American Society for Nutrition Announces 2026-2027 Leadership and Welcomes Keith P. West, Jr. as President

ROCKVILLE, Md. — The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) has officially announced its leadership roster for the 2026-2027 term, welcoming Keith P. West, Jr., DrPH, MPH, as its new President. Alongside the installation of Dr. West, the organization has introduced a slate of newly elected members to the ASN Board of Directors, bringing together an accomplished group of scientists, clinicians, educators, and public health advocates.

Taking effect on August 1, 2026, the newly structured leadership team will guide the Society’s scientific, educational, and public policy priorities. This transition comes at a pivotal moment for the organization, as the ASN actively prepares to celebrate its momentous Centennial in 2028, marking a century of leadership in advancing the science of nutrition and improving global public health outcomes.

Dr. West assumes the presidency from Naïma Moustaïd-Moussa, PhD, DFASN, FTOS, FAHA, who will remain actively involved with the Board of Directors in the role of Immediate Past President.

John Courtney, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of the American Society for Nutrition, highlighted the vital role that volunteer leadership plays in the organization’s continued success and expanding influence.

"The strength of ASN comes from the expertise and commitment of its volunteer leaders," said Dr. Courtney. "Dr. West is an internationally respected scientist who has shown throughout his career how nutrition research can improve lives. Together with our newly elected Board of Directors, he will help advance ASN’s mission, support the nutrition science community, and prepare the Society for its Centennial in 2028. We are grateful to each of these leaders for their service to ASN and the field of nutrition."

The 2026-2027 Board of Directors

Each year, the membership of the American Society for Nutrition participates in elections to select leaders from among the most distinguished professionals within the broader nutritional sciences community. The resulting Board of Directors brings together a rich diversity of expertise spanning basic science, clinical practice, public health, population studies, and policy, ensuring that the organization can effectively navigate complex modern nutritional challenges and maintain its position as a global authority.

Leading the organization for the 2026-2027 term is President Keith West, DrPH, MPH, representing Johns Hopkins University. He is supported on the executive committee by Vice President Heather Eicher-Miller, PhD, FASN, of Purdue University; Vice-President Elect Jamy D. Ard, MD, FTOS, of Wake Forest University; and Past President Naïma Moustaïd-Moussa, PhD, DFASN, FTOS, FAHA, of Texas Tech University.

Financial and administrative governance will be managed by Robert Bertolo, PhD, of the University of Newfoundland, serving as Treasurer, and Laura Murray-Kolb, PhD, FASN, representing both Purdue University and Johns Hopkins University, serving as Secretary.

The Board also features several Directors-At-Large, each overseeing specialized pillars of the discipline. Eric Ciappio, PhD, RD, of Balchem serves as Director-At-Large for Nutrition Science Translation, while Rafaela G. Feresin, PhD, of Georgia State University takes on the role of Director-At-Large for Nutrition Science Mechanisms. Population-level health will be represented by Carolyn Gunther, PhD, RDN, FASN, of The Ohio State University as Director-At-Large for Nutrition Population Science, and global perspectives will be guided by Daniel J. Hoffman, PhD, of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, serving as Director-At-Large for Global Nutrition. Additionally, clinical and policy dimensions are represented by Carine M. Lenders, MD, MS, ScD, of Boston University as Director-At-Large for Medical Clinical Nutrition, and Lauren O’Connor, PhD, MPH, of Texas A&M AgriLife Research as Director-At-Large for Food & Nutrition Policy.

To ensure comprehensive representation across all sectors of the nutrition community, the Board includes several ex officio members. These include Ruba Abdelhadi, MD, CPNS, of Children’s Mercy Hospital, representing the National Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists (NBPNS); Candida Joan Rebello, PhD, RD, of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, representing Early Career Nutrition; Diane Stadler, MS, PhD, RD, of Oregon Health & Science University, representing Academic Nutrition Departments and Programs (ANDP); and Lori Lathrop Stern, PhD, of IFF, serving as Chair of the Sustaining Partner Roundtable. They are joined by ASN Chief Executive Officer John E. Courtney, PhD, and ASN Foundation Chair Paul Coates, PhD.

In addition to the Board announcements, the ASN welcomed and congratulated former Past President Sarah Booth on her new role on the ASN Nominating Committee.

Dr. West’s Leadership and Vision for ASN

As he steps into the presidency for the 2026-2027 term, Dr. West brings decades of distinguished experience in nutrition research, public health epidemiology, and international development to the position. He holds the prestigious title of George G. Graham Professor of Human Nutrition within the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Throughout his prolific career, Dr. West’s research has significantly advanced the global scientific understanding of micronutrient deficiencies, maternal and child nutritional health, and targeted interventions designed to prevent blindness, debilitating illness, and mortality among vulnerable populations worldwide. His work has frequently bridged the gap between academic research and practical application, collaborating closely with national governments, international health organizations, and local communities to design and implement nutrition programs that measurably strengthen health outcomes.

Reflecting on his new role and the trajectory of the Society, Dr. West expressed his enthusiasm for the work ahead.

"It is an honor to serve as President of the American Society for Nutrition," said Dr. West. "I look forward to working with ASN’s members and partners to advance nutrition science, strengthen collaboration across the field, expand global networks, and support the next generation of nutrition scientists working to improve lives through nutrition."

As President, Dr. West will focus his efforts on steering the organization through its ongoing initiatives, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration among scientists and clinicians, and setting a strong strategic foundation as the American Society for Nutrition approaches its milestone Centennial celebration in 2028.