It is with deep sadness that we share the devastating news that NASPEM member and friend Dianne S. Ward suddenly passed away last week. She was an outstanding scholar, caring mentor, and overall wonderful person, as well as a longtime member and avid supporter of NASPEM. As an advocate for children, Dianne spent her career working to improve their nutrition and physical activity levels via a variety of interventions, policies, and programs. One of Dianne’s major contributions to the field of Pediatric Exercise Science is the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care Program (NAPSACC). This program has been used all over the US and internationally.

Dianne served on the NASPEM Board of Directors twice, from 1997-2002 and again from 2010-2015. She also presented NASPEM’s inaugural Oded Bar-Or Lecture in 2006. Dianne was a Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was also a Fellow of various organizations (e.g., ACSM and The Obesity Society), a Trustee and BoD member in many others (e.g., ACSM and ICAMPAM), and had a strong presence in NIH. Dianne additionally provided support and structure in various ways to colleagues and students and throughout the field of Pediatric Exercise Science.

Dianne was an incredible mentor across many organizations and with many people. She was very generous with her time and expertise and truly supported those around her; she significantly impacted many of us in this field. We will miss her bright presence and wish to offer this virtual tribute to her life.