Our Team
Michelle Nicolet
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Michelle holds a B.S. in Biopsychology from UC Santa Barbara, a Nutrition Certificate from Cornell University, and has completed coursework with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She founded KIN in 2014 as a second-year undergraduate student, transforming her vision for accessible childhood nutrition education into a thriving nationwide student-led movement. Michelle believes that by learning how and why to make informed food choices early in life, we build skills and cultivate lifelong habits that can prevent chronic disease and cultivate a climate resilient food system. As CEO, she leads KIN’s strategic vision and nationwide educational growth to ensure food literacy continues to expand across the United States.
Libby Bridges
Program Manager
Libby holds an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon, specializing in Food Studies with concentrations in environmental education and climate justice, along with a B.A. in Education. As a licensed elementary educator in a Title I school, she gained firsthand insight into how systemic barriers shape children’s health and learning. Her work managing environmental education initiatives, alongside her graduate research on food systems, climate, and culturally relevant education, sharpened her skills as a mentor, communicator, and advocate. Libby believes building relationships is one of the most powerful tools for food justice and climate action. As Program Manager, she oversees chapter onboarding and operations, mentors student leaders, helps manage grants and program evaluation, and works closely with the CEO to help KIN grow nationwide.
Kaila Yi
Associate Program Manager
Kaila is pursuing a B.S. in Biology with an emphasis in Pharmacology at UCSB. She joined KIN’s UCSB chapter in 2022 as a KINstructor and now serves as Lead Chapter Director, overseeing program implementation and operations in the local community. As Associate Program Manager, she supports the CEO in expanding campus programs, coordinating nationwide volunteers, and guiding the organization’s sustainable growth.
Sophia McLoughlin
Projects Coordinator
Sophia holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from UCSB. She joined KIN in 2021 as a KINstructor and volunteered throughout her four years as an undergraduate. As Projects Coordinator, she works with the CEO and staff to evaluate programs, develop curricula, train volunteers, and analyze participant feedback to ensure programming is responsive to community needs.
Mia Nenadovich
Education Associate
Mia holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and Biology from Butler University. She joined KIN in November 2024, launching the KIN chapter at Butler University. As an Education Associate, she works with the KIN team on social media outreach, program development, feedback analysis, and nationwide chapter support to help meet local community needs at each of our service locations.
Board of Directors
Michelle Nicolet
CEO & Treasurer
Angela Shields
Chairwoman
Sean Clancy
Secretary
Advisory Committee
Ryan Kokoska is a 4th-year Medical Student at Indiana University School of Medicine, but in the KIN world, she is well known for her nutrition name, Sweet Potato! She went to UCSB to play soccer and quickly joined KIN in 2016. She then founded the Indiana KIN Chapter in 2021 to share the amazing lessons with kids in her hometown. As a doctor, she will apply her lessons from KIN to every patient encounter.
Jayson Toweh is a Stanford Ph.D. student focusing on identifying the health, environmental, and social impacts of climate change and creating co-benefits from developing sustainable energy transition. Previously he has worked with the U.S. EPA, The World Bank, and serves on Harvard's Board of Overseers. His interest and work in health and well-being brought him to work with KIN helping support their mission and group. Jayson is from Atlanta, GA, and resides in Palo Alto, CA, with his dog Jojo.
Rosie is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for community health, equitable nutrition education, and sustainable food systems. She obtained her Associates degree in Culinary Arts at SUNY SCCC in Schenectady, NY and a Bachelors in Culinary Nutrition at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. Her passion for community-based interests brought her to volunteer for KIN to assist with program development, outreach, and partnership building. Rosie lives in Troy, NY with her husband Ian and pet turtle, Turtleman.
Stephanie is a 4th-grade general education teacher who enjoys having an inclusive classroom. She obtained her Masters in Education at Mills College and her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Earth Science at UC Santa Barbara. While at UC Santa Barbara, Stephanie became a founding member of KIN, was their Director of Development her senior year, and taught their classroom program. In her free time, Stephanie loves playing soccer, hiking, and seeing friends.
Meera Patel is a lawyer at Cooley LLP, and practices general business and corporate law, with a specific focus on emerging company work. She obtained her JD from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law and her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. Meera got involved with KIN when it was seeking to become a non-profit corporation. She advises non-profits on a variety of topics, including formation and day-to-day matters.
Akanksha Pabari is a high school Chemistry and Physics teacher in Somerville, Massachusetts. She obtained her Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, with a minor in Public Health, from UC Davis. As part of Kids in Nutrition (KIN), she served as an Instructor in Davis elementary schools and developed a food sustainability curriculum for KIN. She is interested in expanding opportunities for nutrition and food sustainability education in K–12 schools. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, reading, and playing tennis.
