Melinda Manore, Devoted Educator, Researcher and Mentor, Receives Academy's Highest Honor

October 21, 2026

CHICAGO – Melinda Manore, PhD, RDN, FACSM, dedicated researcher, educator and mentor, will receive the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor given by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.

Dr. Manore will receive her award on October 26 during the Academy's Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo^® in San Antonio, Texas.

A registered dietitian nutritionist for 40 years, Dr. Manore is viewed by her peers as an expert in clinical sports nutrition and exercise science. She has dedicated her career to advancing nutrition and dietetics research, and serving as a trusted mentor, inspiring future generations of nutrition and dietetics professionals.

An Academy member since 1986, Dr. Manore has provided her expertise as a member of the Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionists, Cardiovascular Health and Well-being, and Nutrition Research Dietetic Practice Groups. In addition, she previously served as a leader at the state level for the Oregon and Arizona Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

A leading nutrition and dietetics researcher, she has been invited to present research and practice updates during more than 150 meetings at regional, national and international levels throughout her career. Dr. Manore has published 115 peer-reviewed articles in professional exercise and nutrition journals, including the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Medicine Science Sport Exercise, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. She has also written chapters in more than 30 books, on a variety of topics, including nutrition for female athletes and how to achieve success in graduate school.

Nominations from colleagues for Dr. Manore as the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient highlighted her expertise at connecting with students, saying "As a dedicated and committed educator, she has engaged and inspired countless undergraduate and graduate nutrition students, including those who were lucky enough to be enrolled in her classes. Furthermore, nutrition students throughout the world have benefitted from her expertise when her textbooks have been used in their nutrition courses."

Today, Dr. Manore is Emeritus Professor with the Dept. of Nutrition & Exercise Sciences at Oregon State University, where she continues to share her passion for nutrition and dietetics with the next generation of RDNs.

More information is available on the Academy's 2026 national honors and award winners.