Irene O Padasas
Community Nutrition and Health Advisor
M.A. Developmental Psychology, Ateneo de Manila University, 2016
Supporting family well-being through culture and health
Promoting positive growth and resilience in children and youth
Advancing health equity in low-resourced communities
Irene Padasas is the Community Nutrition and Health Advisor for UCCE Tulare, Kings, Fresno, and Madera Counties. Her work centers on advancing health equity in low-resourced communities by addressing the social and cultural factors that shape family health and well-being. She has a particular focus on strengthening community-based programs and promoting the positive development of children and youth.
Padasas provides programmatic oversight for two federal nutrition programs in her four-county region—CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)—ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery. With extensive experience in community needs assessment, program development, evaluation, and dissemination, she bridges research and practice to create lasting impact.
She earned her master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines and her doctorate in Human Science, specializing in Global Family Health and Well-Being, from the University of Nebraska.