2026-2027 Illinois Academy Leadership Team

The Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is affiliated with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and is governed by the policies and procedures of this national organization. In Illinois, we are led by a state-level Board of Directors comprised of leaders in nutrition and health. The Board of Directors is responsible for the following tasks: govern the organization, set and monitor strategic direction, oversee fiscal planning, appoint members to represent the Academy, establish guidelines and policies for publications, awards and honors. 

Complete list of past presidents.

Board of Directors

President – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, LDN [email protected] 
President-Elect – Paula Sochacki, EdD, MPH, RDN, LDN [email protected]
Immediate Past President – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE [email protected] 
Secretary – Christine Catalano, MS, RDN [email protected] 
Treasurer – Samantha Shuflin, MS, RDN, LDN, PMP [email protected] 
CPI Chair – Melaney Irving, RD, LDN [email protected]
Chair of Delegates – Val Chudzinski, MA, RD, LDN, CNSC [email protected]
Executive Director – Terry McBride [email protected]

Nominating Chair – Jeanna Brouwer, RDN, CSO, LDN  [email protected]

District Presidents
        Capital (CAAND) – TBA [email protected] 
        Central (CIAND) – Gabrielle Haskell, MS, RD, LDN [email protected]

        Chicago (CAND) – Francisco Rivera, MS, RD, LDN [email protected]

Operations Committee

Chair of Operations – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE

Strategic Planning Committee
        Strategic Planning Chair – TBA     

        Member-At-Large – TBA

Bylaws, Policy, & Procedures Committee
        Bylaws, Policy & Procedures Chair – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE
        President – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, LDN
        President-Elect – Paula Sochacki, EdD, MPH, RDN, LDN

        Member-At-Large – Val Chudzinski, MA, RD, LDN, CNSC

Finance Committee

Chair of Finance – Samantha Shuflin, MS, RDN, LDN, PMP

       Treasurer – Samantha Shuflin, MS, RDN, LDN, PMP
        Treasurer-Elect – Jennifer Hubert, MS, RDN, LDN
        President – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, LDN
        President-Elect – Paula Sochacki, EdD, MPH, RDN, LDN
        Immediate Past President – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE
        CPI Chair – Melaney Irving, RD, LDN
        Member-At-Large – Sarah Cohen, MS, RDN, LDN

        Executive Director – Terry McBride

Legislation Committee 

Chair of Legislation – Val Chudzinski, MA, RD, LDN, CNSC

Public Policy Panel
        President – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, LDN
        Public Policy Coordinator – Rebecca Ilic, MS, RD, LDN 
        Public Policy Coordinator – Juhi Shah, MS, RD
        Public Policy Member at Large – Elizabeth Gutierrez, MS, RDN
        State Policy Rep (1) – Meghan McMillin, MS, RDN, IBCLC
        State Policy Rep (2) - TBA
        State Regulatory Specialist (1) – Coryn Commare, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC
        Consumer Protection Coordinator –  Ame Proietti, RD, LDN
        Nutrition Services Payment Specialist – Katie Cerda, MS, RDN
        North Delegate – Val Chudzinski, MA, RD, LDN, CNSC
        South Delegate – Taylor Aarns, RD
        Lobbyist – David Ormsby & Andrew Kretschmar

Licensure
        President – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, LDN 
        Immediate Past President – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE
        Lobbyist – David Ormsby & Andrew Kretschmar
        Member-At-Large – Annalynn Skipper, PhD, RD, FADA
        Member-At-Large – Julie Patterson, PhD., MBA, RDN, LDN

        Member-At-Large – Gayle Jennings, MS, RDN, BC-ADM, CDCES, LDN

Health Organizations and Industry Relations Task Force (HOIR)

        Chair – Rene Ficek, RDN, CDCES

Communications Committee

Chair of Communications  – Paula Sochacki, EdD, MPH, RDN, LDN

Website Committee

        Website Co-Chair – Sara Umphfleet, MPP-D, RD, LDN
        Website Co-Chair – Ashley Simper, MS, RD, LDN

Social Media Committee
        Social Media Co-Chair – Emily Rios-Madrigal

        Social Media Co-Chair – Eileen Yang

Publications Committee

        Publications Chair – TBA
        Publications Committee Member - Lisa Osowski, MS, RD, CDCES, LDN

Membership Committee 

Chair of Membership – Christine Catalano, MS, RDN

Membership Committee
        Membership Co-Chair – Joseph Lippert

        Membership Co-Chair – Diana Money, MS, RDN, LDN

Nominating Committee
        Nominating Chair – Jeanna Brouwer, RDN, CSO, LDN 
        Nominating Chair-Elect –Immediate Past President – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE
        Capital District President – TBA
        Central District President –Gabrielle Haskell, MS, RD, LDN

        Chicago District President – Francisco Rivera, MS, RD, LDN

IDEA Committee
        Diversity Liaison – Isabelle Gawedzki

Pathway to Leadership
       Pathway to Leadership Co-Chair – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN

       Pathway to Leadership Co-Chair – Jessica Nigg, PhD, RDN, LDN

Grants and Awards
        Awards Co-Chair – Susan Push, RDN, LDN
        Awards Co-Chair – Daria Zajac, RDN, LDN
        Committee Member – Maggie Mundall, RDN, LDN
        Committee Member – Jenn Hubert, MS, RDN, LDN
        Committee Member - Kim Jurkowski, RDN

Professional Development Committee 

Chair of Professional Development – Jennifer Hubert, MS, RDN, LDN

Council on Professional Issues (CPI) Committee
        CPI Chair – Melaney Irving, RD, LDN
        CPI Chair-Elect – Rifqa Dacloush, MBA, RDN, LDN
        President – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, LDN 
        President-Elect – Paula Sochacki, EdD, MPH, RDN, LDN
        Immediate Past President – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE
        Diversity Liaison – Kathy Ortega, RD, LDN
        Treasurer – Samantha Shuflin, MS, RDN, LDN, PMP

        Executive Director – Terry McBride

CPE Review

        CPE Chair – Julie Schumacher, EdD, RDN, LDN, CNSC

Updated June 2026