The Academy encourages inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) by striving to recognize, respect and include differences in ability, age, creed, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, size, and socioeconomic characteristics in the nutrition and dietetics profession.
January 2022
Update from IDEA Committee Chair — January 2022
The IDEA Committee has graciously received responses from Academy units regarding the first IDEA Action Plan survey. The information is being used to establish baseline data to measure growth in IDEA for the Academy and the profession. The committee is also accepting applications for IDEA awards and grants, including the IDEA Promotion Grant and the IDEA Action Award.
The Academy's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Action Plan is a sustainable, living document designed to move the dietetics profession towards an increasingly welcome and inclusive future. The plan's goals and strategies were carefully developed from member and professional feedback gathered from listening sessions, stakeholder communications, and representatives of Academy organizational units and groups, as well as from benchmarking with other healthcare organizations. Tactics and metrics have been developed for each strategy, and outcomes from the initiatives will be measured and the plan modified accordingly over time to ensure continuous positive change.
The Academy is committed to fostering inclusion, diversity, equity and access throughout the nutrition and dietetics profession, as well as creating educational and work environments free from bias and discrimination. Below are highlights of inclusion, diversity, equity and access projects and initiatives of Academy dietetic practice groups, member interest groups, Academy and affiliates, as well as resources to assist nutrition and dietetics practitioners in meeting the needs of all clients and colleagues with the goal of improving equity and access for everyone.
Read the latest updates from all organizational units at the Academy, meet the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Committee, learn about IDEA grants and scholarships, share your stories, and more.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Spotlights
Learn about IDEA projects from the Academy, its organizational units and affiliates as they share their insights and experiences — serving as inspiration for other initiatives, developing collaborative relationships and demonstrating that together, we can achieve the Academy's inclusion, diversity, equity and access impact goals.
Dietitians in Business and Communications DPG
In 2020, the DBC Leadership Team launched the DBC Diversity and Inclusion Communications Program, which provides members with essential tools and education to recognize, value, and effectively address the needs of various audiences, including but not limited to culture, ethnicity, gender, race, age, body size/image, capability (rather than disability), religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geography, education and philosophy.
Keeping Diversity in V.I.E.W.: Visualize. Inspect. Empathize. Watch. Wait. Welcome: Virtual workshop with Letitia James that will review bias types while analyzing productive and counterproductive ways to invoke bias. An interactive experience allows participants to raise awareness to the critical role cultural humility plays.
In 2020, the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NYSAND) appointed a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Liaison to plan and facilitate D&I outreach and initiatives that meet Academy and NYSAND strategic plans, promotes and increases representation of diverse individuals in the profession and increases cultural competency of its members. Additionally, NYSAND districts have appointed diversity positions and hosted events to further advance D&I efforts on the local level.
Program Components To-Date
Inclusion and Diversity: How YOU Can Increase Diversity and Inclusion in the Field of Nutrition and Dietetics: Virtual webinar led by Naudia Jones, RD, CDN (she/her) and Jane Calvert, RD (they/them) to help dietitians and nutrition professionals develop skills to foster a more inclusive environment for students, interns, and colleagues from diverse communities while examining personal biases and how this impacts working with diverse communities.
Academy D&I Mini-Grant: These funds will be used to provide full membership scholarships and scholarships to NYSAND's annual meeting for students, RDNs and NDTRs from underrepresented groups in dietetics and to conduct member surveys.
Virtual Meetup & Workshop: A meet and greet event and workshop to discuss D&I and its future in NYSAND and the profession.
NYSAND DEI Committee: Comprised of students, RDNs and retired RDNs from underrepresented groups in dietetics who will help carry out D&I efforts.
Spotlight on Diversity: Column in NYSAND's monthly newsletter that highlights D&I outreach and initiatives across New York State.
Greater New York Dietetic Association's (GNYDA) Mary Swartz Rose Memorial Lecture: This lecture, entitled "Nutrition Considerations of Gender Affirming Therapies in the Transgender Community," was led by Zachari Breeding, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, FAND, who discussed nutrition care and interventions for the transgender community.
GNYDA Diversity Roundtable event: This virtual event moderated by Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN and Vanessa Rissetto, MS, RD, CDN, featured a panel discussion on diversity, why it's important, actionable steps that can be taken and more. Panelists include Jonathan Valdez, MBA, RDN, CSG, CDN, CCM, CDCES, ACE-CPT and Kameron Rowe, MS, RDN, CDN.
Westchester Rockland Dietetic Association's (WRDA) 2019 Clinical Update: WRDA's 2019 Clinical Update event entitled "Diversity and Cultural Considerations in Nutrition" featured four speakers who spoke on the importance of diversity in nutrition.
WRDA Student Career Panel Video: In April 2021, WRDA hosted its 4th Annual Student Career Panel, which introduces high school and college students in Westchester and Rockland counties to the nutrition profession. The event's goal was to demonstrate and encourage D&I within the field.
Long Island Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (LIAND) webinar: This webinar, entitled "Believing Children are Our Future: Serving Equity and Impartiality with Child Meals," was led by Teresa Turner, MS, RD, LDN, SNS, FAND, who discussed Social Determinants of Health and how systemic racism impacts equity and the behaviors and mindsets of those we serve.
South Carolina Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
The South Carolina Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (SCAND) implemented a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Strategic Plan for 2020-2021 and has made tremendous strides towards accomplishing its objectives. Like the Academy did with its revised Strategic Plan, D&I is now a focus area on the overall SCAND Strategic Plan. The SCAND D&I Strategic Plan includes 5 key points: Accountability, Marketing, Visibility, Relationships, and Leadership.
Program Components To-Date
SCAND D&I Web Page: content includes links to articles by or featuring practitioners in SC, videos by practitioners of color in SC, webinars, and Academy communications.
Academy D&I Mini-Grant (2020-2021): funds were used to pay Academy dues and SCAND 2021 Annual Meeting registration for 11 individuals (seven students, one intern, two RD/RDNs, one DTR/NDTR) from underrepresented groups in S.C.
Academy D&I Mini-Grant (2021-2022): funds were used to offer three D&I webinars for free to Academy members/non-members and engage students/interns in S.C. to plan their own affiliate student association to focus on D&I and student resources. The mini-grant application was jointly created by the SCAND D&I Liaison and a distance intern of color, whom the liaison precepted for 80 hours in January 2021. The webinars are:
Career Presentations: created presentations on becoming RDNs and NDTRs at high schools (especially underrepresented populations) and HBCUs in SC. Each district identified a District D&I Ambassador to give the presentations, which include three different audiences - high school students; college students, but undeclared or undecided major; and college students majoring in nutrition, food science, and/or dietetics.
Leadership: district and state nominating chairs and Presidents were reminded verbally and via email to actively invite underrepresented RDNs to run for elected office or serve in appointed positions.
Social Media Campaign: Eight videos featuring seven RDNs and one DTR in various professional positions were released in February 2021. The speakers share their stories of becoming dietetics professionals of color. The videos can be found at the SCAND D&I Web Page.
05/23/2022 - Carrolyn Patterson, a member of the Academy staff for over 21 years, serving in recent years on the Executive Team as Senior Director of Human Resources and Office Services, has been promoted to Vice President of Human Resources Culture and Diversity.
02/25/2022 - In accordance with the Academy’s focus on inclusion, diversity, equity and access, and efforts to recognize the wide range of diverse populations among dietetics professionals, member profiles in the My Academy area of eatrightPRO now have expanded gender options based on benchmarking with various organizations.
02/09/2022 - The South Carolina Affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is offering the following three free webinars in February on IDEA via funding from an Academy IDEA mini grant.
12/15/2021 - Mentors will meet two or three times with their mentees to brainstorm potential projects, review existing project ideas, and review mini-grant applications.
09/27/2021 - Leaders of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., and the announced a strategic partnership aimed at reducing health disparities for African Americans focused on aligning nutrition security and ministry outreach during the launch of NBCUSA’s convening of faith leaders.
08/31/2021 - The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation has selected dietetics students Gabriela Naveda and Latina Robinson as the recipients of its Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship.
08/03/2021 - The Academy supports Black Women’s Equal Pay Day on August 3, and will continue to advocate for policies that ensure equal pay for women as an important step in fostering financial and nutrition security for families.
05/19/2021 - We share the strategic goal of achieving health equity and offer our support in your work, as a food and nutrition professional organization and as essential workers on the front lines of the pandemic.
04/28/2021 - U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (Ill.) and 10 members of Congress have urged House Appropriations Committee leadership to include $310 million in funding to address racial disparities in nutrition.
04/08/2021 - The Academy Foundation is accepting applications for a new Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship that will provide $25,000 each to two aspiring RDNs of diverse backgrounds and cultures.