CPSDA Board of Directors 2013
President Amy F. Bragg, RD, CSSD, LD, University of Alabama
Amy Bragg was appointed Director of Performance Nutrition for the University of Alabama Athletic Department in June 2010. Prior to joining ‘Bama athletics, Amy served in a similar capacity with Texas A&M University Athletics for more than six years. Amy is responsible for nutrition coaching and education for all Alabama athletic teams, and collaborates with coaching and sports medicine staff members to integrate cutting-
edge nutrition strategies, optimizing team and student-athlete performance and health. Prior to becoming a full-time sports nutritionist, Amy was clinical dietitian in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Amy is a Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Specialist in sports dietetics. A member of The American Dietetic Association and four practice groups, Amy is active within Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN) and serves on the nominating committee. Amy is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition and Foods from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin. As CPSDA Vice President, Amy works with sponsor partners to advance the organization and the sports dietitian profession.
“Progressive, ethical food and nutrition companies are interested not only in the CPSDA’s growing membership, but in the common interests we share with them, primarily in promoting principled fueling and recovery strategies, and mentoring young athletes to perform at their best. “
in Giles, VA and Washington, PA. As the Sports Nutritionist for KU, he provides nutrition education and counseling for the university’s 16 athletic teams, collaborating with the sports medicine team and coaches to promote enhanced performance and optimal health in each athlete. He also oversees the Jayhawks’ Training Table, body composition analysis, and dietary supplement evaluation. Randy is a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association, as well as a member of the Sports and Cardiovascular Nutritionists (SCAN), a practice group of the ADA. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. Randy is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Randy holds a Master of Science Degree in Sports Nutrition from Virginia Tech, and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise is also from Virginia Tech.
“The success of CPSDA is dependent upon member participation. The knowledge, skills and experience of our members is what makes us strong. I want to encourage everyone to volunteer to serve on a committee. Because we all have hectic schedules, it is critical that we have many people volunteer to evenly distribute the work. Let’s keep our progress rolling!”
Secretary Becci Twombley, RD, CSSD, University of Southern California
Becci Twombley joined the University of Southern California as Director of Sports Nutrition in the summer of 2012 after five seasons at UCLA. Prior to joining UCLA Sports Medicine team, she spent four years as a pediatric and neonatal nutrition specialist at Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, CA. As the Sports Dietitian at UCLA, she oversees the fueling of 600 athletes on 22 teams. Becci believes nutrition is an essential part of training and tailors diets to meet the individual needs of her
athletes based on their role on the team, position, personal goals and time of season. Her mission is to “fuel athletes” so that training is more efficient, career longevity is maximized, and performance is optimized. Becci is a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association, as well as a member of the Sports and Cardiovascular Nutritionists (SCAN), a practice group of the ADA. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. Becci is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. Becci received her Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine and in Nutritional Science from Pepperdine University.
hampionship teams, from Olympic gold medalists and Cy Young Award winners to NCAA football champions and Super Bowl winners. Dave forged his skills and earned his college degree working alongside legendary football coach Tom Osborne at Nebraska, then spent four years at the University of Wisconsin (1990-94) before coming home to the Huskers for seven more seasons. As perhaps the best known sports dietitian to coaches, athletic directors and General Managers at the highest levels of sport, Dave is a vocal and visible advocate for the value of bringing full-time sports dietitians to every college and professional sports team in the U.S. Dave is a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association, and also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Dave holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Nebraska. For a more complete history on Dave click www.DaveEllisbio.com. "It will be the full-time professional members of the CPSDA that define the scope of practice for sports dietitians, and for the young people who follow in our footsteps. Athletes and coaches are gradually coming to recognize Sports Dietitians as “Performance Nutrition Professionals,” which is an important step forward for all registered dietitians. “
Conference Chair Amy Freel, MS, RD, Indiana University
Amy Freel became Director of Sports Nutrition for the Athletics Department at Indiana University on March 2, 2011, assuming the same position she held for nine years at Virginia Tech. Prior to becoming the full-time sports nutritionist, Amy worked as the Coordinator of Student Life for 
Virginia Tech and as a clinical dietitian in Salem, VA. As the Sports Nutritionist at Indiana, she provides nutrition education and counseling for all the university’s athletic teams, collaborating with the sports medicine staff and coaches to promote better performance and optimal health in every athlete. Amy also oversees the Nutrition Oasis, body composition analysis, and dietary supplement evaluation. She's a Registered Dietitian with the American Dietetic Association, as well as a member of the Sports and Cardiovascular Nutritionists (SCAN), a practice group of the ADA. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. Amy holds a Master of Science Degree in Dietetics from Ball State University and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics is also from Ball State. Amy chairs the all-important Education and Annual Conference Committee for the Collegiate & Professional Sports Dietitians Assn.
Membership Chair Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, Ben Hogan Center (Texas)
Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD is a registered dietitian in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. She
received her Bachelor of Science degree in speech communications from
Texas Christian University in 2003 and Masters in Exercise and Sports
Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University in 2006. Currently Amy is the
full-time sports dietitian for Ben Hogan Sports Medicine where she works
with athletes of all levels, including consulting with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, serves as a media 
dietitian, and speaks to sports teams as well as at a variety of nutrition, athletic training and coaching conferences. Amy
is the sports dietitian for Texas Christian University Athletics,
University of North Texas Athletics and consults for the Texas Rangers,
Dallas Stars, USA Track & Field, Team Take Down UFC fighters and
Back 9 Tour Services, where she works with golfers on the PGA Tour®. In
addition, she is an adjunct professor and dietetic intern preceptor for
Texas Woman’s University and Texas Christian University and is on
faculty for the JPS Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. Amy
is the 2010-2011 President of Dallas Dietetic Association, a state
media representative for Texas Dietetic Association and serves on a
leadership committee in SCAN. She is a Certified
Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) and was named as “Recognized Young
Dietitian of the Year” for the state of Texas 2008.
"CPSDA is a network of experienced sports dietitians in combination with students and associate members. As we continue to grow through gaining new members of all education and experience levels, we will vastly impact the world of sports and performance by teaching athletes to properly fuel their bodies. Using media and social media, CPSDA hopes to elevate sports dietitians while also educating the public on proper sports nutrition."
Career Development Chair Scott Sehnert, MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS, Auburn
Scott Sehnert joined the Auburn University Sports Medicine staff in August 2009. In his role as Sports Dietitian he oversees the sports nutrition needs for AU's 21 varsity sports including nutrition education, counseling, training tables, body composition analysis, and supplement 
evaluation. Sehnert holds a Bachelor's Degree in Dietetics from Ball State University, where he was also a varsity student-athlete. He earned his first Master's Degree in Nutritional Sciences with a wellness and sports nutrition emphasis from the University of Kentucky while completing his clinical training at UK's Chandler Medical Center and the Lexington V.A. Hospital. He received his second Master's Degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in exercise physiology from Michigan State University. After completing his first master's degree and clinical training, he spent three months as an intern with the U.S. Speed Skating Team and the University of Utah sports nutrition program. Prior to coming to Auburn, he held a similar position at Michigan State University where he coordinated the sports nutrition services for student-athletes. Sehnert is a Registered Dietitian (RD) with the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and is a member of the Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN) dietetic practice group. Scott also holds certifications with the ADA as a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD), and with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He serves on the Board of Directors for the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association (CPSDA).
"One of the most important functions of CPSDA is to create employment opportunities for registered dietitians who are willing to acquire the knowledge, develop the special skills and work the longer hours required by coaches, athletic directors and other employers. Students of dietetics will usually start with internships. But all of us are required to digest a steady diet of continuing education to keep up with the rapidly changing nutrition environment we live in. Those of us who remain focused on a lifetime of learning usually reap the benefit always finding employment somewhere in sports when the need arises.”
Education Chair Allison Maurer, MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS University of Tennessee
Allison Maurer joined the University of Tennessee in 2007 after a three-year stint at the University of Colorado. She served as the Sports 
Nutritionist/Dietitian and an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach in Boulder, Colo., since 2004. Maurer is responsible for performance nutrition for the men's and women's athletic departments, and her duties include analyzing athletes' nutritional status, working with Team ENHANCE, creating meal plans, and providing nutrition education on a team or one-on-one basis.
Maurer also plans pre-game, post-game and travel meals for various teams, performs body composition testing for men's athletics and order and distributes nutritional supplements. She also works directly with the training table staff to create healthy meals for all student-athletes.
Maurer received her bachelor's degree in dietetics from Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, IL) and a master's degree in nutrition from Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA). She comes to Knoxville with her husband Dan, former assistant baseball coach at Colorado Christian University and finance manager at Denver First Church of the Nazarene, and their son, Manny.
“CPSDA is on the cusp of a new revolution in sports performance. The position of the Sports RD in athletics is still very young and new to many institutions. The leaders of CPSDA have wasted no time in making sure our value does not go unnoticed. With that being said, it is important that our organization keeps growing, especially in leadership. The sky is the limit for what we can do to help student-athletes achieve their athletic potential and getting involved with CPSDA is a great way to do that.”
Research Chair Amanda Carlson-Phillips, MS, RD, CSSD, Athlete's Performance
Amanda is the Vice President of Nutrition and Research for Athletes' Performance and Core Performance in Phoenix, Arizona. A registered dietitian, Amanda earned her bachelor's degree in nutritional sciences with a minor in chemistry from the University of Arizona, then went on to complete a master's degree in sports nutrition and exercise physiology from Florida State University.
At Athletes' Performance, Amanda works directly with the nutrition team and also coordinates research efforts to help Athletes' Performance stay on the cutting-edge of sports science. The CPSDA plans to capitalize on Amanda's research experience as she endeavors to develop the 4-year-old national not-for-profit organization's first efforts to validate the value that sports dietitians bring to athletic programs.
