2014-05-01
Media Contacts: Ryan O'Malley, Allison MacMunn
800/877-1600, ext. 4769, 4802 media@eatright.org
CHICAGO – Registered dietitian nutritionist Mary B. Gregoire, director of food and nutrition services and professor and chair of the department of clinical nutrition at Rush University Medical Center, has been named the executive director of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
ACEND, formerly the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education, is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitian nutritionists, or dietetic technicians, registered. ACEND serves and protects students and the public by ensuring the quality and continued improvement of nutrition and dietetics education programs.
ACEND is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Title IV gatekeeper, affirming that ACEND meets national standards and is a reliable authority on the quality of nutrition and dietetics education programs. ACEND is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors and abides by its code of good practice.
"Dr. Gregoire is a well-known and respected Academy member with the background, vision, strong interpersonal and consensus-building skills needed to be successful in this position," said Academy Chief Executive Officer Patricia Babjak. "She has broad experience in dietetics education, having taught in and managed didactic and coordinated programs in dietetics, dietetic internships and advanced degree programs."
Gregoire has been a leader in setting accreditation expectations for dietetic education programs, serving on the Academy’s Task Force to Revise Dietetic Education Competencies and the Task Force on Education Standards.
Previously, Gregoire was a professor and department chair at Iowa State University, where she served as lead reviewer during accreditation site visits for the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration. She was associate director of applied research at the National Food Service Management Institute at the University of Southern Mississippi and a faculty member at Kansas State University.
Gregoire received an undergraduate degree in dietetics and master’s degree in institution management, both from North Dakota State University, and a doctorate in foodservice/hospitality management from Kansas State University. She has received numerous awards for her teaching and scholarship and is the author or co-author of dozens of publications on topics including education and management in dietetics. She has written the last four editions (including the 8th edition, published in 2013) of Foodservice Organizations: A Managerial and Systems Approach (Pearson/Prentice Hall), as well as an instructor’s guide for the book.
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All registered dietitians are nutritionists – but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. The Academy's Board of Directors and Commission on Dietetic Registration have determined that those who hold the credential registered dietitian (RD) may optionally use "registered dietitian nutritionist" (RDN) instead. The two credentials have identical meanings.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy at www.eatright.org.