Alex Hallmark is the Child Nutrition Director for DeSoto County School District, Mississippi’s largest, where she has led transformative improvements in quality, innovation, and inclusivity over the past ten years. A Registered Dietitian and Registered Nurse, Alex holds a BS in Dietetics & Nutrition and an MS in Food & Nutrition Services from the University of Mississippi. She recently served as President of the Mississippi School Nutrition Association (MSNA) Executive Board and has held numerous state and national leadership roles, including on AASA’s Child Nutrition Working Group, IFMA’s Foodservice Leadership Council, and the Institute of Child Nutrition Advisory Council. She was Mississippi Director of the Year in 2024. Her first publication appeared in the Journal of Child Nutrition Management in 2022, and she now teaches as an adjunct instructor at the University of Mississippi.Alex is passionate about creative training, local sourcing, and special menu events that connect studentsto nutrition and their community. She credits MSNA with sparking her love of policy and leadership,fueling her advocacy for child nutrition programs.Above all, Alex is a proud mom of two young daughters. She enjoys running, Peloton rides, and travelingwhen she’s not leading her team or mentoring the next generation of nutrition professionals.