Empowering Members to be Virginia's Food and Nutrition Leaders
Southwest Virginia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (SVAND)
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The Southwest Virginia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (SVAND) is a region affiliate of the Virginia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (VAND). Our membership is made up of registered dietitian nutritionists, registered dietetic technicians, students, and retirees residing in southwestern Virginia.
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The mission of SVAND is to promote optimal nutrition, health, and well-being of the public by advocating for the organization’s members. Any VAND member residing in the Southwest Region is automatically registered as an SVAND member at no additional cost.
Benefits of Membership
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​Reduced rates for continuing professional education events
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Networking opportunities with other nutrition and dietetics professionals
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Eligibility for annual awards and scholarships offered through VAND
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Subscription to the SVAND listserv that provides relevant news and announcements
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Eligibility to be an SVAND board member and help further impact dietitians in the community
Upcoming Events
Join SVAND for a Community Nutrition Workshop with Millstone Kitchen. We will learn about their efforts to support community nutrition and small food businesses in southwest Virginia. We will have a tour of the facility and and then we will have an opportunity to volunteer in the kitchen!
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Date/time: May 20th at 1–3:00 pm
Location: Millstone Kitchen, 4237 Prices Fork Rd Ste C, Blacksburg, VA
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You will leave with a better understanding of:
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how the community kitchen and four community gardens support the organizations goals
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how shared-use commercial kitchen facilities operate
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ways to support small food businesses and food security initiatives​
The event is open to SVAND members and students, but registration is required as space is limited.
Register Here: https://svandworkshop.cheddarup.com
Meet The Board
Emily Myers, PhD, RDN
Regional Director
Amy Meadows
Member Services Representative
Wenjing Yu
Graduate Student Liaison
Emily Cox, MPH, MS, RD, CHES
Regional Director Elect
Laurel Romano
Region Legislative Representative
Julia Calabrese
Undergraduate Student Liaison - Virginia Tech
Molly Parker, PhD, RDN
Past Regional Director
Vacant
IDEA Representative
Samantha Harris
Undergraduate Student Liaison - Radford University
Awards
2026 Award Winners from the Southwest Region:
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Laurel Romano received the Outstanding Dietetics Student-Graduate Program (ODS-GP) award
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Emmalina Jennings received the Outstanding Dietetics Student-Dietetic Intern (ODS-DI) award
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Victor Boahen received the VAND Scholarship
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VAND offers annual awards for outstanding students and professionals. Please find more details and deadlines for each award on the designated VAND webpage. ​​
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If you would like to nominate an individual or yourself to represent the SVAND Region for one of these awards, please contact the Region Director at svandpres@gmail.com. ​​