Jennifer Wilkins joined the Division of Nutritional Sciences in 1993. Her work focuses on how the food and agriculture system impacts public health, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. Degrees include: BS degree in 1978 from Huxley College of Environmental Studies, Western Washington University, MS degree in 1981 from Teachers College, Columbia University, Ph.D. in 1991 from Washington State University, in Nutrition and Consumer Economics, RD post-graduate dietetic residency at University of Washington Hospitals.
Shortly after joining the Cornell faculty Jennifer conceptualized and developed the first regional food guide in the United States, the Northeast Regional Food Guide. This food guide promotes health, sustainability, and local food systems. She was one of eight people selected from a national pool of over 150 for Class IV of the Kellogg Foundation Food and Society Policy Fellowship. During this 2-year fellowship (2004 to 2006) her work appeared in the media including an op-ed in the New York Times and she developed a newspaper column, The Food Citizen which has appeared monthly in the Albany Times Union since May 2006, and in the Ithaca Journal from November 2007 to April 2010.
In 2010, Dr. Wilkins became the Community Coordinator for the Cornell Dietetic Internship Program. Since the early 2000s she has directed the Cornell Farm to School Program, for which she received a Dannon Institute Award for Excellence in Community Nutrition in 2003. She directs the Cornell Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Outreach, in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and NYS Department of Health. She served as president of Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society from 2003-2004, served on the board of Directors for the Society for Nutrition Education (SNE) from 1994-97, was a member of SNE’s Advisory Committee on Public Policy (ACPP) from 2006-2008, and chaired the ACPP from 2009-2010. She currently serves on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Standards for Professional Performance for Sustainable Food and Water Systems Work Group.
Jennifer is the 2004 recipient of the Environmental Nutrition Award from the Hunger and Environmental Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group within the American Dietetic Association. In 2007, she received the Outstanding Community Public Service from the College of Human Ecology. She has served on the Chefs Collaborative Board of Overseers and was a visiting professor at the Università degli Scienze Gastronomiche (University of Gastronomic Sciences) in Pollenzo and Colorno, Italy from 2008-2011.