Uncategorized – Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior

SNEB 2026 Highlights – An Outstanding Conference in Washington, D.C.

Andrew de Bie — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 18:15:59 +0000

SNEB 2026 brought more than 500 nutrition educators together in Washington, D.C., July 29–31, 2026, for three days of learning, collaboration, advocacy, and celebration. With a program focused on the latest developments in nutrition education, the conference provided opportunities for attendees to share research and ideas, explore emerging issues, connect with colleagues, and advance the field of nutrition education.

The conference kicked off with the ASNNA-SNEB Joint Hill Day, bringing more than 80 nutrition education leaders together to meet with congressional offices. Participants shared how nutrition education improves health, strengthens communities, supports agriculture, and helps Americans make informed food choices. The event provided an important opportunity for SNEB members and partners to advocate for the role of nutrition education in advancing public health.

The first official day of the conference featured the thought-provoking Bee Marks Communication Symposium, engaging concurrent sessions, and a JNEB Rapid Reviews session highlighting timely research. Later in the day. attendees gathered for the opening and poster reception, providing an opportunity to connect with colleagues and explore the latest research and work being done across the field.

Day two kicked off with an original poem, “Ode to SNAP-Ed” written and performed by Leah Brown. The morning continued with “A State of the Science on Nutrition Policy,” a timely discussion covering key nutrition policy actions from 2025–2026. The rest of the day featured more than 15 concurrent sessions exploring a wide range of topics, including nutrition policy, systems change, food justice, digital innovation, and community health.

The final day began with the SNEB Business Meeting, followed by additional sessions covering topics including GLP-1 receptor agonists, nutrition policy, community engagement, food systems, health equity, SNAP-Ed, and lifelong nutrition education. The conference concluded with the SNEB 2026 Awards Ceremony and Presidential Address, where the Society celebrated the achievements and contributions of its members, reflected on the accomplishments of the past year, and welcomed incoming SNEB President Adrienne Markworth.

Congratulations to our award recipients:

SNEB Program Impact Award – Lynn Fredericks, FamilyCook Productions
SNEB Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award – Katie Kraus, Utah State University
SNEB Early Career Achievement Award – Jessica Soldavini, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
SNEB Helen Denning Ullrich Award for Lifetime Excellence in Nutrition Education – Pamela Koch, Teachers College – Columbia University
JNEB Great Educational Material (GEM)
- Winner: Brody, R. , Cunningham, A., Stevens, J. (2025). Prairietown Regional Medical Center: An AI-driven simulation for teaching leadership and change management to nutrition graduate students. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 57(2), 145–151.
- Finalist: Garner, J. A., Shrodes, J. C., Garrity, K., Zhao, S., Aboagye-Mensah, E., Williams, A., Brock, G., Hefner, J., Walker, D. M., & Joseph, J. J. (2025). Cooking Matters for Diabetes: A curriculum to support diabetes self-management among individuals facing food insecurity. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 57(5), 460-466.
JNEB Best Research Brief
- Winner: Short E, Li J, Selig JP, Bounds K, Rowland B, et al. (2025). Medically tailored grocery delivery for food pantry clients with diabetes. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Advance online publication.
- Finalist: Sundermeir, S. M., Matsuzaki, M., Zhang, A., Obi, J. C., Gittelsohn, J., & Winkler, M. R. (2025). Characterizing the unhealthy consumer food environment of dollar stores and exploring differences by neighborhood racial composition. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 57(10), 972-979.
JNEB Best Research Article
- Winner: Faul, C. B., Jilcott Pitts, S., Calloway, E. E., Seligman, H. K., Reis, H., Cherry, C. W., et al. (2025). A meta-ethnography to determine critical constructs of nutrition security. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 57(3), 167–184.
- Finalist: Cohen, J. F. W., Zuercher, M. D., Orta-Aleman, D., Chapman, L. E., Hecht, C. A., Hecht, K., Ohri-Vachaspati, P., Olarte, D. A., Patel, A. I., Polacsek, M., Schwartz, M. B., Ritchie, L. D., & Gosliner, W. (2025). Impact of deimplementing universal free school meals: School food authority perspectives. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 57(10), 902-908.

Thank you to everyone who helped make SNEB 2026 possible, including our conference planners, volunteers, presenters, poster authors, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees. Your contributions made this year’s conference a valuable opportunity to flourish through change and celebrate the impact of nutrition education.

Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Welcomes Adrienne Markworth as 2026-2027 President

Andrew de Bie — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:43:09 +0000

The Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Adrienne Markworth, MA as its new President. The transition of leadership was formally recognized during the SNEB 2026 annual conference held in Washington, D.C., from July 29 to July 31.

Markworth succeeds Susan Stephenson-Martin, MS, who served as president during the 2025-2026 term. In her new role, Markworth will help guide SNEB through a period of significant change in the field of nutrition education and behavior. Her priorities include strengthening SNEB’s role as a professional home for members working at the intersection of emerging nutrition science, policy, technology, and community-based practice; fostering international collaboration; and supporting a strong and resilient future for the Society.

“I am honored to serve as President of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior,” said Markworth. “Our field is experiencing profound change, and SNEB is uniquely positioned to help our members navigate these challenges and turn emerging opportunities into meaningful action. I look forward to working alongside our members, volunteers, and staff as we strengthen our community and flourish through change together.”

Adrienne Markworth, MA is currently the Founder and Executive Director of Leah’s Pantry in San Diego, California.

The SNEB 2026 International Conference gathered over 500 nutrition education professionals to flourish through change.

For more information about the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior or to learn more about the leadership team, visit https://sneb.org/about/leadership.

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Journalists interested in further comment or setting up an interview can reach out to SNEB Executive Director Melissa Heeke at mheeke@sneb.org or Marketing and Communications Manager Andrew de Bie at adebie@sneb.org.

ABOUT THE SOCIETY FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR

The Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior is an international organization of nutrition education professionals who are dedicated to advancing food and nutrition education research, practice, and policy that promote equity, and support public and planetary health. To learn more, visit sneb.dev.mod9multimedia.com/.

Meet our New Executive Director, Melissa Heeke, CAE

Andrew de Bie — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:26:53 +0000

The Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior is pleased to announce that Melissa Heeke, CAE, assumed the role of Executive Director on August 1, 2026. In this role, Melissa will lead SNEB’s strategic and operational efforts, strengthen member and volunteer engagement, and advance the Society’s continued growth and impact in the field of nutrition education and behavior.

Since joining SNEB in 2025 as Associate Executive Director, Melissa has worked closely with the Board of Directors, committees, division leaders, members, and staff to strengthen the Society and advance its mission. Her deep understanding of SNEB, combined with more than 20 years of association leadership experience, positions her well to guide the organization into its next chapter.

Melissa expressed her excitement in her new role: “I have always believed in the power of a small group of committed people to create meaningful change. I am honored to serve as SNEB’s Executive Director alongside an incredibly talented team of association professionals and an engaged and committed Board of Directors. Together, we have an opportunity to build on SNEB’s strong history and continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of communities around the world.”

Along with Melissa, SNEB welcomed Adrienne Markworth, MA, as its new president on August 1, 2026. “SNEB, like many professional associations, has navigated real fiscal pressures in recent years. Your Board of Directors takes that seriously, and we’re committed to a responsible, resilient financial strategy. We will keep SNEB structurally sound so we can show up for this field for years to come. The stakes are high, and so is my confidence in this community.”

Melissa brings more than 20 years of association leadership experience, with extensive expertise in association strategy, organizational leadership, membership growth, volunteer engagement, and governance. Throughout her career, she has developed and strengthened association programs that engage diverse professional communities, create meaningful member value, expand organizational reach, and build lasting connections between members and their professional societies.

An active volunteer leader herself, Melissa has served in leadership roles with the Indiana Society of Association Executives and the American Society of Association Executives. Her professional and volunteer experience reflects a longstanding commitment to helping associations thrive by connecting strategy to action, strengthening relationships with volunteer leaders, and creating meaningful experiences for members.

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