Nutrition professor elected executive leader of California Dietetics Association

By Janna M. Vassantachart

Michelle Wien, DrPH, assistant professor of nutrition in the School of Public Health, began a three-year term as an executive leader of the California Dietetics Association (CDA) on July 1, 2011. She will serve as president-elect this year, president next year, and immediate past president the year after.

Dr. Wien agreed to run for the position due to her admiration of the work of past presidents and their assurance of providing her with the guidance necessary to succeed during her three-year term.

As an active member of CDA, Dr. Wien has seen the benefits of the association in her professional life. She says, “CDA has allowed me to network with dynamic individuals and quickly identify experts in the field of nutrition to stay on top of the latest nutrition information.”

Dr. Wien is busy making her specific goals for her three-year term on the Executive Board, which she will announce in June 2012 when she assumes the role of president.

For now, as president-elect, her primary role is to chair the CDA annual meeting program planning committee. She is working with 18 committee members to contact prospective speakers for the CDA 2012 annual meeting that will be held in Ontario, California, in April 2012.

Next year, as president, she will be the chair of the CDA Executive Board and be responsible for controlling the affairs of the association.

The following year, as immediate past president, she will coordinate the rewriting of the bylaws, be a voting member on the CDA Executive Board, and participate as an ex-officio member of three committees: nominating committee, awards committee, and annual meeting program planning committee.