Academy History

Celebrating 100 Years!

In 2017, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates our 100th anniversary. The Academy's Centennial promotes the dietetics profession and acknowledges the organization's achievements.

This is a time to honor the past, celebrate the present and plan for the future.

The Academy was conceptualized as the American Dietetic Association at a meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1917, ultimately leading to its formal incorporation and first central office in Chicago. The Academy's founders were a visionary group of women — led by Lenna F. Cooper and the organization's first president, Lulu C. Graves — dedicated to helping the government conserve food and improve the public's health and nutrition during World War I.

One hundred years later, the Academy remains strongly connected to our origins: committed to helping solve the greatest food and nutrition challenges of the day through the transformational power of nutrition.

The Centennial will create a road map that will advance the profession and set the stage for the Academy's new strategic plan.

Join the Centennial celebration at the Academy's Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo™, October 21 to 24 in Chicago.

Honoring the Past

Discover more about the Academy as the organization embraces our historic anniversary and plans for the next 100 years.

• Who We Are: Representing more than 100,000 credentialed practitioners in the United States and abroad, the Academy is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.
• What We Do: The Academy is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.
• Historical Timeline: Journey through the milestones in the Academy's history.

Celebrating the Present

Explore the Academy as we stand today — our members living out the mission and vision of the organization — as well as materials to join us throughout the year as the celebration activities and commemorative events take place.

• Food is Love: Watch our members as they change the health of their communities through nutrition.
• Creating a Profession and Improving Health: Get informed with the initial Centennial press release.
• Celebration in a Box: This will be the go-to guide for Academy groups to join the festivities and get members and the public celebrating the Academy's 100th anniversary.

Planning for the Future

Understand how the Academy and its Foundation plan to address health challenges through a new vision created by the Second Century initiative.

• The Second Century: Learn how a commitment to collaboration, a focus on service and accelerating the progress towards solving the greatest food and nutrition challenges of the 21st century can change the future vision of the Academy.