ARLINGTON, VA – The non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) welcomes Ashley Powell, PhD, RD, FAND, SNS, as President for the 2026-27 School Year (SY). In this role, she will serve 50,000 SNA members and represent school nutrition professionals nationwide. Powell is the Child Nutrition Director for Auburn City Schools, AL.
Powell’s 60-member child nutrition team serves one of Alabama’s fastest growing districts, reaching nearly 9,500 students at 14 sites, with two new schools under construction. Last year, her team served approximately 300,000 breakfasts and 840,000 lunches. Under the Alabama School Breakfast Grant, her program began offering free school breakfasts to all students starting May 2026 through SY 2026-2027 to ensure every student has access to a nutritious start to fuel their school day.
Powell’s team offers a wide variety of menu choices for students, including a line of freshly made grab-and-go entrée salad and sandwich boxes for busy high schoolers. Powell has worked to add more locally grown foods to the menu. In addition to local produce options, her team uses Alabama beef in their chili, spaghetti and burritos and plans to offer acai bowls lightly sweetened with locally sourced honey this fall.
An advocate for life-long learning, Powell served as Chair of SNA’s Professional Development Committee prior to her position on the Board of Directors and election as SNA Vice President. She has also been an active volunteer at the state level, serving on the Alabama School Nutrition Association (ASNA) nominating and scholarship committee and eventually as State President for SY 2018-19. Powell was recognized as ASNA Director of the Year in 2017.
After beginning her career as a renal dietitian, in 2002, Powell turned her focus to child nutrition, serving as School Nutrition Coordinator in Clarke County Schools, GA, and a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher in Opelika City Schools. In 2008, she landed what she describes as her dream job at Auburn City Schools. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and expertise with future school nutrition leaders and has mentored over 55 dietetic interns on rotation in her program.
Powell earned her B.S. in Dietetics, M.Ed. in Health Promotion and PhD in Adult Education from Auburn University. She is proud that all three of her children eat and enjoy her district’s school meals.
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. For more information on school meals, visit www.SchoolNutrition.org/SchoolMeals
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