Culture of Belonging: An Update

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ work in inclusion, diversity, equity and access focuses on cultivating organizational and professional values of equity, respect, civility and anti-discrimination and expanding a culture of welcoming throughout the nutrition and dietetics community.

In 2019, the Academy Board of Directors appointed a task force to develop a new Diversity and Inclusion strategic plan. Following the events of May 2020, the task force merged with the Academy’s longstanding Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the committee adopted the new name of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee. In addition to one-on-one communications, listening sessions and group calls, the Committee benchmarked IDEA strategies from other organizations and researched best practices to increase IDEA in health care professions.

In 2020, the Academy commissioned an analysis aimed at understanding members' perceptions, experiences and feedback on diversity, equity and inclusion. Results of the analysis highlighted key themes from listening sessions and qualitative feedback gathered through micro polls, emails, letters and social media posts received by the Academy on the topics of race and social justice, including:

• Addressing barriers to entering/succeeding in the dietetics field: The master's degree requirement, a perceived lack of scholarships, lack of internship funding, low salaries, student loans and fees associated with Academy membership were consistently noted as major barriers for individuals of color and for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Increasing diversity within the profession and organization: The perception of the dietetics profession and Academy leadership as white, female and middle- to upper-class was present throughout participants' comments, as were experiences of ageism, sizeism and discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation and disabilities.
• Strengthening commitment to and accountability around DEI: Survey results highlight a strong demand for improved DEI efforts within the organization, with a focus on professional development and DEI resources for practitioners. Participants also stressed the need for clear accountability measures and a reporting process for inappropriate behavior to foster a more inclusive environment.

The resulting report and recommendations were provided to the IDEA Committee in mid-November and the committee began the work of transforming the recommendations into an IDEA action plan with broad, overarching goals to address IDEA in the nutrition and dietetics profession. An IDEA Advisory Group was formed to inform the development of a sustainable, living document designed to move the dietetics profession toward a welcome and inclusive future. Tactics and metrics were developed for each strategy and outcomes from the initiatives are measured, with the plan modified accordingly over time to ensure continuous positive change.

In 2021, the action plan's four goals were incorporated into the overall Academy Strategic Plan as impact goals, including establishing infrastructure and resources to achieve optimal and sustainable IDEA outcomes; increasing recruitment, retention and completion of nutrition and dietetics education and leadership at all levels for underrepresented groups; cultivating organizational and professional values of equity, respect, civility and anti-discrimination; and advancing food and nutrition research, policy and practice through a holistic IDEA lens.

In early 2022, an environmental survey assessed the progress of IDEA-focused activities within the Academy. This survey, distributed to various organizational units including committees, staff teams, dietetic practice groups and other key stakeholders, revealed a range of ongoing efforts such as webinars, cultural competence resources, member communications, scholarships and outreach to underrepresented communities. The IDEA Committee then launched an annual self-assessment survey in early 2023, with the first round of results collected in May 2023 and used to inform updates to IDEA tactics.

In 2024, the Board of Directors made operationalizing the Academy's IDEA Philosophy a priority, with a focus on transforming organizational and professional culture to promote equity and inclusion in the dietetics profession. The goal was to strengthen practices and implement initiatives aligned with the IDEA action plan, ensuring these efforts are both ambitious and actionable. This included creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace by embedding IDEA principles into all aspects of operations and advancing long-term impact through strategies aimed at creating lasting positive change.

In addition to member and non-member surveys, in-person focus groups were conducted at the 2024 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo^® to gather insights on how to further advance nutrition care and health equity. Participants viewed IDEA as essential for the Academy but expressed frustration over the lack of meaningful, sustained action and questioned the sincerity of the Academy's commitment. They highlighted systemic barriers that impede progress and result in undervaluation and limited representation for marginalized groups. Looking ahead, participants hoped for an organizational transformation that includes deeply ingrained IDEA principles, advocacy for health equity and access, increased global partnerships, and greater unity and representation within the profession.

In 2025, following President Trump's executive order to roll back DEI programs, the Academy Board of Directors reaffirmed at its March meeting the commitment to IDEA principles being part of the organization’s culture, and is currently exploring how to best articulate this ongoing commitment while mitigating organizational risks.