Leadership priorities include fostering diversity and inclusion to ensure people with all backgrounds and perspectives work together within and across ASN; lead efforts to provide science-based nutrition information that is essential to advancing knowledge and improving health around the world
The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) named Lindsay Allen, PhD as President for the 2020-2021 year, with her one-year term beginning July 1, taking over for Dr. Richard Mattes, PhD, who remains on ASN’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Allen outlined her priorities for the next year in a presentation to the full ASN Board that further influence the success of ASN 2028, as ASN approaches its 100th Anniversary. Dr. Allen’s agenda also includes engaging the nutrition science community and relevant stakeholders in opportunities to learn, discuss, grow and work together to improve health around the world through nutrition science and practice; leading the world in advancing nutrition science policy and advocacy to improve public health; adopting strategies and activities that meet the needs of the Society and its stakeholders today while protecting, sustaining and enhancing resources for the future.
During these unprecedented times, we all need to work together to ensure that the Society is focused on the right priorities, can continue to serve its members as well as other users of nutrition information, and build on its stellar reputation
ASN President, Lindsay Allen, PhD
“ASN is such a fantastic professional organization with a strong and growing membership of excellent scientists, clinicians, policy makers and advocates from 180 countries all passionate about improving the health of people around the world through evidence-based nutrition,” said Dr. Allen. “I will focus my efforts to reach out and engage the nutrition community in academia and research, administration, national and international organizations, industry, and those who are involved in the development and implementation of national and global nutrition policies. During these unprecedented times, we all need to work together to ensure that the Society is focused on the right priorities, can continue to serve its members as well as other users of nutrition information, and build on its stellar reputation.”
Dr. Allen is the past Center Director and currently a Research Physiologist (SSTS) in the USDA-ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center (WHNRC) which is located on the campus of the University of California, Davis. She has served ASN as Associate Editor for the Journal of Nutrition, ASN representative to the International Union of Nutrition Sciences and the ASN Membership Committee. Accompanied by the bestowment of the 2012 ASN Fellow Award, Dr. Allen’s contributions to the society have been honored as the recipient the McCollum International Lectureship Award, the Conrad Elvehjem Award for Public Service in Nutrition, the Kellogg International Nutrition Prize, and the 2016 Outstanding Investigator Award from the Vitamins & Minerals RIS.
As our next President, Dr. Allen will have the opportunity to build on a legacy of success that she helped create at ASN, establishing a vision for our future.
ASN Chief Executive Officer, John E. Courtney, PhD
Dr. Allen received her PhD in Nutrition from University of California-Davis and conducted post-doctoral studies in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research is focused on the prevalence, causes, consequences and prevention of micronutrient deficiencies including iron, vitamin B-12, zinc, vitamin A and riboflavin in predominantly low and middle-income countries as well as the US. Her current focus is on methods for assessment of micronutrients in human milk, and effective interventions for increasing low milk micronutrient concentrations. While serving on the Food and Nutrition Board, Dr. Allen has advised many national, bilateral and international organizations including the National Academies of Science, WHO, the IUNS, UNICEF, Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, PAHO and FAO. Dr. Allen is also the principal author of “What Works? A Review of the Efficacy and Effectiveness of Nutrition Interventions”, and WHO’s “Guidelines on Food Fortification with Micronutrients.”
“The American Society for Nutrition is proud to add Dr. Lindsay Allen to our long-standing tradition of great leaders. As our next President, Dr. Allen will have the opportunity to build on a legacy of success that she helped create at ASN, establishing a vision for our future,” said ASN Chief Executive Officer John E. Courtney, PhD.
The American Society for Nutrition appoints a new president every year, with terms beginning in July. Candidates include the most highly respected professors, researchers, and clinicians, with rich backgrounds in generating new nutrition knowledge, community engagement, public policy advocacy, and academic leadership across a broad spectrum of nutritional science areas.
