Healthy Lifestyle Initiative

Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice

Ann Cohen, MS, RD, LD
Associate State Nutrition Specialist
Department of Nutritional Sciences
College of Human Environmental Sciences
University of Missouri-Columbia
1205 University Place, Suite 300
Columbia, MO 65211-6210
573-882-2435
573-884-5412 FAX
cohena@missouri.edu 

Years lived in Missouri: Since 1974

Original Hometown: Davenport, Iowa

Education:
B.S. Mathematics, Creighton University
M.S. Nutrition, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Professional Background:

My research and experience in the nutrition field focuses on developing, implementing and evaluating nutrition education programs in school and community settings. As a registered dietitian, I work with a broad network of nutrition professionals at the community, state and national levels.

Why I am passionate about my job:

The role of co-director of the Healthy Lifestyle Initiative positions me to work with the campus and field network in Extension helping people in communities who are making food and physical activity choices that affect their health and quality of life. I am excited by the tremendous interest in and potential for communities to improve access to healthy foods and physical activity opportunities.

If I weren't doing this for a living:

I would be developing culinary/nutrition programs for science centers and botanical gardens.

What I do for fun: cooking and gardening.
 

Family: I have two sons, a daughter, two daughters-in-law and a grand daughter.
 

Favorite place in Missouri: Any outdoor community gathering -- Maplewood Barn Theatre on a hot summer night, summer parish picnics, farmers’ markets