Spokespeople
Our local spokespersons include registered dietitians who can provide credible and timely information about food and nutrition. Whether you need an expert for a brief sound bite or for an entire segment, we can help put you in touch with a health expert, researcher or dairy industry spokesperson.
Philadelphia Media Market
Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN
Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg/Lancaster/Lebanon/York Media Markets
Isabel Maples, M.Ed., RD
Baltimore Media Market
Dawn Clausing, RD, CDN
Philadelphia Media Market
Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN
Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN, is a communications specialist and media spokesperson for Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, where she specializes in nutrition and health reporting. She is a former spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and has covered topics ranging from childhood nutrition to the latest research on food and health.
Althea has more than 30 years of experience in developing and presenting nutrition programs in educational and health professional settings and for the media. She is a skilled communicator and is able to translate complex nutrition and health information into understandable and usable information.
A registered dietitian, Althea is a past president of the Philadelphia Dietetic Association and served on the executive board for 25 years. She has been the association’s spokesperson since 1992. Althea has also been an adjunct faculty member at Drexel University.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in education, The Pennsylvania State University; master’s degree in nutrition science, Drexel University.
To contact Althea Zanecosky, call 215.836.5534 or e-mail azanecosky@milk4u.org.
Washington, D.C./Harrisburg/Lebanon/York Media Markets
Isabel Maples, M.Ed., RD
Isabel Maples, M.Ed., RD, is a spokesperson for Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, where she is responsible for food and health-related communications in metropolitan Washington, D.C., and central Pennsylvania.
In her current role, Isabel translates nutrition research into everyday language to help families make better food choices. She has completed hundreds of local and national print, radio, online and TV interviews, including USA Today, Associated Press, Rachael Ray Magazine, Today’s Dietitian and the Washington Post. She is a monthly guest on WHTM-TV27’s Mid-Day Gourmet, where she shows viewers how to prepare quick, nutritious dishes. In addition, she helps people make sense of the conflicting misinformation they receive about milk and dairy foods.
As a registered dietitian, Isabel helps guide consumers past the confusion of “bad foods,” focusing instead on practical nutrition tips to make food fun again. Throughout her career, Isabel has been a member of various state and regional dietetic associations including the Virginia Dietetic Association and the American Dietetic Associations. She served for five years as the Virginia state public relations and media chair. She is also a National Dairy Council Ambassador.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in public health nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a master’s of education degree in sports nutrition and wellness from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In addition, Isabel completed a dietetic internship with Penrose Hospitals in Colorado Springs, is a certified HEART RD from the New York State Department of Health and is certified with the American Dietetic Association in both Adult and Adolescent/Childhood Weight Management.
To contact Isabel Maples, call 703.753.1195 or e-mail imaples@milk4u.org.
Baltimore Media Market
Dawn Clausing, RD, CDN
Dawn Clausing, RD, CDN, is a nutrition communications manager and media spokesperson for Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, where she is responsible for nutrition and health-related communications and media interviews in the Baltimore media market.
Dawn has significant experience in developing and marketing nutrition education materials for educators and health professionals to use with their students, clients and patients, as well as experience with FDA labeling regulations for food packaging. Prior to joining Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, she worked for the Produce for Better Health Foundation in both education and marketing positions for the national 5 A Day for Better Health Program. Dawn has also worked as a clinical dietitian providing medical nutrition therapy to patients at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Del.
As a registered dietitian with more than 10 years of experience in the field, Dawn is committed to communicating nutrition messages that promote wellness, health promotion and disease prevention in a fun and easy-to-understand way. During her career, Dawn has remained active with the Delaware Dietetic Association, serving in several board-level positions including secretary and president.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in communication, Ohio University; and bachelor’s degree in Dietetics, University of Delaware. In addition, Dawn completed her dietetic internship with the University of Delaware/Delaware Division of Public Health.
To contact Dawn Clausing, call 302.353.9740 or e-mail dclausing@milk4u.org.