Empowered Eaters: A Road Map for Stronger Nutrition Education Policies

Speakers: Julia McCarthy, JD, Center for Science in the Public Interest; Pamela Koch, EdD, RD, Columbia University; and Claire Uno, MLIS, Columbia University

With such a pressing need today for great nutrition education, alongside accessible and affordable healthy food, how are federal, state, and local governments responding? To answer this, the Tisch Food Center just launched a series of “Empowered Eaters” reports. This webinar details the landscape of public policy and investment in nutrition education, using New York as a case study. The reports provide a road map to strengthen the complex public systems that currently support nutrition education.

Learning Objectives

Be able to navigate the landscape of federal, state, and local nutrition education policies, programs, and funding

Have an increased sense of urgency about the importance of advocacy, and more confidence in how to engage in policy discussions.

Have a framework to conduct similar research for their state/city.

Julia McCarthy, JD, Center for Science in the Public Interest

Julia McCarthy is Senior Nutrition Policy Associate with the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Formerly, she was the policy analyst at the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education, and Policy. In her role at the Tisch Food Center, Julia researched state and local nutrition education programs and policies. Julia has previously worked at the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. Julia graduated with a B.A. in History from Georgetown University and has a law degree from New York University where she was a Root-Tilden-Kern scholar.

Pamela Koch, EdD, RD, Columbia University

Pamela Koch is Executive Director for the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy, Teachers College Columbia University and Research Associate Professor of Nutrition Education in TC’s Program in Nutrition. Pam conducts research about the connections between a just, sustainable food system and healthy eating. She translates the results from her research into useful resources such as curricula for schoolteachers and recommendations for policy makers. Pam is the primary author of the three Linking Food and the Environment (LiFE) curriculum series books: Growing Food; Farm to Table & Beyond, and Choice, Control & Change and coordinated the development, evaluation and dissemination of the LiFE. Pam frequently speaks about nutrition education and sustainable food systems at meetings and conferences across the country. Pam also collaborates with several groups conducting food and nutrition education and working to increase access to healthy, sustainable food around New York City. She completed her BS and MS degrees in nutrition at Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, and her EdD and RD from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Claire Uno, MLIS, Columbia University

Claire Uno is Deputy Director for the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy, Teachers College Columbia University. Claire’s work focuses on building toward an equitable and sustainable food system. Claire takes the lead on policy efforts, community partnerships, and external relations for the Tisch Food Center. Her professional experience spans urban agriculture, food policy and community food security. Prior to the Center she was with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and before that served as Executive Director of Wasatch Community Gardens in Salt Lake City. She has a BA in Art History from Colgate University and a Masters in Library and Information Studies from University of California, Los Angeles.