Governance
IFIC is governed by a Board of Trustees, the majority of whom are academic researchers.
Board of Trustees
Regan Lucas Bailey, PhD, RD, MPH, CPH
Co-Chair
Professor, Nutrition Science
Purdue University
Russ Dyer
Co-Chair
VP & Chief of Communications & Government Affairs
Mondelēz International
Anna Maria Siega-Riz, PhD
Vice Co-Chair
Dean and Professor, Departments of Nutrition & Biostatistics & Epidemiology
University of Massachusetts- Amherst
Don Jones
Vice Co-Chair
Senior Vice President, Quality
Simply Good Foods USA, Inc.
Joe Kelsay
Treasurer/Secretary
US Food Chain CoNNEXT Manager
Corteva Agriscience
Giorgio Beltrami
Vice President, Research and Development
Barilla Group
Regina Benjamin, MD
Bayou Clinic, Inc. & Former U.S. Surgeon General
Deanne Brandstetter, MBA, RD, CDN
Vice President, Nutrition & Wellness
Compass Group, North America
Leigh Horner
Vice President, Corporate Communications & CSR
The Hershey Company
Dorothy Lagg, MS
Director, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs
Mars, Incorporated
Simin Meydani, D.V.M, PhD
Vice Provost for Research
Tufts University
Dojin Ryu, PhD
Professor
Department of Animal, Veterinary & Food Sciences
University of Idaho
Barbara Schneeman, PhD
Professor Emerita
Department of Nutrition
University of California, Davis
Timothy Sellnow, PhD
Professor, Strategic Communication
Nicholson School of Communication
University of Central Florida
Maha Tahiri, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition
Alison Van Eenennaam, PhD
Extension Specialist: Animal Biotechnology & Genomics
Department of Animal Science
University of California, Davis
Jeffrey Zachwieja, PhD
Senior Director, Global R&D Nutrition Sciences
PepsiCo
Public Liaisons
Public Liaisons are non-voting members of IFIC who work for a federal agency and have agreed to represent their organization and serve as advisors and subject-matter experts.
John Finley
National Program Leader for Human Nutrition
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Janelle Gunn
Associate Director of Policy, Partnership & Communication
Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Jackie Haven, MS, RD
Deputy Director
USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Christopher Waldrop
Senior Health Scientist
Division of Public Health Informatics & Analytics
USDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
William Yan, PhD
Director, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences
Food Directorate of Health Canada
Guiding Principles
Fulfilling Our Mission
Our mission is to effectively communicate science-based information on health, nutrition and food safety. We envision a global environment where credible science drives food policy and consumer choice.
Funding and Governance
IFIC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Trustees, the majority of whom are independent, academic researchers. Our work is primarily supported by grants and contributions from the private sector. IFIC is non-partisan. IFIC does not represent any company, industry or product. IFIC does not lobby or serve as an advocacy organization.
Furthering Our Scientific Values
IFIC is committed to promoting the values of transparency and scientific integrity. Therefore, IFIC derives its resources from peer-reviewed science and the work of authoritative bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the European Food Safety Authority and others.
Gathering Consumer Insights
IFIC has commissioned research on consumer attitudes and behaviors for more than 30 years. Our research findings and funding sources are made available to the public. We often work in partnerships across sectors on consumer research and encourage input from government agencies, NGOs, academics and professional organizations.
Engaging with Scientific Experts and Organizations
As an organization funded primarily by the private sector, IFIC’s collaboration with independent organizations and outside experts in nutrition, food safety and agriculture helps ensure the integrity of our education and communications programs.