Dr. Travis Thomas elected to serve the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Travis Thomas, PhD, RDN, CSSD, LD, FAND, associate professor in the department of clinical nutrition, was elected to serve the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)—the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. He will serve a 3-year term beginning June 1 and is the only dietetics practitioner from the Commonwealth of Kentucky to represent the Academy on a national level.

Dr. Thomas will serve as the National Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) Representative to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR serves as the credentialing agency for AND. As the credentialing agent and organization unit of the Academy, the Commission establishes and enforces standards for certification, recertification, and the Code of Ethics, and issues credentials to individuals who meet these standards. The Academy owns the credentials; however, CDR has independent authority in matters pertaining to certification including standard setting, establishment of certification fees and administering credentialing programs.

In this new leadership role, Dr. Thomas will act as the national content expert in sports nutrition specialist practice by working to protect the public through setting CSSD credentialing standards. He will also collaborate with other Academy leaders to:

Act and advocate in all appropriate ways before the public, the profession, educational entities and all levels of government to encourage and achieve the highest standards in the practice of sports dietetics
Establish and evaluate standards, policies and procedures for the certification program, including eligibility, reinstatement, examination, and recertification
Establish fees and provide for responsible fiscal planning and control for the administration of the certification program
Establish policies and guidelines for CDR Appeals Panel
Appoints committees and consultants to assist the Commission in meeting its program of work, goals, and objectives.
Establish, administer, and enforce the code of ethics for credentialed practitioners
Contract with state licensure boards and other entities for certification collaboration
Encourage and promotes diversity in sports dietetics

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Thomas on this honor!