Susan E. Adams, M.S., R.D.N., L.D.N., F.A.N.D.

Susan Adams, M.S., R.D.N., L.D.N., F.A.N.D. (she, her, hers) is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Urban Public Health and Nutrition.  She is a dedicated nutrition professional with over 25 years of teaching expertise and 40+ years of delivering quality nutrition care to individuals in hospitals, workplaces, group homes, schools and other community settings.  As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Susan Adams has managed foodservice departments in hospitals and employee feeding operations, counseled a variety of outpatient clients in proper nutrition principles to regain health, evaluated and demonstrated consumer kitchen equipment, developed menus, trained employees, and consulted within employee wellness.   As a former Assistant Professor of Nutrition at La Salle University, it has been her pleasure to help teach and guide the next generation of nutrition professionals. 

She completed her undergraduate degree in food and nutrition with a minor in business and communications at The University of Akron and her graduate degree in nutrition at Kent State University.  Her master’s thesis focused on nutrition education of individuals with Type II diabetes and the impact that their spouses/significant others had on the patients’ nutrition knowledge and retention of knowledge.   

Ms. Adams has dedicated her professional career to helping others through the transformative power of food and nutrition.  In 2012, Ms. Adams was awarded the “Outstanding Dietetic Educator in a Coordinated Program” for the State of Pennsylvania and the Region Six of the Dietetic Educators – Dietetic Practice Group. The Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has bestowed the Keystone Award (demonstrating outstanding leadership) to Ms. Adams in 2020 and The Outstanding Dietitian in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the highest award) to her in 2022.  An active member of many professional organizations, she served her profession as a delegate to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as well as the President of the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.   Susan Adams recently served as the Chair of the Quality Management Committee at the Commission of Dietetic Registration, where she helped develop the latest Scope of Practice/Standards of Practice for RDNs and NDTRs.   

Areas of Expertise

Quality Management 

Food Science 

Food Systems 

Food and Culture 

Sustainability 

Management in Food service and Dietetics 

Senior Nutrition 

Education

M.S., Nutrition, Kent State University

B.A., Foods and Nutrition, University of Akron

Course work completed for Registered Dietitian Status

Professional Credentials

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

ServSafe certification

Teaching

Nutrition 200: Life Cycle Nutrition 

Nutrition 230: Food Science 

Nutrition 340: Professional Practice in Nutrition 

Nutrition 310: Management in Nutrition and Dietetics 

Nutrition 320: Quantity Foods Management 

Nutrition 420:  Nutrition Education and Counseling   

Nutrition 441: Food and Culture 

Nutrition 450: Sustainable Food Systems and Justice 

Nutrition 460: Nutrition Externship 

Nutrition 605: Foodservice Management Practicum 

Select Scholarship

Adams S., Bilkey, W.R., The Healthy Quantity Cookbook. Minneapolis, MN: Bolger Publishing. 1986 

Adams, S.E., Cultural Awareness Case Study.  In E.Z. Emery, Clinical Case Studies for the Nutrition Care Process. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.  August 2011 (1st edition) & 2020 (2nd edition) 

Roseman, M. G., Adams, S, & Wright, M. (2015).  An Exploration of U.S. Nutrition and Dietetic Students and Interns Attitudes Regarding Biases Toward and Prejudices Against Individuals or Groups of Individuals. International Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, DOI:10.17654/IJNDMay2015_001_022 

Adams, S., et. al. Revised 2024 Scope and Standards of Practice for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Commission on Dietetic Registration Scope and Standards of Practice Task Force. www.cdrnet.org/scope. January 1, 2023.   

Adams, S., Spoon and Forks ~ Understanding the Impact of Chronic Illness on Daily Life, 2024, Presented to the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, AME, April 2024 

Adams, S. & Mancino, J., Leadership Matters – Skills for Your Leadership Toolbox, 2023, Presented to the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics AME, April 2023 

Adams, S., The Future of Dietetics is Now – Finding Your Why and Why it Matters! Virtual AME, Presented to the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. May 2020 

Adams, S., What’s Old is New Again: Ancient Grains 101 for Dietetic and Nutrition Professionals, Presented to the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics AME, Pittsburgh, PA, April 8, 2016 

Adams, S., Roseman, M.G., Millennial RDs Embracing Diversity in Professional Practice.  Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Presented to the 2013 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference & Expo. Houston, TX, October 22, 2013 

Professional Affiliations

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 

Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 

Philadelphia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 

Philadelphia/South Jersey Association of Healthcare Foodservice 

Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group 

Food and Culinary Professionals Dietetic Practice Group 

Management in Food and Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group 

Healthy Aging Dietetic Practice Group 

Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine Dietetic Practice Group 

Cultures of Gender and Age, Member Interest Group 

Disabilities in Nutrition and Dietetics, Member Interest Group