Awards

2025 AWARD NOMINATIONS

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 community 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. Watch our 2024 awards slideshow here and learn more below:

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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)

Accomplishments also considered could be leadership of nutrition education and behavior programs or collaborations and publication of scholarly materials related to nutrition education and behavior.

2024 Award Winners:

Congratulations to the 2024 Award Recipients: Mary Murimi, PhD, RD & Diane Smith, MA, RD, LD

Past Winners Include:

  • Jennifer Wilkins, PhD, RDN (2023)
  • 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)
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Mid-Career Professional Achievement Award

The Mid-Career Professional Achievement Award recognizes an SNEB member in mid-career regarding his/her professional accomplishments in the field of nutrition education and for significant contribution to the mission of SNEB. Recipients must have a record of achievement in the field of nutrition education and behavior.

Accomplishments also considered could be leadership of nutrition education and behavior programs or collaborations and publication of scholarly materials related to nutrition education and behavior.

Congratulations to the 2024 award recipient: Nurgul Fitzgerald, PhD, MS, RD

Past Winners Include:

  • Amy Mobley, PhD (2023)
  • 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)
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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 2024 award recipient: Marissa Burgermaster, PhD

Past winners:

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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 2024 winner: John Hopkins Center for a Liveable Future

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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 2024 Winner: Kelly McCombs

Past Winners:

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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 2024 Award Winner: Stacia Nordin, RD

Past Winners:

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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.

Past Winners:

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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 2024 Winner and Finalists:

2024 Best Article Award

Authors: Alison Jane Martingano, Sydney H. Telaak, Emma M. Schopp, Susan Carnell, Sapna Batheja, and Susan Persky

Title: Using Educational Videos and Perspective-Taking to Communicate Gene-By-Environment Interaction Concepts about Eating Behavior: Effects on Empathy and Weight Stigma

2024 Best Article Finalists

Authors: Michael P. Burke and Emma Huffman

Title: Estimating the Number, Distribution, and Predictors of Food Pantries in the US

Click here to see previous Best Article award winners.

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 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 2024 Winner and Finalists:

2024 Best Research Brief

Authors: Samara R. Sterling and Shelly-Ann Bowen

Title: Effect of a Plant-based Intervention Among Black Individuals in the Deep South: A Pilot Study

2024 Best Research Brief Finalists

Authors: Jeanette M. Garcia, Riley Shurack, Nicholas Leahy, Keith Brazendale, Eunkyung Lee, and Shawn Lawrence

Title: Feasibility of a Remote-based Nutrition Education and Culinary Skills Program for Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Authors: Katelyn Fox, Maya Vadiveloo, Karen McCurdy, Patricia Markham Risica, Kim M. Gans, and Alison Tovar

Title: Control and Chaos: Caregiver’s Basic Psychological Need Frustration is Associated With the Socioemotional Climate When Feeding

2024 Best GEM Winners

Authors: Virginia C. Stage, Jessica Resor, Jocelyn Dixon, L. Suzanne Goodell, Valerie J. McMillan, and Evon Murphy Gilliam

Title: More PEAS Please! Teaching Teachers How to Integrate Food-based Learning Into Preschool Science

2024 Best GEM Finalists

Authors: Denise Holston and Matthew Greene

Title: The LSU AgCenter Healthy Communities Initiative: Community-Participatory Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change

Authors: Ligia I. Reyes, Susan L. Johnson, Barbara Chamberlin, and Laura L. Bellows

Title: Engaging Preschoolers in Food Tasting and Movement Activities Using Mobile Applications

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SNEB Research Division – Innovative Methods in Research Paper Award

The Research Division Innovative Paper Award was established for the purpose of recognizing outstanding and innovative research and research methodology in nutrition education and behavior. The Division will award research and/or research methods from a published, peer-reviewed paper that are novel or creatively use existing methods/ideas and addresses important and timely issues in the field of nutrition education and behavior. The research presented should have the potential to have a broad impact on the field. Awards will be given annually to two individuals who have contributed innovative, creative, and/or impactful work to the field of nutrition education and support behaviorally focused research. The Division will award two levels of submissions:

  1. Early-Stage Scholar: The first or senior author must be within the first 10 years of their terminal degree completion or in a trainee position (student/post-doc) at the time of submission.
  2. Established Scholar: The first or senior author must be in the middle or senior stages of their career defined as more than 10 years in the profession at the time of submission.

This is an annual award, selected by the Research Division Award Sub-committee, which will be formed at the start of every cycle (i.e., after the annual conference). Any research or methods article published in any scientific, peer-reviewed journal during the previous calendar year (Jan – Dec) is eligible for submission.

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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 2024 Award Winners:

Elyvine Ingabire-Gasana
Amara Channell Doig
Tina Dodge Vera

Past Winners:

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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.

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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.

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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.

Past Winners:

  • Well-Connected Communities–Healthy Street Healthy Me Community Engagement Project, accepted by Virginie Zoumenou, PhD, CNS
  • 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)
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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)