Meet Your Leadership Team

Our Leadership Team is comprised of students and professionals working across all areas of dietetics — from industry, to healthcare, to public policy, and beyond. This group of dedicated volunteers is proud to support members through the following teams:

  • Member Engagement
  • Education
  • Marketing & Communications
  • Nominating Committee
  • Business Development
  • IDEA
  • Academy Policy & Advocacy
  • Academy Foundation
  • Academy House of Delegates

To view position descriptions, click here.

You can contact your leaders using the Academy's Leadership Directory. Click here for the Leadership Directory User Guide.

First time using this system? Click here for a user guide.

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Calling all DBC members: make your voice heard! 

The 2026-2027 Academy and DBC election voting will open January 20 for 1 week. Support DBC members running in the national election and for the DBC Leadership Team. Read bios HERE.

DBC 2026-2027 Election Slate of Candidates
The Nominating Committee is pleased to present the slate of candidates for office: 
 
DBC is pleased to present the Slate of Candidates for Office for the 2026-2027 Year:
 
Chair Elect:
• Beth Reverri PhD, MS, RD, FAND
• Emily Bowman MJ, MBA, RDN, LDN
• Karen Dolittle MBA, RD
 
Treasurer:
• Jackie Boucher MS, RDN
• Travis Chandler RDN, RNM
 
Nominating Committee:
• Kimberly Haider, BS, RDN, RD
• Jill Woodward MS, RD, LD
• Elana Natker MS, RD
• Karen Payne-Schwartz MS, RDN
• Amy Brownstein MS, RD
• Anna Busenburg RD, CSP, LD, CLC
• Lauren Gardner MS, RD, CDCES
  
According to Academy policy, a slate of candidates must be presented to DBC DPG membership 30 days prior to the start of voting. Should you wish to petition that additional candidates be included on the ballot slate, you must submit a petition to the DPG/MIG Nominating Committee by contacting the DBC DPG Nominating Committee, at DBC@eatright.org within the next 30 days by January 20, 2025. 
 
You must also have the support with signatures of 5% or 46 DBC DPG members. Petitions must include biographical information on the candidate and qualifications for the DBC DPG leadership position. If deemed eligible for the position by the Academy DPG/MIG Relations Team, the additional candidates will be added to a contested ballot prior to the start of online voting, beginning February 1, 2025.

DBC 2025-2026 Leadership Team

Deedra Geniesse MS, RDN

Chair 

Voting Member

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Cynthia Goody PhD, MBA, RD, LDN

Chair Elect 

Voting Member

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Kathryn Lawson, MS, RD

Past Chair 

Voting Member

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Sydney Kurnit, MS, RD CDN

Secretary

Voting Member

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Jane Rieger, MS, RD, LDN

Treasurer

Voting Member

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Anna Bramanti, MS, RD, FAND

Delegate 

Voting Member

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Kelly Plowe, MS, RD

Nominating Chair 

Voting Member

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Darnell Sanford Garcia, RDN, LD

Nominating Chair-Elect 

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Raeanne Sarazen, MA, RDN, FAND

Nominating Committee

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Megan Maisano, MS, RD

Nominating Committee

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Amanda Goldman, MS, RD, LD, FAND

Affiliate Partnership Director

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Christina Williams, MS, RD, LDN

Member Engagement Director

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Milton Stokes, PhD, MPH, RD, FAND

Membership Research & Analysis Director

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Jennifer Fiske, MS, RDN, LD

Grants and Awards Program Director 

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Tori Schmitt, MS, RDN, LD

Grants and Award Committee 

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Jenna Andal, MCN, RD

Networking Events Program Director/FNCE Committee

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Pooja Vyas, RDN

FNCE Events Chair

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Sheila Patterson

FNCE Committee 

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OPEN - EMAIL US IF INTERESTED

Student Engagement Lead

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Gabriella Potievsky, RDN

Business Development Director

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Julie Salmen, MS, RD

Marketing & Communications Director

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Monica Stewart, MS, RD, LD

Business Insights Associate Editor
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OPEN - EMAIL US IF INTERESTED

Creative Designer

Paige Helmling, MS, RD-Eligible

Website and Take 5 Editor

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Nikki Nies, MS, RD

Social Media Manager 

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Alyssa Pyke, RDN

Education Co-Director

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Emily Bowman, MJ, MBA, RDN, LDN

Education Co-Director

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Ali Webster, MS, RD

Education Committee

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Jennifer Seyler, MBA, MS, RD

Leadership Cultivation Programming Director

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Nikki Putnam Badding, MS, RDN

IDEA Liaison

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OPEN - EMAIL US IF INTERESTED

Policy and Advocacy Liaison

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Carla Jamison 

Manager DPG/MIG Relations

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