SNA Welcomes Lori Adkins as 2022-2023 President

ARLINGTON, VA — The School Nutrition Association (SNA) welcomes Lori Adkins, MS, SNS, CHE, as president for the 2022-2023 school year. Lori, who also serves as Child Nutrition Consultant for Oakland Schools ISD in Michigan, will represent SNA’s 50,000 school nutrition professional members nationwide.

Since 2010, Lori has supported Oakland County’s child nutrition professionals, working in 28 school districts, serving 175,000 students. Lori provides guidance and develops and conducts training sessions on program regulations and operations, covering everything from food safety and nutrition analysis to human resources and contract negotiations. Her work helps Oakland Schools’ meal program operators improve their menus and services, manage finances, expand access to school meals and boost student meal participation.

Notably, Lori led the Oakland County “Better with Breakfast” multi-sector partnership and program, the first of its kind nationally, aimed at addressing food insecurity and student access to breakfast. During the pandemic, Lori supported the county’s transition to emergency curbside meal services, helped school cafeterias reopen safely and through her oversight of the county’s purchasing cooperative, she continues to assist schools grappling with supply chain disruptions.

Lori also serves on the Oakland County Food Policy Council, helping to lead Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility efforts surrounding community food access. As part of the Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP) team, Lori has led Local Wellness Policy workshops, advancing HOP’s mission to improve the well-being of residents by expanding healthy eating and physical activity opportunities.

Prior to her time with Oakland Schools, Lori spent 25 years working as a school food service director in three different districts in southeast Michigan. During this time, she expanded student access to healthy meals by launching breakfast in the classroom, summer meals and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs. She oversaw kitchen remodels, managed multi-million-dollar budgets and honed her leadership skills.

An SNA member since 1997, Lori has served on SNA’s Public Policy & Legislation Committee and Resolutions & Bylaws Committee. At the state level, Lori was President and Legislative Chair of the Michigan SNA. She’s earned a FAME Silver Special Achievement Award and Michigan SNA’s Outstanding Director of the Year. During the pandemic, Lori received the Michigan School Business Officials Distinguished Service Award for her leadership in school food service.

Lori earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in the fields of Food Systems Management and Hospitality Management. She also has an associate’s degree in Dietetic Technology.

About School Nutrition Association: The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing 50,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students.