2025-26 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 – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE [email protected] 
President-Elect – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, LDN [email protected]
Immediate Past President – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN [email protected] 
Secretary – Christine Catalano, MS, RDN [email protected] 
Treasurer – Samantha Shuflin, MS, RDN, LDN, PMP [email protected] 
CPI Chair – Jennifer Hubert, MS, RDN, LDN [email protected]
Chair of Delegates – Val Chudzinski, MA, RD, LDN, CNSC [email protected]
Executive Director – Terry McBride [email protected]

Nominating Chair – Anita Davila, RD [email protected]

District Presidents
        Capital (CAAND) – Kelsey Bentlage, MS, RDN, LDN [email protected] 
        Central (CIAND) – Micah Henderson, MS, RDN, LDN [email protected]

        Chicago (CAND) – Cintia Gonzaga-Pickel, MS, RDN, LDN [email protected]

Operations Committee

Chair of Operations – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN 

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

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

Bylaws, Policy, & Procedures Committee
        Bylaws, Policy & Procedures Chair – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN
        President – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE
        President-Elect – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, 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 – N/A
        President – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE
        President-Elect – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, LDN
        Immediate Past President – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN
        CPI Chair – Jennifer Hubert, MS, RDN, 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 – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE
        Public Policy Coordinator – Elizabeth Gutierrez, MS, RDN
        State Policy Rep (1) – Rebecca Ilic, MS, RD, LDN

        State Policy Rep (2) – Bethany Brown, MS, RDN, LDN
        State Regulatory Specialist (1) – Coryn Commare, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC
        State Regulatory Specialist (2) – OPEN
        Consumer Protection Coordinator – Giovanni Andino, RDN, DHSc
        North Delegate – Val Chudzinski, MA, RD, LDN, CNSC
        South Delegate – Taylor Aarns, RD
        Nutrition Services Payment Specialist – OPEN
        Lobbyist – David Ormsby & Andrew Kretschmar

Licensure
        President – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE 
        Immediate Past President – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, 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  – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, 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 – Leah Hoefert

        Social Media Co-Chair – Katie Smith

Publications Committee

        Publications Chair – Charlyn Fargo Ware, MS, RDN, LDN

Membership Committee 

Chair of Membership – Christine Catalano, MS, RDN

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

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

Nominating Committee
        Nominating Chair – Anita Davila, RDN, LDN
        Nominating Chair-Elect – Jeanna Rich, RDN, CSO, LDN 
        Immediate Past President – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN
        Capital District President – Kelsey Bentlage, MS, RDN, LDN 
        Central District President –Micah Henderson, MS, RDN, LDN

        Chicago District President – Cintia Gonzaga-Pickel, MS, RDN, LDN 

IDEA Committee
        Diversity Liaison – Kathy Ortega, RD, LDN

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

       Pathway to Leadership Co-Chair – Jessica Nigg

Grants and Awards
        Awards Chair – Susan Push, RDN, LDN
        Committee Member – Starr Gibson, MS, RDN, LDN 
        Committee Member – Maggie Mundall, RDN, LDN

        Committee Member – OPEN

Professional Development Committee 

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

Council on Professional Issues (CPI) Committee
        CPI Chair – Jennifer Hubert, MS, RDN, LDN
        CPI Chair-Elect – Melaney Irving, RD, LDN
        President – Amy K Moore, MS, RDN, LDN, LCE
        President-Elect – Celine Reyes, MS, RD, LDN
        Immediate Past President – Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN
        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 2025