Dear California Academy Family,
As my term as President concludes, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible honor of serving this inspiring community. This past year has been filled with collaboration, connection, advocacy, and shared purpose as we worked to increase member engagement, enhancing our visibility and advancing our profession.
Together, we accomplished meaningful milestones:
- Licensure Task Force: With support from our advocacy champions, Academy leaders, and affiliates, we launched the California Licensure Task Force—an essential step toward enhancing our effort in gaining licensure in our state CA. Licensure information was shared at our Town Hall, Advocacy Summit, and CANDAC25. Stay tuned for updates and continue your support. Each of you matter and needed to achieve this long due milestone. Join/renew your membership today!
- Policy & Practice: General Acute Care Hospital: Clinical Laboratory, Pharmaceutical, and Dietetic Services-The California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, with significant support from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and in collaboration with other health care institutions across the state, we submitted comments to CDPH in September, 2024.
- Member Engagement: Your large presence made each event a success—from the NDTR webinar, Virtual Holiday & Harvest event, to FNCE Meet & Greet, Advocacy Summit, and CANDAC25 and our Townhalls Meetings.
- Grassroots Advocacy: We proudly expanded visibility during National Nutrition Month by securing dozens of proclamations across the state—including Los Angeles, Orange, and Sacramento Counties, and recognition from the Secretary of State. We remain committed to securing a governor’s proclamation in the near future.
- CANDAC26: After a careful and heartfelt consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to hold CANDAC26 as 2 days virtual conference. This choice was made with our members and the future of our organization in mind, allowing us to focus resources on our top priorities, including advancing licensure for California Registered Dietitians.
- Association Management Company: We welcomed Group Concepts and Executive Director Andrea Casillas and team, they settled well and provided great support this year.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our CA Academy Executive Board and Leadership Teams at CA Academy, nominating committee, delegates, districts/regions. Thank you for your energy, time, and steadfast commitment to our mission, vision and strategic priorities.
I am wowed with respect to all the past leaders of CA Academy who nurtured CA Academy with their dedicated services for the last 100 years.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Academy for all the support in everything. Thank you, President Livleen Gill, CEO Wylecia Wiggs Harris, Carrie Kiley, Charla Burrill, Kim Iles for speaking at our events and providing ongoing support for the fiscal year 2024-25.
To our members—you are the heartbeat of this organization. Your trust, ideas, and enthusiasm make the California Academy stronger and more inclusive. Please continue your engagement—join or renew today.
Thank you for an unforgettable year. It has been an honor to serve you.
Be on the lookout for the annual report of the Fiscal Year 2024-25.
It is with great pride that I welcome Crystal Vasquez as your next President, beginning June 1, 2025. I am confident she will lead with heart, vision, and commitment. Please join me in supporting her journey ahead.
With gratitude and warm regards,
Sangeeta Shrivastava, PhD, RDN, FAND
President, 2024–2025
California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics