About the State Agency Advisory Council
What is the State Agency Advisory Council?
The State Agency Advisory Council supports SNA’s mission and vision by providing expert knowledge on the inner workings of school nutrition programs at the state level. The Council provides guidance and insight into how to manage and implement the federal child nutrition programs at the state level and interprets federal and state policies operating in all states and territories.
What are the Council Responsibilities?
- Shares viewpoints on federal child nutrition program issues and positions.
- Identifies and highlights regulatory areas of importance in a timely manner.
- Assist in developing pre-conference, State Agency and USDA sessions at SNA conferences.
- Serves as a liaison between SNA and states and territories in their region.
- Assist in development of a state agency newsletter.
Meet Our Members

Chair
Lena Wilson, MS, RD, SNS
Texas DOA
Austin, TX

Mid-Atlantic Representative
Vonda Cooke, MS, RD
Pennsylvania DOE
Harrisburg, PA

Midwest Representative
Brigette Hires, PhD, RD, LD
Ohio DOE
Columbus, OH

Northeast Representative
Robert Leshin, MPA
Massachusetts DOE
Malden, MA

Mountain Plains Representative
Brehan Riley, MS, RD, SNS
Colorado DOE
Denver, CO

Southeast Representative
Mike Bishop, SNS
Tennessee DOE
Bartlett, TN

Southwest Representative
Melissa Conner
Arizona DOE
Phoenix, AZ

West Rep.
Sharlene Wong, SNS
Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs
Honolulu, HI

Board Advisor
Chris Burkhardt, SNS
Cincinnati Public Schools
Cincinnati, OH

Staff Advisor
Nadia Davis
School Nutrition Assoc.
Arlington, VA