College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Alumni & Friends

Alison Steiber, Ph.D., of Shaker Heights, Ohio, will receive a Michigan State University (MSU) College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Alumni Service Award at the March 1 ANR Awards Program.

The Alumni Service Award honors CANR alumni who have demonstrated continuing outstanding volunteer service to MSU, the CANR or meritorious public service on a local, state, national or international level. Candidates must possess the highest standards of integrity and character to positively reflect and enhance the prestige of the CANR.

Steiber received a Ph.D. from MSU in human nutrition and dietetics in 2005. Following her doctorate, Steiber spent 10 years as a faculty member at Case Western Reserve University, where she became a global leader in renal nutrition and dietetics, raising awareness of food insecurity and malnutrition in high-risk hospitalized patients at numerous international and domestic scientific conferences.

In 2012, Steiber became the second ever Chief Science Officer for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (The Academy), the world’s largest food and nutrition organization, where she leads all research and scientific efforts. Early in her tenure, Steiber led an initiative to develop the first ever dietetics focused international web-based registry. This data has resulted in over 20 scientific publications and is used to support advocacy efforts. Steiber has played an instrumental role in securing funds for various research efforts she leads at The Academy. In May 2023, she was awarded a $3 million grant from the Administration on Community Living to test treatment methods aimed at preventing hospital readmission among food insecure and malnourished older patients.

Steiber’s achievements designing, managing and obtaining funding for research programs have earned her a reputation as an international leader and have contributed significantly to the body of knowledge within the field of food, nutrition and dietetics. An effective collaborator, Steiber has built strategic partnerships with federal agencies and other key stakeholder groups to advance important nutrition research initiatives. She has worked closely on projects with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Kidney Foundation, Council on Renal Nutrition, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the American Council on Exercise.

Steiber has also partnered extensively with the National Institute of Health on numerous key research programs. These NIH projects include:

• The Breastmilk Ecology: Genesis of Infant Nutrition (BEGIN) Project which focuses on infant feeding practices in the United States and globally.
• The Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development – Knowledge Indicating Dietary Sufficiency (BOND-KIDS) Project aimed at developing a multidisciplinary approach to better understand the role of nutrition in health and development of children and adolescents.
• The Agriculture and Diet: Value Added for Nutrition, Translation, and Adaptation in a Global Ecology (ADVANTAGE) Project that addresses the intersection of agriculture, food systems, health and disease across the lifespan in the context of climate and environmental changes.

Steiber has volunteered on a variety of leadership boards and committees, including:

• Personalized Nutrition Initiative External Advisory Committee, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (April 2022 – present)
• Member of the Board of Directors, National Kidney Foundation (January 2022 – present)
• Scientific Advisory Council, Produce for Better Health’s Foundation (January 2021 – 2023)
• Scientific Advisory Panel, American Council on Exercise (June 2017 – present)
• Executive Committee Member, International Society for Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (June 2016 – December 2022)
• Health Eating Research, Robert Woods Johnson Foundation (November 2018 – June 2019)
• Member of the Editorial Board, Journal of Renal Nutrition (January 2003 – present)
• President, Cleveland Dietetic Association (May 2006 – 2008)

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Steiber is known by her colleagues as a terrific mentor who exhibits the highest level of personal integrity. She has never forgotten her Spartan roots and has always been willing to offer her expertise, support and guidance to MSU human nutrition and dietetics students starting their own journeys in the field.