SNEB Awards
The SNEB Awards Committee, chaired by the immediate past president, welcomes nominations, including self-nominations, for SNEB members who have made notable contributions to the field of Community Nutrition, especially with black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) or low-resource communities. No higher degree is required, and we welcome those who work in a variety of settings which include but are not limited to: non-profit and communities organizations, schools, colleges and universities, government and research institutions, and healthcare organizations to name a few.
We have a variety of awards that span from professionals early in their career to those late in their career and across different areas of practice.
Below is a list of the SNEB awards:
Helen Denning Ullrich Annual Award for Lifetime Excellence in Nutrition Education

Established for the purpose of providing an annual award in honor of Helen Denning Ullrich which recognizes an SNEB member for outstanding achievement in the field of nutrition education. Helen was one of a group of pioneering leaders who were dedicated to making sound nutrition education a tool for effective change. She was the first Editor of the Journal of Nutrition Education.
This award is given for outstanding achievement in the field of nutrition education and behavior. (20 or more years in the profession)
2023 Award Winners:
Congratulations to the 2023 Award Recipient: Jennifer Wilkins, PhD, RDN
View the press release recognizing Wilkins’ award.
Past Winners Include:
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- Joanne D. Burke, PhD (2022)
- Karen Chapman-Novakofski, PhD, RDN (2022)
- Linda Bobroff, PhD, RD, LD/N (2020)
- Madeleine Sigman-Grant, PhD, RD (2019)
- Joanne Ikeda, MA, RD (2018) Watch Joanne’s acceptance speech here.
- Joan Gussow, EdD (2017)
- Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, PhD, RD, FAND (2016)
- Cheryl Achterberg, PhD (2015)
- Susan Nitzke, PhD, RD (2014)
- Marilyn Briggs, PhD, RD, SNS (2013)
- Patricia “Trish” Britten, PhD and Isobel R. Contento, PhD (2012)
- Margo Wootan, DSc (2011)
- Suzanne Pelican, MS, RD (2010)
- Alice Henneman, MS, RD (2009)
- Adrienne White, PhD, RD (2008)
- Lynn Parker, MS (2007)
- Jane Voichick, PhD & Audrey Maretzki, PhD, MS (2006)
- Sharon L. Hoerr, RD, PhD (2005)

SNEB President’s Award
The President’s Award recognizes a member for outstanding service to the field of nutrition education and to SNEB. The recipient is selected by the current SNEB President.
Congratulations to the 2023 Award Recipient: Susan Johnson, PhD

The Mid-Career Professional Achievement Award
This award recognizes an SNEB member who has made notable contributions in the field of nutrition education and behavior and notable contributions to SNEB during the middle stages of their career defined as at least 10 but less than 20 years in the profession.
Congratulations to the 2023 award recipient: Amy Mobley, PhD
View the press release recognizing Mobley’s award.
Past Winners Include:
- Christopher Taylor PhD, RD, LD, FAND (2022)
- Melissa Olfert, DrPH, MS, RDN, LD (2021) | Video
- Karla Shelnutt, PhD, RD (2020)
- Laura L. Bellows, PhD, MPH, RDN (2019)
- Sheila Fleischhacker, PhD, JD, RDN (2018)
- Melissa Maulding, MS, RD (2017)
- Betty Tomoko Izumi, PhD, MPH, RD (2016)
- Elena Carbone, DrPH, RD, LDN (2015)
- Kari Bachman, MS (2014)
- Sarah Colby, PhD (2012)
- Mary Murimi, PhD, RD, LDN (2010)
- Suzanne Piscopo, PhD (2009)
- Barbara Lohse, PhD (2008)
- Adrienne White, PhD, RD (2007)
- Leslie Cunningham-Sabo, PhD, RD (2006)
- Linda Bobroff, PhD, RD, LD/N (2005)
- Karen Chapman-Novakofski, PhD, RD, LD (2004)
Early Professional Achievement Award

This award recognizes one SNEB member who has made notable contributions in the field of nutrition education and behavior and to SNEB as an organization during the early stages of their career, defined as less than 10 years as a nutrition educator.
Congratulations to the 2023 award recipient: Lillian Karina Diaz Rios, PhD, RDN
View the press release recognizing Diaz-Rios’ award.
Past winners:
- Dipti Dev, PhD (2022)
- Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos PhD, MPH, RDN (2021) | Video
- Colleen Spees, PHD, MED, RDN, LD, FAND (2020)
- Lisa Franzen-Castle, PhD, MS, RD (2019)
- Virginia Carraway-Stage, PhD, RDN, LDN (2018)
- Jennifer Walsh, PhD, RD (2017)
- Not awarded in 2016
- Karla Shelnutt, PhD, RD (2015)
- Suzie Goodell, PhD, RD (2014)

SNEB Nutrition Education Research Award
The SNEB Nutrition Education Research Award will be given to acknowledge notable research achievement in the field of nutrition education and behavior.
Congratulations to the 2023 award recipient: Virginia Carraway Stage, PhD, RDN
View the press release recognizing Stage’s award.
Past Winners:
- Sarah Francis PhD, MHS, RD (2022)
- Amy R. Mobley PhD, RD, FAND (2021) | Video
- Leslie Cunningham-Sabo, PhD, RDN (2018)
- Geoffrey Greene, PhD, RD, LDN (2017)
- Barbara A. Lohse, PhD, RD, LDN (2016)

ACPP Health Policy Promotion Award
To recognize the efforts of others to shape and promote policies that promote health related to nutrition, physical activity, and/or attainment of health equity, the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior’s Advisory Committee on Public Policy sponsors “Health Promotion Policy” awards. These awards will be given to individuals or groups who have significantly contributed to creating and/or implementing policies or policy-based changes that support and positively impact health related to nutrition, physical activity, and/or attainment of health equity . Up to three awards will be presented as the ACPP awards committee and the SNEB board approves. One annual Outstanding Health Promotion Policy Award will be selected from all of the bestowed awards from the year and will be presented at the annual conference.
Congratulations to the 2023 Individual Award Winner: Stacy Dean, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, USDA
View the press release recognizing Dean’s award.
Congratulations to the 2023 Coalition Award Winners: Schools Meals for All Coalition (CA) and Full Plates Full Potential (ME)
View the press release recognizing the Coalitions’ awards.
Past Winners:
- Amy Saxe-Custack PhD, MPH, RDN on behalf of Flint Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (2022)
- Individual: Margo Wootan, DSc | Video | Group: HER NOPREN COVID-19 Food & Nutrition Work Group |Slides
- Susan Foerster MPH (2020)
- Native Farm Bill Coalition (2019)
- The National Farm to School Network (2018)
- Team Up for School Nutrition Success (2017)
- Jung Sun Lee, PhD, RD (2016)
- Mayor William Peduto, City of Pittsburgh (2015)

Program Impact Award
The SNEB Nutrition Education Program Impact Award is given to an individual or a group for a nutrition education program, practice or intervention that has resulted in documented changes in behavior.
It is not necessary for the program to have received approval through a human subjects’ board, nor that the program have been part of a research study, or to have been published. However, documented evidence of the program’s success is required. Additionally, the program needs to have included both direct nutrition education and policy, system and environment (PSE) change.
Congratulations to the 2023 Award Winner: Well-Connected Communities–Healthy Street Healthy Me Community Engagement Project, accepted by Virginie Zoumenou, PhD, CNS
View the press release recognizing the Healthy Street Healthy Me Community Engagement Project’s award.
Past Winners:
- The Mobile Teaching Kitchen Initiative presented to NNEdPro Global Centre for Nutrition and Health’s Program (2022)
- Abriendo Caminos: Clearing the Path to Hispanic Health (presented to Dr. Margarita Teran-Garcia) | Video
- Teen Battle Chef presented to FamilyCook Productions, Lynn Fredericks (2020)
- wichealth.org (2019)
- Illinois Junior Chefs (2017)
- Harvest for Healthy Kids (2016)
- Food Friends (2015)
Student Research Awards Presented by the Higher Education Division
The Student Research Awards recognize masters and doctoral level student research in nutrition education along with work done by early career researchers who have completed a degree within the past five years. Abstract will be reviewed by a panel of members of the Higher Education Division based on the following criteria: objectives clearly expressed, procedure or methodology described, results and main accomplishments stated, significance of information, and quality of writing. The recipients will present their research at the SNEB Annual Conference. The $250 award is sponsored by the SNEB Division of Higher Education.
To be considered for the Student Research Award, indicate your intention during the abstract submission process.
Congratulations to the 2023 Award Winners:
Early Career Researcher
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Graham E. (Geb) Bastian, PhD, RDN, LN |
PhD Student
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Andrea Krenek, LDN, RDN |
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Kassidy Sharpe, MS, BS |
MS Student
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Laura Sans Duran, BA |
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Kelci Baez, BS |
Undergraduate
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Leslie Canales Franco |
Nutrition Education for Children Division Student Poster Research Award
The 2023 Poster Research Award winners are:
- Tirna Purkait, MS, M.Tech, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, The Impact of FNAPs on Young Children’s Food Environment in ECEs: A Systematic Review Using the RE-AIM Framework
- Oluwatosin Akingbule, CHES, MS, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Impact of a Nutrition Education and Physical Activity Intervention on Fruits and Vegetable Intake of Nigerian Immigrants
- Dario Cosic, Louisiana Tech University, Classification of Early Childhood Educators’ Behaviors to Improve WISE Implementation
Past Award Winners:
2022
- Miteshri Dhiraj Prajapati, MS, Texas Woman’s University, P076 Eating and Weight Behaviors Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Weight Concerns: Parents’ Perspectives
- Jocelyn Dixon, BS, BA, East Carolina University, P034 Connecting Kindergarten Readiness and Food-Based Learning in the Head Start Preschool Classroom
- Veronika Hajduczka, Rutgers University, P092 Assessing the Face Validity of Revised Behavioral Evaluation Questions for Adolescents With Low Income
2021
- Priya Krishnakumar, MS, Florida International University, Preliminary Efficacy of the ‘Super Dads Super Kids’ Web-Based Nutrition Education Program on Determinants of Behavior and Health Behaviors of Asian Indian Fathers and Their Elementary School-Age Children
- Maribel Barragan, BS, RD, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Reducing Obesogenic Behaviors Through a Culturally-Tailored Family-Based Program: “Abriendo Caminos”
- Ruth Rasmussen, MS, LD, RDN, CCRP, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Home Food Access and Children’s Heart Healthy Dietary Intake at Home and Child Care
2020
- Jocelyn Bayles, East Carolina University, Can Food-based Learning Activities Improve Head Start Preschool Children’s Vegetable Intake?
- Hibah Al Sulami, MS, North Carolina State University, Evaluation of a Food and Children’s Emotions (FACE) Picture Book and Tool for Improving Head Start Preschoolers’ Ability to Recognize Six Basic, Food-Related Emotions

Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Nutrition in Higher Education Award
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Nutrition in Higher Education Award is presented to recognize outstanding SNEB members for their scholarly contributions to and student engagement in higher education. This award is designed to honor exemplary nutrition faculty who motivate college student learning through innovative and effective teaching methods.
Congratulations to the 2023 Award Winner: M Elizabeth (Beth) Miller, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND
View the press release recognizing Miller’s award.
Past Winners:
- Virginia B. Gray, PhD, RDN (2022)
- Suzie Goodell PhD, RDN 2021 | Video
- Rachel L. Vollmer, PhD, RD Bradley University (2020)
- Mateja Savoie Roskos, PhD, MPH, RD, CD, CNP (2019)
- Melanie Burns, PhD, RD (2017)
- Sarah Ash, PhD (2016)
- Lora Beth Brown, EdD, RD, CD (2015)
Public Health Division Awards
Students must be in enrolled in an undergraduate, masters, or doctoral degree program at the time of abstract submission. Early-career researchers must have completed their terminal degree (e.g., PhD, DrPH, MD, etc.) within the past 5 years. Membership in the SNEB Public Health Division required. To be considered for the award, indicate your intention during the abstract submission process.
Congratulations to the 2023 Award Winners:
Early Career Award
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Brianna Routh, PhD, MPH, RDN, Assistant Professor and Food & Family Extension Specialist, Health & Human Development, Montana State University Extension Family & Consumer Sciences |
Student Award
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Brandon Stroud, MPH, CHES, NASM CPT, Department of Nutrition Science, College of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina University |
Practitioner Award
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Julie Wright, MPH, Program Manager for Denton and Wise Counties, Community Health Improvement, Texas Health Resources |
Past Winners:
- Ashlyn Anderson, University of Tennessee Knoxville (2022)
- Nica Clark, PhD, RDN, Assistant Professor of Nutrition, Southern Utah University (2022)
- Cori Sweet, MPH, RDN, UTK Extension, SNAP-Ed (2021)
- Stacey Viera, MPH, GWSPH/Aleto, Inc. (2021)
- Alisha R. Farris, PhD, RD (Abstract)
- Jessica Soldavini, MPH, RD, LD (2019)
- Whitney Mon-Wah Fung, MS (2019)
- Kristin Riggsbee, Julia Kim, Alisha Farris (2018)
- Sara Himmelrich (2011)
- Anna Matteson and Nurgul Fitzgerald (2010)
- Julie Shertzer and Katherine Cason (2006)
- Mei-Wei Chang and Barbara Storper (2005)
- Erica Lawson, Laura Bellows, Jennifer Anderson (2004)
Joanne Ikeda Memorial Scholarship
Inaugurated in 2019, the Joanne Ikeda Memorial Scholarship exists to provide financial assistance to a student to attend the annual conference. Joanne Ikeda was an internationally known nutritionist and former SNEB president who passed away in November of 2018. Joanne played a huge role in the development of a new approach to weight management, Health at Every Size® (HAES), which is built on the five principles of weight inclusivity, health enhancement, respectful care, eating for well-being and life-enhancing movement. One scholarship will be awarded to an SNEB student member annually.
Past recipient:
- Jessica Soldavini, MPH, RD, LD (2019)
Korean Society of Community Nutrition (KSCN) and SNEB Professional Achievement Award

In 2011 SNEB entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korean Society of Community Nutrition (KSCN). The relationship includes information sharing and SNEB frequently welcomes a large contingent of KSCN members to the annual conference, not only as attendees, but also as providers of educational content.
With the reaffirmation of the MOU in 2016, a joint award program is announced honoring an SNEB member and student as well as a KSCN member.
Congratulations to the 2023 Award Winner: Dr. Seung Eun Jung
View the press release recognizing Jung’s award.
Past Winners:
- Hee-Jung Song, PhD (2022)
- Seung-Yeon Lee, PhD (2021) | Video
- Heewon Gray, PhD, RDN
- Mary Murimi, PhD, RD and Won Gyoung Kim (2018)
- Jung-Sun Lee, PhD, RD (2017)
Korean Society of Community Nutrition (KSCN) and SNEB Student Award
The KSCN-SNEB Student Awards will be presented to members of SNEB who made significant contribution to the field of Community Nutrition, especially for Korean Americans and/or minority populations in the U.S.
Congratulations to the 2023 Award Winner: Rebecca Y. Rosenstein
View the press release recognizing Rosenstein’s award.
Past Winners:
- Whitney Fung Uy, PhD, CPH (2022)
- Marissa McElrone, BS, University of Tennessee (2020)
- Jessica Soldavini, MPH, RD, LD (2019)
- Ana Florencia Moyeda Carbaza and Kisun Nam (2018)
- Ruhul Amin, MPH, MS (2017)
JNEB Best Article Award
The Best Article Award is selected each year by the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior’s (SNEB) Journal Committee. All Research Articles,Reports, Methods, and Special Articles published in JNEB in the previous volume (Jan-Dec of preceding year) are eligible to be selected by committee vote. This award is presented at the SNEB Annual Conference.
Congratulations to the 2023 Winner and Finalists:

2023 Best Article Award
Food Stress and Diabetes-Related Psychosocial Outcomes in American Indian Communities: A Mixed Methods Approach
Tara L. Maudrie, MSPH; Kevalin M.W. Aulandez, MSPH; Victoria M. O’Keefe, PhD; Frances R. Whitfield; Melissa L. Walls, PhD; Dane S. Hautala, PhD
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Volume 54, Issue 12, p1051-1065
View the press release recognizing the article’s award.
2023 Best Article Finalists
Culinary Nutrition Education Improves Home Food Availability and Psychosocial Factors Related to Healthy Meal Preparation Among Children
Choon Ming Ng, PhD; Satvinder Kaur, PhD; Hui Chin Koo, PhD; Firdaus Mukhtar, PhD; Hip Seng Yim, PhD
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Vol. 54, Issue 2, p100-108
Postpartum Symptoms of Depression are Related to Infant Feeding Practices in a National WIC Sample
Nancy S. Weinfield, PhD; Christopher E. Anderson, PhD
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Vol. 54, Issue 2, p118-124
Click here to see previous Best Article award winners.
JNEB Best Research Brief Award
The Best Research Brief Award is selected each year by the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior’s (SNEB) Journal Committee. All Research Briefs published in JNEB in the previous volume (Jan-Dec of preceding year) are eligible to be selected by committee vote. This award is presented at the SNEB Annual Conference.
Congratulations to the 2023 Winner and Finalists:
2023 Best Research Brief
Healthy Eating Determinants and Food Security Resource Opportunities: Urban-Dwelling American Indian and Alaska Native Older Adults Perspectives
Sarah A. Stotz, PhD, MS, RDN, CDE; Luciana E. Hebert, PhD; Adrianne Maddux, BASc; Kelly R. Moore, MD, FAAP
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Volume 54, Issue 2, p186-193
View the press release recognizing the research brief’s award.
2023 Best Research Brief Finalists
Geospatial Reach of the Maryland COVID-19 School Meals Response: Spring 2020
Jared T. McGuirt, PhD, MPH; Hannah Lane, PhD, MPH; M. Chela Cooper, BA; Leslie Sessoms-Parks, MSW; Ann Pulling Kuhn, PhD; Erin R. Hager, PhD
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Vol. 54, Issue 10, p957-963
Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Strategies in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed)
Michael P. Burke, PhD, MPH; Stacy Gleason, MPH; Anita Singh, PhD, RD; Margaret K. Wilkin, MPH
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Vol. 54, Issue 4, p320-326
FNEE Conference Scholarship – 2023 recipient
Nila Pradhananga – FNEE Student Scholarship
Nila Pradhananga – FNEE Student Research Scholarship
Outstanding Research in Digital Technology Award
The Outstanding Research in Digital Technology Award, sponsored by the SNEB DigiTech Division, recognizes scientists at all career levels whose research effectively and innovatively utilizes digital technology in the nutrition education and behavior field. The DigiTech executive board will review abstracts using the following criteria: 1) strong rationale/background for research work, 2) rigorous and/or innovative research method, procedure, or intervention incorporating digital technology, 3) clear articulation of results and their significance pertaining to research and/or practical application, 4) quality of writing.
Congratulations to the 2023 Award Winners:
Feasibility of a Nutrition Label Education Intervention With Computer Gamification to Promote Learning With Year 10 Students
Sally Moore, PhD, RD, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds
Acceptability and Feasibility of Using Videochat During Meals (VideoDining) in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Eating Alone
Laura Barré, MD, RD, Cornell University
Process Evaluation of a Theory-Informed eHealth Intervention Through “Healthy Online Parental Education (HOPE)” Study
Hyunjung Lee, PhD, MS, Texas A&M University