Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Experienced Program Lead with a demonstrated history of working in the government. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Small Business, Sustainability, Government, Data Analysis, and Strategic Planning. Strong operations professional with a PhD focused in Food Science and Technology from Virginia Tech.
Lead a team of Nutrition Subject Matter Experts, and oversee a competitive and noncompetitive grant portfolio of over $200M. Manage and oversee the program and operational budget for Nutrition division as well as personnel actions, promotions, hiring, workload distribution, and strategic planning. · Mentor senior-level scientists and provide strategic research program direction, feedback, and development aligned with USDA/NIFA mission priorities; supporting career advancement and program quality. · Created the IFSN Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health AFRI Priority writing team and tasked them to reimagine the program. The team evaluated emerging scientific fields and research/extension/education program quality; and created new grant program priorities to address deficiencies and advance agricultural science direction in alignment with Congressional priorities. · Advise the Institute Director on strategic planning, policy, and program implementation to ensure grant policy integrity and fairness of the competitive peer review processes when considerable pressure has been placed on program staff to meet critical deadlines with a 2-fold increase in workload. · Coordinate with the Office of the Director to respond to congressional and informational inquiries, data call requests, FOIA requests, and budget inquiries by identifying appropriate program staff, reviewing and clarifying responses and providing timely feedback.
I am a National Program Leader with USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and provide leadership for a $30M portfolio of competitive grant programs in Food Science and Nutrition. As a National Program Leader, I am actively involved in developing Request for Applications and leading panels to select research, education, and extension projects in the Food Science and Nutrition priority within the Small Business Innovation Research Competitive Grant Program, the Agriculture Food and Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program, and the Food Safety Outreach Competitive Grants Program. In addition to program leadership responsibilities within the Department, I am also actively engaged in improving the quality and efficiency of competitive grants programs by interacting and engaging with professional organizations in Food Science, Nutrition and Agriculture including the Institute of Food Technologists, American Society for Nutrition and the International Association for Food Protection where I present programmatic information and provided agency updates.
Managed and led a staff of International Analysts who facilitate the planning, policy development support and coordination for U.S. involvement in Codex. I also led and oversaw all strategic planning activities, the annual budget process, and all Contracts and Cooperative Agreements for USCO.
I advised the Under Secretary/Chief Scientist on policy development and operational planning pertaining to food safety, nutrition, and human health programs and activities. I reviewed, evaluated, and critiqued a broad range of policy and program management issues and concerns related to the coordinated food safety and nutrition science programs of USDA. I also coordinated science program efforts, ensuring appropriate representation and transmission of science in USDA plans and policies. In addition, I served as a liaison and provided oversight and coordination for participation in food safety, nutrition, and health related initiatives and identified and addressed issues of high priority within the Department and across other Federal agencies.
Provided national and international leadership to food safety and food science research and education competitive grant programs.