2024-25 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 – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN [email protected] 
President-Elect – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE [email protected]
Immediate Past President – Charlyn Fargo Ware, MS, RDN, LDN [email protected] 
Secretary – Amanda Lynch, MS, RD, LDN [email protected] 
Treasurer – Renea Lyles, MS, RD, LDN [email protected] 
CPI Chair – Madhu Jain, MS, RD, LDN [email protected]
Chair of Delegates – Connie Cranford, MS, RD, LDN [email protected]
Executive Director – Terry McBride [email protected]

Nominating Chair – Elizabeth Guiterrez, MS, RDN [email protected]

District Presidents
        Capital (CAAND) – Kelsey Bentlage
        Central (CIAND) – Ashley Mathewson

        Chicago (CAND) – Rosemary Holtz

Operations Committee

Chair of Operations – Charlyn Fargo Ware, MS, RDN, LDN

Strategic Planning Committee
        Strategic Planning Chair – Cheryl Burns, RDN, LDN, CDCES       

        Member-At-Large – Lisa Arteaga, MS, RDN, LDN, CDCES
        Member-At-Large – Val Chudzinski, MA, RD, LDN, CNSC

Bylaws, Policy, & Procedures Committee
        Bylaws, Policy & Procedures Chair – Charlyn Fargo Ware, MS, RDN, LDN
        President – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN
        President-Elect – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE

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

Finance Committee

Chair of Finance – Renea Lyles, MS, RD, LDN

       Treasurer – Renea Lyles, MS, RD, LDN
        Treasurer-Elect – Samantha Shuflin, MS, RDN, LDN, PMP
        President – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN
        President-Elect – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE
        Immediate Past President – Charlyn Fargo Ware, MS, RDN, LDN
        CPI Chair – Madhu Jain, MS, RD, LDN
        Member-At-Large – Sarah Cohen, MS, RDN, LDN

        Executive Director – Terry McBride

Legislation Committee 

Chair of Legislation – Connie Cranford, MS, RD, LDN

Public Policy Panel
        President – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN
        Public Policy Coordinator – Elizabeth Gutierrez, MS, RDN
        State Policy Rep (1) – Valerie Koress, MS, RD, LDN

        State Policy Rep (2) – Rebecca Ilic, MS, RD, LDN
        State Regulatory Specialist (1) – Coryn Commare, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC
        State Regulatory Specialist (2) – Staci Bettiker, MS, RD, LDN
        Consumer Protection Coordinator – Starr Gibson, MS, RDN, LDN
        North Delegate – Val Chudzinski, MA, RD, LDN, CNSC
        South Delegate – Connie Cranford, MS, RD, LDN
        Nutrition Services Payment Specialist – Carol Shriver
        Lobbyist – David Ormsby & Andrew Kretschmar

        Member-At-Large – Mary Russell, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND

Licensure
        President – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN
        Immediate Past President – Charlyn Fargo Ware, MS, RDN, LDN
        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  – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE

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 – Leah Hoefert

        Social Media Co-Chair – Katie Smith

Publications Committee

        Publications Chair – Christine Cliff, MPH, RDN, LDN, CLT, FAND

Membership Committee 

Chair of Membership – Amanda Lynch, MS, RD, LDN

Membership Committee
        Membership Co-Chair – Paula Sochacki, EdD, MPH, RDN, LDN

        Membership Co-Chair – Catherine Arnold, EdD, MS, RDN, LDN 

Nominating Committee
        Nominating Chair – Elizabeth Guiterrez, MS, RDN
        Nominating Chair-Elect – Anita Davila, RDN, LDN
        Immediate Past President – Charlyn Fargo Ware, MS, RDN, LDN
        Capital District President – Kelsey Bentlage
        Central District President –Ashley Mathewson

        Chicago District President – Rosemary Holtz

IDEA Committee
        Diversity Liaison – Lisa Arteaga, MS, RDN, LDN, CDCES

Pathway to Leadership
        Pathway to Leadership Co-Chair – Ashley Simper, MS, RD, LDN

       Pathway to Leadership Co-Chair – Ben Waller

Grants and Awards
        Awards Chair – Susan Push, RDN, LDN
        Committee Member – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, LDN
        Committee Member – Starr Gibson, MS, RDN, LDN

        Committee Member – Maggie Mundall, RDN, LDN

Professional Development Committee 

Chair of Professional Development – Madhu Jain, MS, RD, LDN

Council on Professional Issues (CPI) Committee
        CPI Chair – Madhu Jain, MS, RD, LDN
        CPI Chair-Elect – Jennifer Hubert, MS, RDN, LDN
        President – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN
        President-Elect – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE
        Immediate Past President – Charlyn Fargo Ware, MS, RDN, LDN
        Diversity Liaison – Lisa Arteaga, MS, RDN, LDN, CDCES
        Treasurer – Renea Lyles, MS, RD, LDN

        Executive Director – Terry McBride

CPE Review
        CPE Co-Chair – Kelly Drews, MS, RDN, LDN

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

Updated August 2024