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The Board of the Massachusetts Dietetic Association (MDA) is responsible for the organization’s operations, strategic planning, policy making, fiscal management and implementation of activities. Each member of the Board has a duty to serve the members of MDA by staying informed of the activities and fiscal matters of the association, and by assisting in the implementation of the MDA Strategic Plan. It is also a duty to report activities to the Board (via the consent agenda for each Board meeting) so that all Board members can remain informed. Most Board members serve a dual role of Board member as well as committee or section chair overseeing one of or more committees.

Take a look at the Organization Chart to see how the MDA Board is organized.
Read about specific board positions in our Job Descriptions.

Executive Board
Denise Conforti Lawson, MS, RD, LDN

President
Denise Conforti Lawson, MS, RD, LDN

Represents and serves the membership of MDA by managing, staying informed, and ensuring  more »
Kerri Hawkins, MS, RD, LDN

President-elect
Kerri Hawkins, MS, RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office in the role of  more »

Past President
Kimberly Dong, MS, RD, LDN

Facilitates a smooth transition in leadership for the Association as an advisor to  more »
Vanessa Kane, RD, LDN

Secretary
Vanessa Kane, RD, LDN

Responsible for coordinating the agenda to Board Meetings and for the writing and  more »

Secretary-elect
Giselle LeBlanc RD

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »

Treasurer
Melanie Mott MS, RD

Oversees the organization’s finances and is a member of the Finance and Audit  more »

Treasurer-elect
Caitlin Meagher RD

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of office,  more »

Delegate
Pat Bebo

Functions as our representative to the House of Delegates (HOD) of the ADA.  more »

Liaison to COP and Area Associations
Linda Davenport, RD, LDN, CDE

Oversees and guides the Dietetic Practice Groups, Special Interest Groups, and District Associations  more »
Julie Robarts

Liaison-elect to COP and Area Associations
Julie Robarts

MS, MPH, RD, LDN
Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »
Directors

Director, Education
Erin Whitney Evans, MS, RD, LDN

Ensures quality professional development programs are offered to all members throughout the year  more »

Director-elect, Education
Jenny Karl, MS, RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »

Director, Member Communications
Cristin Jones, MS, RD

Responsible for managing and coordinating communication efforts to MDA members.   more »

Director-elect, Member Communications
Emily Dionne, MS, RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »

Director, Public Relations
Sandra Klemmer, MS, RD, LDN

Oversees and guides the work of the Media Representatives and the Public Relations  more »

Director-elect, Public Relations
Jessica Maillet RD

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »
Laura Judd, MS, RD, LD, CSSD

Director, Technology
Laura Judd, MS, RD, LD, CSSD

Responsible for managing and coordinating technology efforts and electronic communication efforts to MDA  more »

Director-elect, Technology
Jillian Regan RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »

Director, State Policy Representative
Rubina Husain, RD, LDN

Oversees the Public Policy Panel to address state legislative and regulatory issues.  more »

Director-elect, State Policy Representative
Margaret Lovesky

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of  more »

Director, Career Pathways and Awards
Peggy Leung, MS, RD, LDN, CLC

Responsible for coordinating mentoring to students seeking to become members of our profession  more »

Director-elect, Career Pathways & Awards
Meghan Ariagno RD, LDN

Elected official who serves a one-year term of office. Upon completion of office,  more »
Committees and Chairs

Nominating Committee Chair
Kelly Kane, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC

Oversees the geographically diverse three-person Nominating committee that designates a slate of candidates  more »
Emily Guertin

Membership Co-Chair
Emily Guertin

  more »
Alison Books, MS, RD, LDN

Nominating Committee, Chair-elect
Alison Books, MS, RD, LDN

Elected member of geographically diverse three-person committee that designates a slate of candidates  more »

Nominating Committee
Amy Rose Sager RD, LDN, CLT

Elected member of geographically diverse three-person committee that designates a slate of candidates  more »

Membership Co-Chair
Casey Lewis

  more »

Mentoring Chair
Career Pathways Committee
TBD

Oversees the Mentoring Committee which develops and implements a yearly plan of action  more »

State Professional Recruitment Coordinator
Career Pathways Committee
TBD

Provides career guidance materials and creates mentoring opportunities for students, second career individuals,  more »
Erica Stevens

Scholarships and Awards Chair
Career Pathways Committee
Erica Stevens

Oversees committee which nominates candidates for awards and honors at the national and  more »
Rena Prendergast, MTS, RD, LDN

Liaison to Massachusetts Nutrition Board
Rena Prendergast, MTS, RD, LDN

Represents MDA at Massachusetts Nutrition Board meetings. Reports on activities to the Board  more »

Liaison to Licensure Board
Public Policy Panel
Elaine Lyons, MS, RD, LDN

Represents MDA at Massachusetts Licensure Board. Reports on activities to the Board of  more »

Public Policy Coordinator
Public Policy Panel
Nancy Fisher

Serves as key connection between ADA government relations and grassroots leaders on ADA  more »

State Regulatory Specialist
Public Policy Panel
Mary Jane Rogalski

Tracks state regulatory issues of importance to Registered Dietitians and oversees MDA's response  more »

Reimbursement Chair
Jan Hangen

Chairs the reimbursement committee  more »

2012 Convention Co-Chair
Annual MDA Convention Committee
TBD

Oversees the planning and execution of the MDA Annual Convention, including oversight of  more »

2012 Convention Co-Chair
Annual MDA Convention Committee
TBD

Oversees the planning and execution of the MDA Annual Convention, including oversight of  more »