Senior Director, Nutrition Research
National Dairy Council
Rosemont, Illinois, United States
Allison L. Unger, PhD is a nutrition scientist and the Senior Director of Scientific Affairs at National Dairy Council (NDC). Dr. Unger is passionate about better understanding the relationships between agriculture, nutrition and health as part of sustainable food systems, and her professional goal is to use her training and skills to distill and communicate complex science in meaningful and relevant ways to empower others. At NDC, Dr. Unger's work centers on the education and translation of the science of dairy foods' contributions to healthy diets and a global sustainable food system.
A Rhode Island native, Dr. Unger earned a BS in Animal Science and Technology from the University of Rhode Island and a PhD in Animal, Nutrition and Food Sciences from the University of Vermont. Her thesis work focused on how long-term consumption of different food sources of dietary fat influences metabolic health later in life. Prior to joining NDC, Dr. Unger was a post-doctoral associate at the University of Vermont, where her research focused on the relationship between the gut microbiota and the immune system.
Dr. Unger currently serves as the Co-chair for the Climate/Environment, Health, Agriculture and Improved Nutrition (CHAIN) GEM, the Industry Representative for the Early Career Nutrition Interest Group and a member of the Committee on Advocacy & Science Policy within American Society for Nutrition (ASN). Dr. Unger is also a member of the American Heart Association (AHA) and represents NDC as a member of the Tufts Food and Nutrition Innovation Council.
Sunday, July 26, 2026
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Disclosure(s): National Dairy Council: Employee (Ongoing)
Sunday, July 26, 2026
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM ET
Disclosure(s): National Dairy Council: Employee (Ongoing)