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History and Purpose of the Academy's Change Journey
Beginning in September 2023, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Board of Directors has been evaluating the current state and future direction for the Academy. This has included various focus groups and discussions with members, as well as non-members, which have been instrumental in reigniting the Academy's core purpose and moving it toward a new future vision.
In July 2024, the Academy released its Fiscal Year 2025 Priorities, along with a series of videos and key information to illustrate the story behind our change journey and why we, as an organization and profession, needed to embark on this journey to reinforce our relevancy and ensure RDNs and the Academy are leaders in emerging health care opportunities.
Fiscal Year 2025 Priorities
- Invest in and fully deploy the resources necessary to increase access to Medical Nutrition Therapy.
- Continue to support the licensure compact to ensure practice across state lines.
- Evaluate and enhance the Academy’s Evidence Analysis Library through the lens of interprofessional collaboration and education.
- Determine what is needed to have dietetics added as a STEM field under the professional classification.
- Work collaboratively with strategic partners to understand public opinions and perspectives.
- Launch a media campaign to position RDNs as the premier food and nutrition practitioners equipped to enhance the nutritional status of individuals and communities.
- Develop, expand and disseminate resources and research on emergent nutrition topics.
- Create a new Academy strategic plan.
- Pause committee/taskforces and other activities that do not directly support the FY25 organizational priorities. Reestablish the charges of continuing committee/taskforces based on the priorities.
- Modernize and invest in the Academy’s financial and technological structure.
- Develop a blueprint for the Academy’s governance and organizational structure for the future.
Speaking on the goal of inspiring members to join the Academy's change journey:
“I think regardless of where you work, where your area of practice is, you elected your Board of Directors. You put your faith in us. We are here as your representative, hearing you, understanding what you want — and we are here to deliver on that promise. Trust us, we are here to make that work for you.”
Livleen Gill, MBA, RDN, LDN, FAND
2024-2025 Academy President
Our Eye to the Future — Originally Released at FNCE® 2024 in Minneapolis
What Is Our Core Purpose?
The Academy's Articles of Incorporation have been updated three times since the organization was founded in the early 1900s.
“The object for which it is formed is to bring about closer cooperation among dietitians and between dietitians and workers in allied fields; to improve conditions and raise standard of dietary work.”
“The object for which the Association is formed is to improve the nutritional status of human beings, to raise the standard of dietetic service and the status of the professional, and to bring about closer cooperation among dietitians and nutritionists and workers in allied fields.”
“The purpose for which the corporation is organized is to improve the nutritional status of human beings and to advance the science of dietetics and nutrition and to advance the education in these and allied areas.”
What excites you most about the Academy enterprise?
“The opportunity for us to deliver on the promise of why this organization was created... we’re passionate, we’re talented and this is our moment. There are dialogues occurring within the public related to food and nutrition that we need to step into. And we need to stake out our territory as the trusted authorities because there’s so much misinformation that is out there.”Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics CEO
What will success look like for the Academy?
Addressing the importance of members being part of this step in the Academy's history:
“I am very excited to bring members along. They are part of this change story, too... We have to be bold. We have to go for it. This is a critical time in our whole profession. There are so many exciting things happening with the MNT Act, the interstate licensure compact; come along for an incredible journey forward. ... Together, if we unite and support one another and use our collective power, we can do this.”
Lauri Wright, PhD, RDN, LDN, FAND
2023-2024 Academy President
A Message from 2023-2024 President Lauri Wright
A Conversation with Lauri Wright and Wylecia Wiggs Harris
What inspired you to take on this
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What excites you the most about
the Academy enterprise?
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