About the Series
The “Meet the Board” series highlights the dedicated leaders behind the National WIC Association. Each spotlight offers a glimpse into the journeys, passions, and perspectives of our Board members, showcasing the people who help guide our mission to support and strengthen WIC across the country.
Gillian MacKinnon, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Public Health Nutrition Specialist, Vermont WIC | Nutrition Services Section Standing Committee Chair
From the front lines as a local agency Nutritionist to her current role as Vermont’s Public Health Nutrition Specialist, Gillian MacKinnon has shown unwavering dedication to WIC. Along her WIC journey, she’s become a Registered Dietitian and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), deepening her expertise in nutrition education, breastfeeding advocacy, and community engagement. Now, as the Chair of the Nutrition Services Section Standing Committee on the NWA Board, Gillian is on a mission to elevate the voices of WIC staff nationwide, ignite collaboration between committees, and shape a future where every deserving family can access the full benefits of WIC.
Tell us about your journey to the National WIC Association Board. How did you get involved, and what inspired you to engage?
I began my WIC journey in 2011 as a temporary WIC Nutritionist with Vermont WIC, right after completing graduate school. Just two months into the role, I sat for the RD exam and officially became a Registered Dietitian.
For the next ten years, I served as a local agency WIC Nutritionist and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Supervisor, providing one-on-one nutrition education and support to families. I also worked in the community—delivering trainings, conducting WIC outreach, and building partnerships to support our program's reach and impact.
In 2017, I became an IBCLC, which allowed me to offer more specialized support to families within my agency. It also gave me the opportunity to assist staff and participants across other agencies when complex breastfeeding challenges arose.
In 2021, I joined the Vermont State WIC team, where I now split my time between nutrition and breastfeeding initiatives. My work includes leading our State Nutrition Education Workgroup, supporting the WIC Family Partner program, providing staff trainings on nutrition and breastfeeding, and ensuring local agencies are meeting standards by following established policies and procedures.
My journey to the NWA Board began at the 2023 NWA conference in San Diego, where I was recruited to fill a vacancy for the Northeast Region on the Nutrition Services Section Standing Committee (NSS). At the time, I wasn’t entirely sure what the role would entail, but after hearing from colleagues who had previously served and spoke so positively about their experiences, I decided to say yes. They described it as a meaningful opportunity to network, build relationships with staff and programs across the country, and deepen their understanding of WIC—and that really resonated with me.
After serving on the NSS Committee for two years, the current NSS board representative reached her term limit. Once again, after hearing how rewarding the role had been for her and how much she had grown through the experience, I felt inspired to take the next step. I agreed to co-chair alongside a colleague from Illinois, and I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with them over the past couple of years. I'm excited to continue learning and contributing in this new role.
What’s a goal or initiative you're particularly excited about this year?
One of my main goals this year is to actively listen to the voices of programs and staff during our Nutrition Services Section Standing Committee meetings. I want to ensure that the successes and challenges I hear are brought forward to the NWA Board, so they can help inform broader conversations and decisions.
I’m especially excited about the potential for more cross-collaboration between section standing committees. When we bring more minds together across different areas of WIC, we open the door to creative, informed solutions that can truly move our program forward.
What impact do you hope the National WIC Association will have in the next five years?
I hope that in the next five years, WIC can ensure full funding for all eligible families. I would also like to see the Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program recognized as a core benefit in all WIC programs, ensuring that anyone enrolled in WIC who might need additional feeding support or encouragement from another parent can receive it.
Coming out of the recent NWA Board meeting, what inspired or energized you most, and how do you hope to carry that momentum into the year ahead?
This is my first time serving on a board, and when I arrived at our first in-person meeting, I was feeling quite nervous. However, I was quickly reminded that we're all part of the WIC family, which made it easy to find common ground and build connections.
What really inspired me was the diversity of experience around the table. Each of us brings unique expertise from different parts of WIC, and hearing those varied perspectives was both eye-opening and energizing. I'm looking forward to carrying that spirit of collaboration and shared learning into the year ahead.
If you're looking to learn more about WIC across the country, hear different perspectives, and meet your WIC family in other states, I encourage you to join an NWA committee and eventually consider serving on the NWA board.
What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about you?
After years of being on my in-laws’ sailboat and being directed on what to do, I finally decided I wanted to feel confident to sail my own boat! This summer, my husband and I bought an Alcort Sunfish so we could practice on our own, starting with the basics. Though we often sail solo in our small boat, we can fit one other crew member who is either our 5-year-old daughter, Foley, or our 8-year-old son, Lawson.
Want to learn more about Gillian and the rest of the Board?
Explore the full Board of Directors at nwica.org/board and see how members like Gillian are helping shape the future of WIC.
We thank Gillian for participating in this series and for her ongoing contributions to the WIC community. Visit our website to learn more about the board, and visit our blog to find other “Meet the Board” blog posts. To connect with Gillian and learn more about her background and experience, feel free to reach out to her in the NWA Online Community.