Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Wai Yee Lee and Jennifer Kay Nelson to the Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice. 

Wai Yee Lee, of Faribault, works as a consultant at Trans Cultural Services.  She is also employed as a Chinese interpreter-translator at both Kim Tong Translation Services and at Garden Translation.  Lee also serves as a member of the Faribault School District Board of Education.  She is President of the Southern Chinese Organization and serves on the Board of Directors of the Center for Reducing Rural Violence, the Faribault Diversity Coalition, and the United Way of Faribault.  Lee received a Bachelor of Education degree from National Taiwan Normal University.  She is appointed as a public member of the board for the remainder of a term ending August 1, 2005.  She will fill a seat caused by the resignation of Randall Brown. 

Jennifer Kay Nelson, of Rochester, is Director of Clinical Dietetics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.  In her present position she leads a staff of 60 clinical dietitians, 9 dietetic technicians, and 2 nutrition assistants.  Nelson is a founding member of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.  She also serves on the editorial advisory board of the clinical journal Nutrition in Clinical Practice.  She received a B.S. in Dietetics and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota and a M.S. in Nutrition from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin.  Nelson is a Licensed Dietitian in Minnesota.  She is appointed as a licensed dietitian member of the board for a term ending August 1, 2007.  She replaces Marita Haberman on the board. 

The Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice is responsible for licensing and disciplining dieticians and nutritionists.  The board is made up of seven members appointed by the Governor.