WSU Extension nutrition educator receives lifetime achievement award

Diane Smith first attended a Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) conference in 1975 as a graduate student. Now the longtime Washington State University Skagit County Extension specialist and associate professor has received the society's Helen Denning Ullrich Annual Award for Lifetime Excellence in Nutrition Education.

SNEB recognized Smith during an award ceremony Aug. 1 in Knoxville, Tennessee, honoring her more than 20 years of service, leadership, and professional contributions to the field of nutrition education.

"I'm beyond thrilled to have my work recognized by valued colleagues," said Smith. "It was at that first conference that I found a professional home that resonated with my interests and joined as a member."

Through subsequent conferences and a career's worth of community nutrition work, Smith learned how to develop creative nutrition education messaging, plan successful programs, evaluate program impacts, and refine her leadership competencies.

Smith now joins a prestigious list of fellow nationwide educators recognized for outstanding achievement and service.

"As colleagues who know Diane through our SNEB membership, we have had the unique opportunity to work with her and witness her authentic commitment to making a positive difference in our profession," said Jennifer Wilkins, a professor of practice emerita at Syracuse University and past SNEB president.

Smith's society peers applauded her breadth and quality of accomplishments and teaching as rationale for the award. Among her achievements are many impactful peer-reviewed journal articles, dozens of conference presentations, and video productions about using regional produce.

"I love what I do in nutrition education to support communities and individuals in making choices for their well-being," Smith said. "Stellar role models in the WSU Extension Youth and Families Program Unit supported my professional development, as did fellow colleagues in SNEB."

Her current focuses are early learning and farm-to-community food education programming that melds early education with farming. While just seven early education classes participated in 2018, the program has since ballooned to 32 classrooms with more than 350 families participating. Over 40% of the preschoolers in the program had their first taste of locally grown produce as a result.

In fall 2021, Smith also undertook an in-depth study of the connection between climate and diet. She translated what she learned into WSU Extension's "Use Food Well: Prevent Food Waste" campaign. That campaign connected the dots between food, health, and agriculture, informing her work with the WSU Climate Action and Education Team and the WSU Sustainable Systems initiative.

The food waste prevention campaign quickly reached more than 6,000 local community members and engaged a dozen community partner organizations, resulting in increased levels of composting, less organic landfill waste, and more area-wide recycling.

Smith has always felt a strong connection to her work and the people it impacts, and she is grateful that others have noticed her passion.

"I'm honored and humbled that my nationwide colleagues nominated me for this recognition," she said.

Learn more

You can read more about WSU Extension's food waste prevention efforts, which aim to raise awareness about the climate impacts of wasted foods. Learn how this work creates a more Resilient Washington.

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