Starting this past week, University of Georgia professor Mary Ann Johnson (Ph.D.) became the new president of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN).  

Johnson is the Flatt Professor in the College of Family Consumer Sciences Foods and Nutrition department, as well as the associate director of the University of Georgia Institute of Gerontology within the College of Public Health. She has served with ASN since 1984 and is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The College of Family and Consumer Sciences now offers a new online Master of Science in Foods and Nutrition with a concentration in Community Nutrition. Johnson was picked as ASN president due to her background in nutritional science, public policy leadership, and her involvement in the community. In addition, she teaches classes in the new online Community Nutrition degree.

“ASN is the premier nutrition research organization in the world,” says Johnson. “Nutrition research is the foundation of everything we do as researchers, educators and practitioners. As president of ASN, I hope my impact on nutrition and public health will grow at the local and state levels and expand nationally and internationally.”

Her plans as president include launching Nutrition 2018, ASN’s new scientific sessions, holding annual meetings, and expanding the impact of ASN’s publications. Additionally, she plans to grow and enhance both ASN’s membership experience and its online presence.

“What excites me most is ASN’s commitment to serving researchers, practitioners, and educators to strengthen links between nutrition and agriculture, advance careers in these areas, and thereby improve public health around the world for people of all ages,” says Johnson.

This article was modified by an article published by the American Society for Nutrition and an article written by Cal Powell and can be found at the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences.