American Society for Nutrition inducts Purdue faculty into Class of 2023 Fellows, recognizes career achievement award recipient

Written by: Denise Buhrmester, dmbuhrmester@purdue.edu

The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) inducted Purdue University Department of Nutrition Science faculty members Dennis Savaiano, Virginia Claypool Meredith Professor of Nutrition Policy and dean emeritus, and Richard Mattes, distinguished professor of nutrition science, into the ASN Class of 2023 Fellows at the ASN Nutrition Conference in July. Fellowship is the highest honor ASN bestows, recognizing individuals for significant discoveries and distinguished careers in the field of nutrition.

Richard Mattes

Mattes is also the recipient of the ASN David Kritchevsky Career Achievement Award. The award is presented annually in recognition of a career devoted to promoting interaction among, support for and assistance of outstanding nutrition researchers in government, private and academic sectors resulting in the application of fundamental knowledge to deliver better nutrition products and information to the public.

Mattes has served as director of Purdue’s Ingestive Behavior Research Center since 2009. He has authored over 300 publications, and his research focuses on taste function, hunger and satiety, food preferences, regulation of food intake in humans, and human cephalic phase responses. He has been recognized for many career achievements and has served on multiple boards and committees, including the departments of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) and Agriculture’s (USDA) 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

Dennis Savaiano

Savaiano has served as director of Connections IN Health/Indiana Department of Health Coalition Development Program since 2018 and as associate director for the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute Community Health Partnerships since 2020. He is also director of the Purdue Clinical Research Center. His publications include school community interventions focused on improving the diets of young women, health coalition assessment and food policy. As dean of Purdue’s former College of School of Consumer and Family Sciences for 15 years, he developed and led many successful Purdue Extension efforts focused on human health and well-being.

Savaiano has studied lactose digestion for more than four decades. His research focuses on factors that influence lactose digestion and tolerance, including lactose load, gastric and intestinal transit, digestive aids, colon fermentation, fermented dairy foods, and lactic acid bacteria. ASN is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition research scientists and clinicians around the world. Founded in 1928, the society brings together the top nutrition researchers, medical practitioners, policymakers and industry leaders to advance the knowledge and application of nutrition. ASN publishes four peer-reviewed journals, provides education and professional development opportunities, and hosts the annual Nutrition Conference.