This month we focus our spotlight on career changer Evelyn Fuertes, NDTR and bilingual Community Outreach Coordinator for the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
After nearly two decades of working as an NYC corporate executive assistant, Evelyn made the leap to the health and wellness field, when she transitioned to a vegan lifestyle 10 years ago. With a BA in Art History, Evelyn enrolled in Middlesex Community College and earned her Nutrition & Dietetic Technician Registered credential, enabling her to teach and create evidence-based nutrition curriculums. Since 2014, she has held roles at the Community Foodbank of New Jersey, SNAP-Ed, and Whole Cities Foundation – a Whole Foods non-profit.
Evelyn joined the Cancer Institute in 2019 and works to increase awareness about cancer prevention and screening in the community with a focus on the Latino community. Her goals are to empower people to advocate for their health.
“I love what I am doing now. I am a program coordinator at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and ScreenNJ. The position at the Cancer Institute has allowed me to work on educating the community on healthy habits including diet and exercise. A typical day can include curriculum development, a 1:1 with my direct reports, meetings with potential partners or leading a Cancer Prevention Pantry,” Evelyn shared.
In addition to her role as a nutrition educator, Evelyn says she volunteers as a Master Gardener in her county. “I have been able to do workshops on herbs and planning a garden diet. This is a great way to combine two of my favorite things, nutrition, and gardening,” she said.
She credits her success to the foundation that was laid by the leadership team at Middlesex Community College, Mary Pat and Theresa. “They were excellent role models, and I was really sorry to see the DTR program go since they did such a great job with it,” she added.
A native of Cuba, she came to the U.S. as a Cuban Refugee at 7 weeks old and has lived in NJ her entire life. “I love the diversity of the state, so while I like to visit the rest of the world I always come back home. I love the fact that NJ has so many different areas, we have everything we need in our little crowded state. I [also] love to try new foods and go to the different ethnic groceries in my area,” Evelyn concluded. When she’s not working, she enjoys couch-time with her dog, reading, and taking hikes.
