Wansink

Brian Wansink, Cornell's John S. Dyson Professor of Marketing, has accepted a 14-month appointment as executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.

Sworn in Nov. 19, Wansink reports to Nancy Johner, undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services.

"Dr. Wansink is nationally recognized in his field of nutrition research which focuses on how to encourage consumers to eat more nutritiously and better control how much they eat," said Johner. "Dr. Wansink's work has been featured in national print and broadcast media. We feel quite fortunate in having Dr. Wansink join our team here at the Department of Agriculture."

Wansink is responsible for overseeing the planning, development and review of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the food pyramid known as MyPyramid.gov and programs including the Healthy Eating Index, the USDA Food Plans, the Nutrient Content of the U.S. Food Supply and the cost of raising a child.

The mission of the center is to improve the health of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers. Its staff, who are primarily nutrition scientists, dietitians, economists and policy experts, help to define and coordinate nutrition education policy within USDA and to translate nutrition research into information and materials for consumers, policy-makers and professionals in health, education, industry and media.

Wansink's appointment with the USDA is until Jan. 20, 2009.