Scholarships & Awards
Scholarships
MDEF sponsors several scholarships. See the MDEF page for more details.
Awards
MAND offers multiple opportunities for outstanding members to be recognized. Click here for the 2025 Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Awards overview and application requirements.
The application deadline for the following awards is February 15th, 2025:
Outstanding Dietetics Student
An award can be given for each type of program:
- Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD)
- Dietetic Internship (DI)
- Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
- Future Education Model Graduate Programs (FEM)
- Dietetic Technician Program (DT)
- International/Foreign Dietetics Education Programs (IDE/FDE)
- Emerging Dietetic Leader
- Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year
- Outstanding Dietitian of the Year (Annie Galbraith Award)
- Recognized Diet Technician of the Year
- Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award
- Outstanding Dietetic Preceptor Award
To apply: send a CV/resume and two letters of support to the Awards Chair: Jillian Allen at jilliantallen@gmail.com. Please click on the 2025 Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Awards overview and application requirements link above for further information.
2025 Award Winners
Outstanding Dietitian of the Year (Annie Galbraith Award)
Valrier Machinist
Valerie has been at Community Servings for seven years, and has almost 30 years of experience as a registered dietitian nutritionist and health educator in a variety of corporate and public health settings. Her areas of expertise are management of chronic diseases, weight management and sports and exercise nutrition. Prior to joining Community Servings, Valerie was the National Director of Nutrition for Optum. She has her Master’s degree in Nutrition and Public Health from Columbia University and a BS in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University.
Young Dietitian of the Year
Inna Kagan
Outside of her involvement with MAND, Inna Kagan is an eating disorder dietitian working in a residential treatment center and in virtual private practice. She loves cooking, traveling, gardening, and spending time with her loved ones. Inna is so grateful to everyone she has met through MAND and to the Awards Committee for this award!
Emerging Dietetic Leader
Dr. Joyce Faraj-Ardura
Joyce is a nutrition counseling coach with a passion for empowering fellow dietitians and nutrition professionals to enhance their coaching and counseling skills, equipping them to better support and retain their clients while promoting lasting behavior change. With a Ph.D. in Nutrition and Public Health, years as a tenure-track professor, and former nutrition program manager at a clinic, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work.
Driven by her belief that counseling skills are paramount to client success, she has become a sought-after mentor. She is the founder and CEO of the Nutrition Counseling Academy. She believes that a practitioner's medical nutrition therapy and nutrition knowledge are just as important as their counseling skills to support behavioral changes.
In addition to mentoring practitioners, Joyce runs her private practice, Joyceful Nutrition, where she supports clients through a culturally inclusive and weight-inclusive approach. She helps individuals build a healthier relationship with food, navigate life transitions, and create sustainable nutrition habits that align with their personal values and health goals.
Joyce lives in New Hampshire and balances her professional and entrepreneurial pursuits with her role as a dedicated mother of three.
Outstanding Preceptor
Jessica Pelletier
Jessica Pelletier works as a Lead Clinical Dietitian at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester; she completed her dietetic internship at UMass Memorial and enjoyed her time there so much that she never left. Jess is grateful to be able to give back and share her passion of clinical nutrition with dietetic interns at this facility. In her spare time, Jess enjoys teaching indoor cycling classes, running, spending time with her dog, and cooking!
Outstanding Educator
Sara O'Brien
Sara O'Brien is an advanced practice RD who holds a bachelor's in chemical engineering from Columbia University and a master's in nutrition science from Boston University. Sara has spent 14+ years as an inpatient dietitian at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington and she transitioned to full time teaching at Boston University in Fall of 2022 where she brings her passion for malnutrition identification, NFPE and has created the simulation coursework for the programs in nutrition. One of the biggest joys of teaching Sara has found, is helping students find their love for clinical nutrition.
Outstanding Dietetics Student in a CP
Gabryella Rodrigues
Gabryella Rodrigues is a master's candidate in the 4+1 Coordinated Program in Dietetics at Framingham State University. As a first-generation student, she is passionate about advancing health equity through nutrition and has gained experience in clinical, school nutrition, community, and foodservice settings. She is honored to receive the Outstanding Dietetic Student Award and looks forward to making a meaningful impact as a future registered dietitian.
Emerging Student in DPD
Jillian MacLean
Jillian MacLean is a senior Nutritional Science-Dietetics (DPD) student and a first-year Master of Public Health candidate at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. With four years of dedicated study in nutrition, she actively seeks opportunities to deepen her expertise in the field. Currently, Jillian serves as a Research Assistant in a Health Assessment Lab, where she contributes to the development of Community Health Intervention Plans. She is also the President of the Nutrition Club, a Dietetics Student Ambassador, and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa. In addition to her academic and leadership roles, she balances two jobs as a daycare assistant and a server. Passionate about advancing nutrition and public health, Jillian aspires to become a Registered Dietitian and ultimately launch her own baby food brand and business.
2025 50-Year MAND Award Winners
Rena Prendergast
Internship NYC - Bronx VA '74-75; BU Trainee-ship '78-'79; Harvard Divinity School '91-94; NYC- The New Seminary - Ordained Interfaith Minister 2012
A few of my Dietetic Volunteer Positions - MDA (MAND) Convention Chair '84 & '85; MDA President '87; Hunger and Malnutrition (& Environmental) DPG Chair; MDA Delegate; Member of the Legislative Committee that successfully passed our state licensure bill with Jane Folkman and Martha Lynch.
MA Positions - Nutrition Director - Youville Hospital & Mount Auburn Hospital; Ethos Elder Services Director; WIC Director - Cambridge/Somerville Hospitals; UMass Internship Director
Children's' Book Author: What Happens When We Die?
Married for 30 years to a wonderful Irishman with one daughter, Ciara, and 2 grandchildren, Zoey who passed over at almost 2 months old & 2 year old Teddy, plus our 3rd granddaughter expected in May.
Susan Bartolini
Susan graduated from Framingham State College in 1974 and began a Traineeship/Internship at Boston Hospital for Women (now Brigham and Women’s Hospital).
This is Susan’s second award from the Academy. She received the Recognized Young Dietitian Award in 1982. The second award recognizes her 50-year membership in the Academy.
Susan is grateful to all of colleagues and patients/clients who made her career a rewarding one. She is now retired and lives with husband of 50 years in Sterling MA and cherishes her time spent with her 6 grandchildren.
Linda Piette
Linda Piette interned at Mass General and is a BU graduate. She has worked with a variety of community programs including schools, Early Intervention, Head Start and Department of Public Health. She currently works part-time with a Grow clinic. She is the author of "Just Two More Bites ."
Susan Lewis
Susan Lewis has been an active member of our association having served on the Board of Directors of Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the MDEF for over 20 years in many roles including Past President and was awarded the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year and the Outstanding Dietitian of the Year. She shared her expertise in dietetics by authoring clinical studies;by publishing numerous papers and articles, and serving as guest lecturer at over 75 professional meetings. Susan has been dedicated to mentoring students and dietetic interns and had created the MAND Student Dietetic Association, established the Mentoring Program and initiated the Career Pathways Board position.
Helen M. Rasmussen
Susan M. Hartery
Claudette M. Novak
Carolyn C. Hintlian
