Career and Professional Development
Shirin Hooshmand, PhD, RD
Professor
School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences
San Diego State University
San Diego, California, United States
Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Naima Moustaid-Moussa, PhD, DFASN, FTOS, FAHA, FNAI
President, American Society for Nutrition
Horn Distinguished Professor
Texas Tech University & Texas Tech Health Sciences Center
Lubbock, Texas, United States
Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Kevin Schalinske, PhD (he/him/his)
Morrill Professor
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa, United States
Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Strong professional relationships are a cornerstone of long-term career success in nutrition science, yet many trainees and early-career professionals receive little formal guidance on how to build and sustain them. This session brings together past and current ASN Presidents, Kevin Schalinske, PhD, and Naima Moustaid Moussa, PhD, to share candid insights from their leadership journeys and decades of experience across research, education, and service to the Society.
Through personal stories and practical examples, the speakers will explore how mentoring relationships, peer networks, and strategic collaborations have shaped their careers and how these same approaches can be intentionally cultivated at different career stages. Attendees will gain insight into navigating professional transitions, engaging with ASN leadership, and building relationships that align with personal values, career goals, and evolving interests.
Designed for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, early-career investigators, and professionals seeking renewed perspective, this session will offer actionable strategies for leveraging ASN as a relationship-building platform while fostering inclusive, mutually beneficial connections that support growth, resilience, and leadership development within the nutrition community.