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Honorary Membership

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has been granting honorary membership to non-members for their distinguished contributions to the field of nutrition and dietetics since 1920. Since 1954, the Academy has generally awarded honorary membership to two non-members every year based on their professional knowledge, technical expertise and promotion of the Academy’s mission, vision and values. Those chosen as honorary members have demonstrated goodwill through notable national or international service, promoted registered dietitian nutritionists and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered, as contributors to the optimal health and nutritional status of the public and aided in the advancement of the profession and the Academy.

View Nomination Tips and Guidance (PDF)

Qualifications

  1. Has never held Academy membership and/or the RDN/RD or NDTR/DTR credentials.
  2. Has made distinguished contributions to nutrition and dietetics through:
    • professional knowledge.
    • technical expertise.
    • promotion of the Academy's mission, vision and values.
  3. Has demonstrated goodwill through notable national or international service through:
    • the advancement of the profession.
    • the advancement of the Academy.
  4. Has promoted Academy members as contributors to the optimal health and nutritional status of the population.

Scoring Criteria

  • Has made distinguished contributions to nutrition and dietetics through professional knowledge, technical expertise and promotion of the Academy's mission, vision and values. (40 points)
  • Has demonstrated goodwill through notable national or international service through the advancement of the profession and the Academy. (40 points)
  • Has promoted Academy members as contributors to the optimal health and nutritional status of the population. (20 points)

References

Honorary Membership Award Winners

The award winners are available below, organized by decade.

2025: James Kirby
2024: Stephen McCauley
2024: Jim Finn
2023: Robert G. Martindale
2023: Robert H. Eckel
2021: Peggi Guenter
2021: Karen E. Aspry
2021: Kevin C. Maki
2021: Osama Hamdy
2020: William D. Chey
2020: Larry K. Ellingson
2020: Virginia Stallings

2019: Dr. Mark R Corkins
2019: Victor V. Van Beuren
2018: Daren Keith Heyland
2018: Irl B. Hirsch
2018: Roger Clemens
2017: Michelle Obama
2017: Andrew S. Narva
2016: Howard A. Wolpert
2016: Sylvia B. Rowe
2015: Michael O. Fleming
2015: Dan Glickman
2014: Beverly Broughton Bajus
2014: Nathan Wong
2013: Louis J. Aronne
2013: Janey Knight Thornton
2012: Richard M Bergenstal
2012: Robert M. Russell
2012: Bob Murray
2011: Patrick Mahlen O'Neil
2011: Mark DeLegge
2010: Robert F. Kushner
2010: David A. August

2009: Mary Christ-Erwin
2009: Gerard E. Mullin
2008: Stephen A. McClave
2008: William N. Reynolds
2008: Russell R. Pate
2007: Richard J. Deckelbaum
2007: John A. Milner
2006: Samuel Klein
2006: George A. Bray
2005: Judith Barr
2005: Henry N. Ginsberg
2004: Patricia M. Babjak
2004: Gary D. Foster
2003: Barbara J. Rolls
2003: James O. Hill
2002: William H. Dietz
2002: Susan E. Carlson
2002: George McGovern
2001: Dominick P. DePaola
2001: Dr. Linda M. Siminerio
2000: Graham V. Kerr
2000: Van S. Hubbard
2000: Robert W. Langholz

1999: Shirley R Watkins
1999: Gordon L. Jensen
1998: William J. Evans
1998: Ezra Steiger
1997: George M. Owen
1997: Ekhard E. Ziegler
1997: Roslyn B. Alfin Slater
1996: K. Michael Hambidge
1996: Steven B. Heymsfield
1995: James E. Cimino
1994: F. X. Pi-Sunyer
1994: J. M. McGinnis
1993: Ferdinand E. Metz
1992: George L. Blackburn
1992: John E. Vanderveen
1991: Douglas W. Wilmore
1990: John Paul Foreyt
1990: Robert P. Heaney

1989: William E. Connor
1989: Charles E. Boyce
1988: Julian F. Haynes
1987: C. Wayne Callaway
1986: Stephen Barrett
1984: Lorraine Thomas
1984: Ronald A. Arky
1983: Marvin E. Levin
1983: Albert Barrocas
1983: Howard N. Jacobson
1981: Maurice E. Shils

1979: Alfred E. Harper
1975: Dr. J. Warren Perry
1974: William J. Darby
1973: D Mark Hegsted
1973: George Christakis

1969: Dr. Harald M. Graning

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