Dorothy Chen-Maynard, a professor and coordinator of Nutrition and Food Sciences Program in Cal State San Bernardino’s Department of Health Science and Human Ecology, has been named recipient of the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Dolores Nyhus Memorial Award, the highest award a CAND member can receive.

Chen-Maynard, who joined CSUSB in 1992, has also been chosen the Academy’s Outstanding Dietitian of the Year, which is given to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the profession. Chen-Maynard will be honored at the association’s annual conference and expo, which took place April 27-29, in Sacramento.

“I am very honored to receive this prestigious award,” Chen-Maynard said. “To be recognized by one’s peers is incredible.”

Chen-Maynard was praised by CSUSB alumna Christina Wright, a registered dietitian at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

“As a former student of Dr. Chen and past co-board member on the Inland District Dietetics Association, I have witnessed the profound impact she has had on both dietetics students and practitioners. In her 30-plus years of practicing dietetics in California and 25 years of teaching at CSUSB, Dr. Chen has had hundreds of students pass through the university’s Nutrition and Food Sciences program; however, she treats these students not as students but as peers with whom she respects and has high expectations for. She challenges her students to enable them to be successful practitioners and leaders in dietetics and is always willing to take the time to assist students to meet their goals.”

Carrie Der Garabedian, President of the Central Valley District of CAND, praised Chen-Maynard for her dedication to the academy and also in representing the dietetics profession.

“Over the past 20 years, not a year has gone by that Dorothy hasn't held one or more volunteer leadership positions at both the state and local levels,” Der Garabedian wrote in a nominating letter. “I have witnessed her dedication and passion for promoting excellence in the dietetics field first hand when she was the interim Central Valley delegate earlier this year. Dorothy not only attended and presented at the CVD Spring Conference, but she also acted as our advising delegate for my first executive board meeting in June 2016 when our elected delegate was unable to attend.

“Dorothy's support, advice and council have been priceless and the Central Valley District greatly appreciates the unselfish gift of her time to help us when needed,” Der Garabedian wrote.

Since joining CSUSB, Chen-Maynard has built up the university’s Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program from 24 majors in 1992 to more than 250 students currently enrolled. She also extended the CSUSB's Nutrition and Food Sciences Program to the university’s Palm Desert Campus to serve the needs of Hispanic students and the community in the Coachella Valley.

In 2012, she established the Individualized Supervised-Practice Pathway (ISPP) Program on the CSUSB campus, which accepted the first cohort of interns in fall 2013, to allow her DPD graduates to complete a supervised-practice experience to become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists (RDN). The flexibility of CSUSB ISPP with local and distance as well as full or part time options to allow the DPD graduates with special needs to complete the program. To date, the program graduated 75 ISPP interns and produced more than 50 RDNs (some graduates from class of 2016 are still studying to take the exam).

She was recognized as '2005 Outstanding Educator' by the California Dietetic Association and American Dietetic Association. In 2004, Chen-Maynard received CSUSB's Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award. In addition, she has received numerous awards from the CSUSB Athletic Department and student athletes for her contributions.

As a member of the faculty senate, Chen-Maynard has served on several committees that impact students and faculty. She also was Chair of Faculty Senate for three 1-year terms, during which she effectively worked with administrators, faculty, staff, and student groups. She is also on the campus’ University Commercial and Enterprise (UEC) board of directors and chairs the Commercial and Enterprise Committee, working with the campus bookstore, foodservice, and other auxiliary units, working to establish services for students, faculty, and staff, especially related to healthy dining options on campus.

Among the numerous campus committees that deal with students and their issues on which she has served are the university-wide scholarship committee; financial-­aid appeal committee; enrollment management committee; athletic advisory committee; Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) Committee; Coyote Athletic Association; Strategic Planning Committee; and the Instructionally Related Program/Activity Board. She has received several campus awards including the 1998 College of Natural Sciences Service Award, Outstanding Faculty Advisor, and the 2009 Coyote Athletics Ralph Award.

About CAND

Founded in 1924 as the California Dietetic Association, today CAND is made up of approximately 6,500 Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, Dietetic Technicians and nutrition students dedicated to healthy lifestyles through food decisions and the delivery of effective food and nutrition services by qualified dietetic professionals and association members. Its primary purpose is to champion policies and regulations that protect consumers of nutrition services, endorse a strong scope of practice of RDNs and DTRs in California, support the roles of RDNs and DTRs in the delivery of healthcare in California, and ensure and promote informed food decisions by the public. Members work in a variety of arenas including hospitals, research facilities, public health and other community agencies, colleges and universities, health and fitness centers, school districts, private practice, corporate America, and with the media.

Visit the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website and the CSUSB Department of Health Sciences and Human Ecology website for information on those programs

For more information on Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Strategic Communication at (909) 537-5007 and visit the CSUSB news site.