Amy Millen, associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, has been selected for the inaugural group of Excellence in Nutrition Fellows of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN).

ASN’s Excellence in Nutrition Fellows program recognizes 55 distinguished national and international members for their ongoing contributions to the field and sustained engagement in the nutrition community. It honors outstanding nutrition professionals who are 10 or more years past their terminal degree and have been an ASN scientist, clinician or professional member for five or more years.

Chosen fellows have demonstrated significant impact in their career paths, as well as service to the society. The designation of ASN fellow is a mark of excellence in the field of nutrition, as it signifies fellows’ significant contributions to advancing nutrition science and practice, and their dedication to the highest standards of the profession.

Millen’s research focuses on understanding the role of nutrition in extending functional years of life and its impact on age-related diseases and other chronic diseases. For instance, her research on vitamin D in relation to age-related eye disease and periodontal disease have made substantial and impactful contributions to the field of nutrition research.

She has received nutrition-related funding from the National Institute on Aging; the National Eye Institute; the National Institute on Dental and Craniofacial Research; the National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and the BrightFocus Foundation.

Millen has been a member of the ASN for 23 years as a nutritional scientist with a focus on epidemiologic research. She has served eight years on the Nutritional Epidemiology, Group Engaging Members (GEM) community and is currently its chair elect for 2024-25.

Through this engagement, she has contributed to ASN’s conference programming through conference abstract review, co-chairing numerous mini-symposia, two symposia, a conference workshop and two years helping oversee ASN’s Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Poster Competition. Millen has also made numerous contributions to ASN’s scientific journal portfolio, including 106 peer-reviewed publications, as well as many other journal publications with an epidemiology focus.

In addition to her contributions to research and nutrition publications, Millen has served as a mentor to more than 60 graduate students, resulting in many student-led, first-author publications.

“Amy Millen is an exceptional candidate for this new recognition,” says Jo Freudenheim, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health. “She brings strong commitment to nutrition, contributing with her research and with her mentoring of new nutrition researchers.”

The inaugural group of Excellence in Nutrition Fellows of ASN will be introduced at the NUTRITION 2025 conference in May.