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My ADA
Kathleen F. Cobb, MS, RD
Expert Consultant CDC 5 A Day Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
ADA Leadership Highlights: National – CDR: Child and Adolescent Weight Management Task Force; Chair; Exam Panel Chair; Appeals Panel; HOD: House Leadership Team Member; Prevention Task Force; Area 7 Coordinator; Chair of CT Delegates; BOD: Director. Connecticut Dietetic Association: Delegate; President; Public Relations Chair; Legislation Committee.
Other Professional Activities: 5 A Day, Co Chair Planning, National Stakeholder Meeting; ASTPHND, National Conference, Planning Committee; 5 A Day, Chair Planning, National Partnership Meeting; 5 A Day, Chair National Subcommittee, State, Regional and Community; CT, Obesity Prevention, Osteoporosis, Folic Acid, 5 A Day Task Forces, Chair.
Awards: University of Connecticut, College of Agriculture, Gamma Sigma Delta, Alumni Award of Merit; NCI, 5 A Day Leadership Award; ADAF, Excellence in Practice, Community Nutrition; ADAF, Anita Owen Award.
Education: MS, Community Nutrition, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; BS, Food and Nutrition, University of California, Berkeley, CA.
What related experience and skills have you obtained to prepare you to be an ADA leader?
I have learned that whatever the task, effective leadership is a collaborative affair. Experience at state and federal levels and ADA provide me with an array of leadership skills including motivation, collaboration, working with people with multiple agendas, policy making, strategic planning, and outcome-oriented decision making. I will use my skills to recruit and support ADA’s future leaders who will positively contribute to our association.
What do you perceive as an important issue impacting the dietetics profession today?
Never before has there been such a concerted effort by so many to turn the tide against childhood obesity. But the window of opportunity is narrowing. The public's attention and support will wane unless we can show that preventive services and medical nutrition therapy make a difference. ADA leadership, our researchers and practitioners, must act to focus resources and lead collaborative efforts to demonstrate, communicate, and implement successful strategies for its prevention.
How would you encourage and promote diversity if elected? I would lead by example prioritizing and supporting cultural diversity and cultural competence on ADA's agenda. On the nominating committee, I would tap the best from all cultural groups at all program levels to position ADA for the future. I would also support new initiatives to strengthen ADA's commitment to educating our leaders, members, dietetic students and potential students about the need for and strategies to develop cultural diversity and competence in our profession.
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