Dr. Moustaïd-Moussa Concludes a Productive Year as President of the American Society for Nutrition
The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) is a premier organization of professional researchers and practitioners who seek a healthier world through evidence-based nutrition. This summer, Naïma Moustaïd-Moussa, Ph.D., DFASN, FTOS, FAHA, FNAI, concluded her year-long term as president of the ASN. The end of her term was marked by ASN’s annual NUTRITION meeting, which was held this July.
Moustaïd-Moussa is the executive director of the Institute for One Health Innovation (IOHI)—a collaborative effort between the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) and Texas Tech University (TTU). IOHI approaches research by examining the interface between human and animal health, human and plant health or any combination of the three to improve the health of all species.
Saying Farewell
In a recent address to the ASN, Moustaïd-Moussa expressed her gratitude for the privilege to serve as president and work alongside a community of scientists, clinicians, educators, students and staff who are dedicated to advancing nutrition science. She thanked members and attendees who were present at NUTRITION 2026, highlighting the comprehensive and transdisciplinary nature of the meeting and the broad range of topics covered through lectures, symposiums, award sessions and more.
During her address, Moustaïd-Moussa pointed out the discoveries and innovations of the past year while recognizing the challenges faced. She celebrated those who have made the ASN what it is today and expressed optimism for the future, emphasizing a steadfast commitment to excellence. Read her message to the ASN and explore details of her presidency here.
A Presidency to Remember
The past president joined the ASN in 1994 and has attended its meetings for over 30 years. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Society for Nutrition (DFASN), “which is the highest honor bestowed by the ASN for notable lifetime achievements of outstanding scientists who have had distinguished careers in the field of nutrition.” She is also the first scientist at TTU and TTUHSC to receive this honor and the first TTU/TTUHSC faculty to serve as president of the ASN.
During her time as president, Moustaïd-Moussa prioritized broadening the scope of nutrition through the lens of One Health. Over the course of her term as president, the ASN has co-edited a special issue on “Advancing One Health” for The Journal of Nutrition, presented on nutrition-related topics internationally and expanded and strengthened global partnerships, including exploring opportunities for ASN to partner with the North America One Health University Network, national and global nutrition societies, and international agencies.
The ASN also established a partnership with the Moroccan Society for Nutrition, Health and Environment (SMNSE) with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in December 2025 and an MOU is in development with the Emirates Nutrition Society.
Her tenure as president marked a highly productive and rewarding period for the ASN. ASN membership reached its highest membership, with over 9,000 members, supported by partnerships with Academic Nutrition Departments and Programs (ANDP), American Society for Nutrition Foundation (ASNF) Presidential Student Scholarships and global partnerships. The ASN also continued its collaborations with its sustaining partners, as well as supported and expanded its partnership in clinical nutrition and medical nutrition education with the National Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists (NBPNS).
The ASN engaged with the ANDP community by co-sponsoring regional conferences, including this year's 22nd Annual Russell Klein Nutrition Research Symposium, held at Ohio State University, with more in the works. One of the major goals of these conferences is to elevate specific topical areas within the field of nutrition and to support mentoring and professional development for early-career scientists.
Just recently, the ASN announced a new strategic alliance with the Obesity Society (TOS), uniting two leading scientific organizations to advance health through high-quality nutrition and obesity research and practice.
The ASN also developed a strategic alliance with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Food, Nutrition, and Agriculture (FNA) Program Area, which held special sessions during NUTRITION 2026 to provide an update to ASN members and attendees. Moustaid-Moussa was recently appointed to the NASEM FNA advisory committee, both an honor and an indication of her high standing and recognition in the fields of nutrition, food and agriculture.[NM1]
Moustaïd-Moussa is a Paul W. Horn Distinguished Professor at the TTU School of Veterinary Medicine and a professor in the TTUHSC Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry (CBB). She is also a founding director of TTU’s Obesity Research Institute (ORI). Her research has expanded from diet, obesity and metabolic inflammatory diseases to nutrition and One Health with emphasis on potential roles and mechanisms of dietary bioactive components in mitigating the impact of environmental factors (such as microplastics or contaminants) on metabolic and brain health.
Moustaïd-Moussa’s term as president of the ASN is a testament to the dedication and commitment to excellence that lie at the heart of the IOHI’s mission. In the coming year, she will serve as past president and will continue to serve the society in different roles and committees, including the Board of Directors, while also continuing to implement her presidential goals. She is very thankful for the support from both TTU and TTUHSC during her presidential term, for her IOHI executive associate, Sophia Peña, SVM, for all her lab members’ patience and dedication to research and for the unconditional support from her family—namely her husband, Hanna Moussa, Ph.D.