Young people across California and the U.S. enjoy healthier, more nutritious food options at school, thanks to the contributions of Gail Woodward-Lopez, who retired on July 1 as the associate director of research at the Nutrition Policy Institute, a part of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Woodward-Lopez officially joined UCANR in 2015, when she and other researchers at the Atkins Center for Weight and Health at UC Berkeley merged with NPI. But her association with UCANR goes back much further, as her work at CWH was always directed by UC Cooperative Extension academics – including the research that paved the way for California's "junk food ban" in schools. At NPI, the focus of Woodward-Lopez's work has been refining the evaluation and delivery of SNAP-Ed, the educational component of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly referred to as "food stamps"). Known in California as CalFresh Healthy Living, SNAP-Ed represents the largest single source of ongoing funding for nutrition and physical activity promotion in the state – outside of the WIC program which serves women, infants and young children. "CalFresh Healthy Living can really impact millions of people," Woodward-Lopez said. "For county health departments, this is one of their main sources of funding and provides the backbone for everything else they do in nutrition and physical activity." Read more about Woodward-Lopez's numerous contributions to NPI and the field of public health nutrition. People interested in supporting Woodward-Lopez's legacy and the ongoing work in health and nutrition can donate to NPI's Student Fellowship, which provides students from underrepresented groups the opportunity to work on NPI research and be mentored by NPI researchers.
Summer Cortez joined the Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources on April 26, 2023 as a project policy analyst. She will serve as the new CalFresh Healthy Living Evaluation Unit manager, to support evaluation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education in partnership with the California Department of Public Health and local health departments. Summer received a master's degree in community development from UC Davis, where she focused her studies on strategies to enhance regional food system resilience in the face of disasters. Her professional background is in program management, and she has spent the last seven years leading community education projects in land stewardship, nutrition and food literacy.
Ramsha Baig joined the Nutrition Policy Institute on April 6, 2023 as a research data analyst. Ramsha recently received her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. She previously worked as a physician in India, where she completed undergraduate studies in Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery from Smt. C.M.P. Homeopathic Medical College and received a Post Graduate Diploma in Emergency Medical Services from Life Supporters Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS) from Mumbai, India. Her past research focused on parental vaccine hesitancy, promoting childhood vaccination, and reducing infectious burden in Africa. Ramsha brings her experience to support NPI's CalFresh Healthy Living Evaluation Unit to evaluate SNAP-Ed programming in partnership with the California Department of Public Health and local health departments.
A Research Data Analyst 3 position is available at the Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, located in Oakland, CA. This position will support evaluation studies conducted by NPI through its CalFresh Healthy Living contract with the California Department of Public Health. In California, SNAP-Ed is called CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL) and is the largest nutrition education and obesity prevention program in the United States, with more than one-third of California residents eligible for CFHL. The Research Data Analyst 3 position requires the ability to independently perform data analysis, data management, data visualization, and reporting of organizational, policy and environmental data and individual-level data for studies of nutrition, physical activity and obesity. This position is a contract appointment that is 100% fixed through September 30, 2023. The pay scale is $6,908.33 to $9,800.00 per month. More information and instructions on how to apply are available online. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.
A Project Policy Analyst 4 position is available at the Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, located in Oakland, CA. This position will serve as the Unit Manager for NPI's CalFresh Healthy Living contract with the California Department of Public Health. In California, SNAP-Ed is called CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL) and is the largest nutrition education and obesity prevention program in the United States, with more than one-third of California residents eligible for CFHL. Under the supervision of the Director of NPI's CalFresh Healthy Living Evaluation Unit, the Unit Manager will provide overall coordination and management of the Unit's projects and activities that aim to understand the process, outcomes, and impact of the CalFresh Healthy Living program. The Unit manager will ensure the activities defined in NPI's contract with the CDPH are executed and deliverables are met in a timely and rigorous fashion. This position is a career appointment that is 100% fixed. The pay scale is $82,900 to $117,600 per year. To assure full consideration, applications must be received by January 13, 2023. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.