Deanne Brandstetter, MBA, RDN, CDN, FAN
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics President 2025-26
Breakfast Keynote

Deanne is the current 2025-2026 AND President. She is a retired nutrition and wellness executive who most recently served as Vice President of Nutrition and Wellness at Compass Group North America, where she worked from 1996 until her retirement in 2025. In this role, she led large-scale nutrition strategy and programming for a global food service organization and directed the nutrition program for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City as part of the Compass Olympics Lead Management Team.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Miami University and an MBA from Pace University. Throughout her career, Deanne has been recognized for her contributions to culinary nutrition and foodservice innovation, including receiving an American Culinary Federation Silver Medal for Healthy Cuisine.

Deanne has authored numerous professional and trade publications, including contributions to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Labeling Certification Course. She has also presented widely at national and international conferences, including the Society for Foodservice Management, the American Dietetic Association, Foodservice Director Magazine Menu Directions, Field to Plate France, the National Restaurant Association, and the CIA Greystone World of Healthy Flavors conferences.

She is a Culinary Institute of America Fellow and has held leadership and advisory roles across multiple organizations, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Task Force on Menu Labeling, the IFIC Board of Directors and Executive Board, the NRA Nutrition Executive Study Group, the Norwalk Community College Advisory Board, and co-chair roles with the CIA Healthy Menus R&D Collaborative and the NAMA Nutrition Advisory Board. She also served on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Diversity Committee.

Brenda Ariba Zarhari Abu, PhD, MPhil, RDN, CDN

NYSAND Annual Business Meeting  with Public Policy Update & Closing Remarks

Dr. Abu  is the current 2025-2026 NYSAND President.  She is an Associate Professor in the Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She previously served at RIT as an Assistant Professor and Postdoctoral Fellow and also held a Postdoctoral Associate position at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Dr. Abu completed her Dietetic Internship at Iowa State University and earned her PhD in Nutrition from the University of the Free State in South Africa.

Dr. Abu brings experience as a clinical dietitian and nutrition consultant. Her research focuses on micronutrient deficiencies, food security, maternal and child nutrition, and program design and impact evaluation. She is particularly passionate about stakeholder engagement and fostering meaningful partnerships to support sustainable health outcomes.

April Ho, RDN, CPT

Public Policy Update

April is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer based in Rochester, New York. April is passionate about helping individuals use nutrition and movement to enhance both physical and emotional well-being. April earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University.

She currently works at the University of Rochester Center for Community Health and Prevention, where she provides medical nutrition therapy and personal training to individual patients. Her professional interests include mindfulness-based eating, weight management, gastrointestinal disease and dysfunction, and supporting individuals with complex motivations around behavior change.

Outside of her professional work, April enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and dog, and pursuing creative interests such as cooking, woodworking, and drawing.

Lorena Drago, MS, RDN, CDN, CDCES

Not Just Carbs, Teaching Patients to Read and React with CGM

Lorena is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes care and education specialist, speaker, author, and consultant with expertise in culturally tailored diabetes self-management education. She is nationally recognized for her work in multicultural nutrition and for developing culturally relevant diabetes education tools.

She is the founder of Hispanic Foodways and creator of the Nutriportion™ Measuring Cups and Nutriportion™ Hispanic Food Cards, innovative resources designed to support portion control and carbohydrate awareness using culturally familiar foods. She received the New York City Small Business Award in 2006.

Lorena currently serves as Chair of the Diabetes Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her previous leadership roles include service on the board of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, Chair of Latinos and Hispanics in Dietetics and Nutrition, and Past President of the Metropolitan New York Association of Diabetes Educators. She has received numerous honors, including the Diabetic Living People’s Choice Award, the Trinko Award, and Diabetes Educator of the Year.She is the author of Beyond Rice and Beans: The Caribbean Guide to Eating Well with Diabetes (American Diabetes Association) and co-editor and contributing author of Cultural Food Practices and 15-Minute Consultation: Tips, Tools, and Activities to Make Your Nutrition Counseling More Effective (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). She also served as Department Editor Emeritus of ADCES in Practice.

Christina J. Valentine, MD, MS, RDN, FAAP, FASPEN

Double boarded in Pediatrics and NeonatologyChief Medical Officer, Kate Farms NG/NJ Tube Placement

Dr. Valentine, is a board-certified pediatrician and neonatologist, registered dietitian, and physician-scientist focused on nutrition interventions to improve lifelong health. She is a Professor and Neonatologist at Banner University Medical Center and the University of Arizona, with appointments in both Pediatrics and Nutrition Sciences, and has more than 20 years of clinical experience. In 2023, she was appointed Chief Medical Officer at Kate Farms.

Dr. Valentine’s research centers on the role of targeted nutrition in improving health outcomes across the lifespan. Her work includes studies on omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), demonstrating reduced risk of preterm birth and improved maternal and infant outcomes. Her current research focuses on optimizing fatty acids, amino acids, and micronutrient intake to support the microbiome, physical health, cognition, mood, and overall healthcare value.

She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in nutrition from Ball State University and the University of Florida, respectively, and her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. She completed her pediatric internship and residency at Texas Children’s Hospital and her Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital/The Ohio State University.

Lucille Beseler, MS, RDN, CDCES, FAND

Owner- Family Nutrition Center of South Florida

 NG/NJ Tube Placement

Lucille is a registered dietitian nutritionist, entrepreneur, and nationally recognized leader in the field of nutrition. She is the owner of the Family Nutrition Center of South Florida and served as the 2016–2017 President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her areas of expertise include pediatric nutrition and reimbursement policy.

Lucille is the founder and president of the Family Nutrition Center of South Florida, one of the first practices to pioneer insurance coverage for nutrition services. Established in 1991, the practice has grown into a comprehensive, multi-location provider of nutrition care, serving over 300,000 children and adults. She is also an author, speaker, and consultant, and serves on scientific advisory boards within the nutrition industry.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Queens College–City University of New York and her Master of Science from New York University.

Lianne Russo, MS, RDN, CDN

Cultural Care and Making Connections: Cultural Inclusivity in Nutrition Counseling

Lianne Russo, is a clinical dietitian in the ambulatory setting at Memorial Sloan-Kettering (MSK) and works with oncology patients. She joined MSK in 1993 and during her over 30 years of experience served as Nutrition Research Manager, co-authored several research publications, helped create a Food Insecurity Screening program for MSK dietitians, and is co-lead of the Cultural Care, and Connections Committee. She has given many nutrition presentations to clinicians and the public. Lianne is deeply committed to the well-being of those she cares for. She earned her Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition at New York University.

Cynthia Wong, MS, RDN, CSO, CDN

Cultural Care and Making Connections: Cultural Inclusivity in Nutrition Counseling

Cynthia Wong  MS, RDN, CSO, CDN is a Clinical Dietitian Nutritionist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where she joined in 2011. She works with oncology patients across all specialties and lead the Inclusion and Belonging efforts for the dietitians. She is passionate about working with patients who undergo cancer treatment to optimize their nutrition status.  She also has a keen interest in gastrointestinal nutrition, weight management, as well as helping those who are interested in improving their health through modifying eating habits and food choices.  She graduated from New York University with a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition.

Laurie Marshall, Esquire

Intellectual Property: AI, Scope of Practice, Copyrights, and Trademarks

Laurie is a trademark and copyright attorney with more than 20 years of experience representing hundreds of businesses across a wide range of industries in brand protection and intellectual property matters. Her practice focuses primarily on trademark law, including domestic and international trademark prosecution, clearance searches, enforcement, and strategic portfolio management.

She advises clients on trademark clearance, negotiates and drafts agreements, and handles complex intellectual property transactions, including acquisitions and coexistence agreements. Laurie also has extensive experience before USPTO and TTAB, including office action responses, opposition proceedings, and related litigation matters. In addition, she works on internet and domain name trademarks and copyright issues.

Laurie represents approximately 500 clients across consumer and service industries such as apparel, restaurants, food and beverage, health and beauty, fitness, professional sports, entertainment, cosmetics, consumer electronics, mobile applications, and social media. Her clients range from early-stage entrepreneurs and startups, including those affiliated with Shark Tank’s Daymond John Academy, to established global brands such as Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association.

Earlier in her career, Laurie spent 10 years at Major League Baseball overseeing trademarks related to global licensing and merchandising and previously practiced at leading intellectual property law firms including Pennie & Edmonds LLP and Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman LLP.

She is a frequent speaker on branding and intellectual property law, with affiliations including NYU, NYIT, FIT, SCORE, the Museum Shop Association, the New York Public Library of Science and Business, the Independent Retailers Conference, and the Licensing Industry Merchandising Association (LIMA). She also serves on the board of several nonprofit organizations.

Laurie earned both her BA and JD from Hofstra University and is admitted to practice in New York State, the Eastern District of New York, and the Southern District of New York.

Moira Farrell, RD, CDN, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor

Hidden in Plain Sight: How Dietitians Can Identify Underdiagnosed Eating Disorders Across Clinical and Community Settings

Moira is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor with more than 20 years of experience supporting individuals with eating disorders and disordered eating. She has extensive experience working as a senior-level nutritionist within multidisciplinary treatment teams, providing nutrition therapy for patients in partial hospitalization programs.

Recently transitioning to part-time private practice, Moira continues to offer individualized, compassionate nutrition counseling grounded in both clinical expertise and a nonjudgmental, client-centered approach.

Her clinical focus includes anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID, chronic dieting, and complex cases involving co-occurring medical conditions such as malnutrition, gastrointestinal disorders, and electrolyte imbalances, as well as behavioral health conditions including anxiety, depression, and OCD.

In addition to her clinical work, Moira is an experienced speaker who has presented on eating disorders and nutritional recovery in a variety of professional settings, offering practical tools and insights drawn from over two decades of experience. She is deeply committed to collaborative care and to helping individuals rebuild trust with food and their bodies.

Outside of her professional work, Moira enjoys yoga, cooking, and tackling a challenging Sunday crossword puzzle.

Rachel Reeves, MS, RD, CNSC

Momentum in Malnutrition: Practical Approaches for Best Practice and Leveraging the Dietitian’s Value

Rachel is a distinguished clinical nutrition leader at the University of Rochester Medical Center, recognized for her dedication to advancing evidence-based nutrition care, enhancing professional education, and improving patient outcomes in complex medical settings. With over a decade of experience as a clinical nutrition specialist, she brings extensive expertise in enteral and parenteral nutrition, critical care, and the diagnosis and management of malnutrition.

As Lead Adult Clinical Nutrition Specialist and Chief Clinical Preceptor for Cornell’s dietetic internship, Rachel mentors’ dietitians and interns, collaborates closely with multidisciplinary teams, and drives improvements in clinical practice through training and system-level initiatives.

Nationally, she contributes to the ASPEN Education and Professional Development Committee and participates in ACEND program review activities. Rachel’s leadership and clinical excellence have been recognized with multiple honors, including the 2024 Abbott Nutrition Malnutrition Award and the 2024 Outstanding Preceptor Award. She is celebrated for her commitment to professional development and her passion for preparing the next generation of nutrition professionals.