Dev recognized with National USDA/NIFA Extension Award


Dipti Dev wins National USDA NIFA Extension Specialist Award

Dev recognized with National USDA/NIFA Extension Award

05 Feb 2018     By Katie Ballue

Dr. Dipti Dev, Betti and Richard Robinson Professorship of Early Childhood in Extension, Assistant Professor, and Child Health Behaviors Extension Specialist, has been recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture as an important leader and contributor locally, statewide, and nationally.

The National Family Life and Human Development State Extension Specialist Early Achievement Award highlights an early extension (six or fewer years) that is making strides through two or more extension programs and whose influence and reputation extends beyond their home state.

Dev's extension focuses on policy and environmental approaches to childhood obesity prevention. Her programming targets young children and adult caregivers, narrowing in on child care environments. Much of her recent research works toward the goal of preventing childhood obesity both by teaching parents specific feeding stategies and by focusing on improving the education of child care providers when it comes to the feeding options and behaviors of pre-school aged children. She has recently begun collaborating to develop innovative new technology to aid in the process of enabling adult caregivers to better feed the children for which they are responsible. 

"I am also passionate about childhood obesity prevention policy research, including assessing, strengthening and providing support for Head Start, USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program, nutrition regulations, and child care quality rating systems. By focusing on Head Start and CACFP programs I hope to serve low income and minority children and their families at a higher obesity risk," Dev stated.

The early achievement award is given to one early career extension specialist each year throughout the United States, and Dev. is the 2017 recipient of the award.


Child, Youth and Family Studies