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Ala. (WTVM) – Ashley Powell, the Child Nutrition Director for Auburn City Schools, has been named president of the School Nutrition Association (SNA) for the 2026-27 school year
The non-profit SNA announced Powell’s election last week at its Annual National Conference in Charlotte, where more than 6,000 school nutrition professionals gathered. In her new role, Powell will represent 50,000 SNA members across the country
Powell’s 60-member child nutrition team serves nearly 9,500 students across 14 sites in one of Alabama’s fastest-growing school districts, with two new schools currently 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 in May 2026, continuing through the 2026-27 school year
Powell’s team offers a variety of menu choices, including freshly made grab-and-go entrée salad and sandwich boxes for high school students. She has worked to incorporate more locally grown foods into the menu, including Alabama beef used in chili, spaghetti and burritos. The program also plans to offer acai bowls lightly sweetened with locally
Powell began her career as a renal dietitian before shifting her focus to child nutrition in 2002. She has served as a School Nutrition Coordinator in Clarke County Schools, Ga., and as a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher in Opelika City Schools. She joined Auburn City Schools in 2008
She has mentored more than 55 dietetic interns on rotation in her program
Prior to her SNA presidency, Powell served as chair of SNA’s Professional Development Committee and as SNA Vice President. At the state level, she served as Alabama School Nutrition Association (ASNA) State President for the 2018-19 school year and was recognized as ASNA Director of the Year in 2017
Powell earned a B.S. in Dietetics, an M.Ed. in Health Promotion and a Ph.D. in Adult Education from Auburn University
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