The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has appointed 10 registered dietitian nutritionists to three-year terms as media spokespeople. The Academy’s nationwide volunteer spokesperson network consists of 30 registered dietitian nutritionists who conduct more than 3,000 nutrition and healthful eating interviews each year on behalf of the Academy with print, broadcast and online media.

As registered dietitian nutritionists, Academy spokespeople are the food and nutrition experts. They have fulfilled specific requirements, including having earned at least a bachelor’s degree (more than half of the spokespeople hold advanced degrees), completed a supervised practice program and passed a registration examination — in addition to maintaining continuing education requirements for recertification.

The following registered dietitian nutritionists have been appointed as new Academy spokespeople for 2014-2017:

Torey Jones Armul, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, Chicago Armul is a freelance writer who specializes in community nutrition, digestive disorders, sports nutrition, vegetarian nutrition and workplace wellness.

Marina Chaparro, MPH, RDN, LDN, CDE, MiamiChaparro is a clinical dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Her areas of specialty include children’s nutrition, diabetes, Latino nutrition and public health.

Lisa Cimperman, MS, RD, LD, Cleveland Cimperman is a clinical dietitian at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Her areas of specialty include cardiovascular nutrition, celiac disease, critical care nutrition and gluten intolerance.

Wesley Delbridge, RD, Phoenix Delbridge is director of food and nutrition at Chandler (Ariz.) Unified School District 80 and an adjunct faculty member at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. His areas of specialty include children’s nutrition, school nutrition and social media.

Sara Haas, RDN, LDN, ChicagoHass is a chef and consultant dietitian at Roche Dietitians and director of nutrition at the Centered Chef. Her areas of specialty include culinary nutrition, maternal nutrition, children’s nutrition and community nutrition/public health.

Isabel Maples, MEd, RD, Washington, D.C.Maples was most recently nutrition communications manager for the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association. Her areas of specialty include African-American nutrition, cardiovascular nutrition, family nutrition, maternal and prenatal nutrition and medical nutrition therapy.

Tamara Melton, MS, RDN, LD, Atlanta (African-American Nutrition Specialist) Melton is an instructor at Georgia State University and owner of LaCarte Wellness. Her areas of specialty include African-American nutrition, corporate wellness and maternal and prenatal nutrition.

Alissa Rumsey, RD, CDN, CNSC, CSCS, New York City Rumsey is the supervisor of clinical nutrition at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Her areas of specialty include cardiovascular nutrition, diabetes, gastrointestinal nutrition, wellness and sports nutrition and fitness.

Lauri Wright, PhD, RDN, LDN, Tampa (Community Nutrition/Public Health Specialist) Wright is an assistant professor at the University of South Florida School of Public Health. Her areas of specialty include childhood obesity, community nutrition/public health, food insecurity, global nutrition, HIV nutrition and malnutrition.

Lori Walker Zanini, RD, CDE, Los AngelesZanini is the owner of a nutrition consulting firm and works as a certified diabetes instructor at HealthCare Partners Medical Group. Her areas of specialty include aging and nutrition, community nutrition/public health and diabetes.

Additionally, the Academy reappointed eight spokespeople for 2014-2017:• Deborah Beauvais, RDN, CDN, SNS, Rochester, N.Y. (School Nutrition Specialist)• Jessica Crandall, RDN, CDE, AFAA, Denver• Joy Dubost, PhD, RD, CSSD, Washington, D.C.• Angela Ginn, RDN, LDN, CDE, Baltimore• Ximena Jimenez, MS, RDN, LD, Miami (Latino Nutrition Specialist)• Vandana Sheth, RDN, CDE, Los Angeles• Toby Smithson, MSNW RDN, LDN, CDE, Chicago• Jim White, RDN, ACSM-HFS, Virginia Beach, Va. (Men’s Nutrition Specialist)

More information on the Academy and its spokespeople, including full biographies and headshots, can be found in the Academy’s downloadable 2014-2015 Media Guide.