(Schaumburg, IL – January 2026) – Three new members with distinguished backgrounds joined the CBDCE Board of Directors in 2026, reinforcing CBDCE’s commitment to excellence. The Board elected Lucille Hughes, DNP, MSN/Ed, BC-ADM®, CDCES®, FADCES, Scott Johnson (Public Member), and Jo-Anne Rizzotto, MEd, RDN, LDN, CDCES®.
Dr. Lucille Hughes is the President of Diabetes Insights, LLC. She has been a Registered Nurse for 40 years and has more than 37 years of experience in both inpatient and outpatient diabetes care and program management. As a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), she has cared for patients across the age spectrum, from pediatrics to adults living with diabetes. Dr. Hughes is considered an expert in injection therapy, insulin pump therapy, and the use of CGMs. She earned the Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) certification and is proud to be a fellow of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES), where she has served for over seven years in the following positions: Board of Directors, Member’s Affiliate Liaison, Treasurer, President Elect, 2023 President, and Immediate Past President.
Dr. Hughes' professional career contains a mix of clinical experience, scientific rigor, and leadership skills. She has served as a consultant to national diabetes associations and private industry, published in peer-reviewed articles, and created more than 15 diabetes education programs across Long Island, NY. She is passionate about sharing her expertise with both health care professionals and people living with diabetes.
Scott Johnson (public member) is an experienced patient advocate and communicator who has worked with a wide range of stakeholders across the international health care industry to develop effective strategies and programs for diverse audiences. He is a demonstrated thought leader whose expertise is recognized and sought worldwide. He currently serves as a Senior Community Manager at Blue Circle Health, a nonprofit organization focused on care, education, and support for adults with type 1 diabetes. Along with his new Board role, he also sits on the University of Colorado Primary Care Diabetes Lab Patient Advisory Board.
His accomplishments include launching mySugr in America, a diabetes management app, and pioneering diabetes blogging at www.scottsdiabetes.com, among other notable achievements. He has lived with type 1 diabetes for 45 years.
Jo-Anne Rizzotto is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist and a CDCES with more than 30 years of experience advancing nutrition therapy and diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES). She served for 14 years as Director of Diabetes Education and Technologies at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, providing executive administrative and clinical leadership across patient care, research integration, quality improvement, and special initiatives. Following her directorship in the clinic, Ms. Rizzotto served as Director of Clinical Education programs within the Global Care and Advisory Division, where she led the development and launch of clinical education programs and created webinars and online training for global healthcare professionals. She is past Chair of the Certification Examination Committee for the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) and a former president of the Massachusetts chapters of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She currently consults with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) on the development of professional education webinars, online learning, and patient education materials.
Ms. Rizzotto has continued to serve on the CBDCE exam committee before joining the Board. She is widely recognized for bridging clinical practice, certification standards, and professional education to advance care for those with diabetes. She is committed to ensuring the CDCES credential continues to reflect excellence in practice, professional growth, and meaningful impact for people living with diabetes.
Lucille Hughes, Scott Johnson, and Jo-Anne Rizzotto are serving four-year terms that began on January 1, 2026. With their election, they join eight Directors currently serving on the CBDCE Board of Directors:
Chair - Joanne Rinker, MS, RDN, CDCES, BC-ADM, LDN, FADCES
Chair-Elect - Dana Brackney, PhD, RN, CNS, CDCES, BC-ADM
Treasurer - Alison Evert, MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES
Immediate Past Chair - Nancy D'Hondt, RPh, CDCES, FADCES
Adeola Akindana, DNP, CRNP, CDCES
Patricia Hoyson, PhD, DNP, APRN-FNP, CDCES
Michael See, MS, CDCES, ACSM-CEP, NBC-HWC
Rebecca DeVivo, MPH, MSW, CHCP (CBDCE CEO), Corporate Secretary (ex officio)
Learn more about the 2024 CBDCE Board of Directors by visiting CBDCE's leadership page.