session presented at the Society of Nutrition and Education Behavior Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.

  • Dunker, T. (2016, May). WeCook: Fun with food and fitness. PowerPoint presentation at the CYFAR PDTA Workshop, Washington, D.C.

  • Krehbiel M., Dunker T., Chai W., Walther A., Franzen-Castle L., Jones G., Wieczorek M. (2016, April). WeCook: Fun with food and fitness. Poster session presented at the National Health Outreach Conference, Roanoke, VA.

  • Krehbiel M., Dunker T., Chai W., Walther A., Franzen-Castle L., Jones G., Wieczorek M. (2016, April). Wecook: Fun with food and fitness. Poster session presented at the Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Lincoln, NE.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Co-Authored

  • Jewell, B., Long, C., Dunker, T., Sehi, S. (2022). Carving out space for small-scale producers through food system coalitions. Urban Food Systems Symposium. Manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Schlange, K., Franzen-Castle, L., Walther, A., Dunker, T., Krehbiel, M. (2020). Parent/Caregiver Perceptions of Youth Health Outcomes After Participating in the WeCook: Fun with Food and Fitness Program. Health Education & Behavior (HEB).
  • Walther, A., Dunker, T., Franzen-Castle, L., Krehbiel, M. (2018). Increasing at-risk youth self-reported and objectively measured physical activity in an afterschool program. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 110(1), 59-63.
  • Walther, A., Chai, W., Dunker, T., Franzen-Castle, L., Krehbiel, M. (2018). A New Way to Assess Nutrition Knowledge: The Healthy Plate Photo Method. Afterschool Matters, 28:3-9.
  • Franzen-Castle, L., Dunker, T., Chai, W., Krehbiel, M. (2017). Fitbit and Fitabase Technology: Tracking and evaluating youth physical activity. Journal of Extension, 55(2).

 

 

SECURED LOCAL GRANTS
Authored or Co-Authored

  • $44,500 Awarded To-Date

  • Beatrice Community Hospital Foundation Grant

    • Author | Awarded $25,000 in 2022 to support the construction costs incurred by the Beatrice Community Food Pantry in relocating to better serve those living with food insecurity in Gage County.

  • NDE Expanded Learning Opportunities Grant

    • Co-Author & Co-PI | Awarded $12,500 in 2022 to partner with Southeast Community College (SCC) and Beatrice Public Schools on a 2-year “learning league” where SCC students teach after school 4-H & FNH lessons coordinated by Gage County Extension to elementary students to fulfill a class requirement.

  • ELCA World Hunger Education & Networking Grant 

    • Co-Author & Event Coordinator | Awarded $2,000 in 2022 to support the grassroots community event “Planting Hope, Cultivating Understanding: A Thoughtful Conversation About Poverty in Our Community” where 75 southeast Nebraska residents & professionals attended a facilitated 3-hour discussion on poverty.

  • Toro Volunteer Grant via Exmark Manufacturing

    • Author | Awarded $5,000 in 2023 to support the equipment and moving costs incurred by the Beatrice Community Food Pantry in relocating to better serve those living with food insecurity in Gage County. As part of this grant, Exmark also supplies volunteers to assist with moving and assembly of equipment (shelves, cabinets, carts).