Town Hall Meeting Speakers

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Speakers' Biographies

Mary Edmonds Cogswell, RN, DrPH

Senior Scientist, Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC

Dr. Cogswell is a senior scientist with CDC’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch in the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. Her current research interests include nutrition and cardiovascular disease, with an emphasis on sodium reduction. She has presented nationally and internationally, authored over 95 peer-reviewed publications, mentored students and fellows, provided technical assistance to state, national, and international organizations, and served as an editorial board member for the Journal of Nutrition.

Dr. Cogswell received a master of public health degree in health services research and a doctorate of public health in nutritional epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Robert S. Lewis, DPA, MPA, SNS

Director, Nutrition Services, El Monte City School District

Dr. Robert Lewis is the current director of Nutrition Services for the El Monte City School District in California and oversees three separate departments and sixteen sites. Dr. Lewis has more than 24 years of school nutrition management experience. In the last five years, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation has awarded 12 of his schools with national recognition. In October 2011, all 14 of his schools received silver awards from the US Department of Agriculture HealthierUS School Challenge.

Dr. Lewis is an advocate for improved childhood health by deliberate, collaborative public policy. In this regard, he was driven to earn his doctorate degree in public administration. Dr. Lewis served as a national ambassador for the Alliance from 2011 to 2013. He has also served in several national and state leadership roles with the School Nutrition Association.

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Heather Plain, SNS

Child Nutrition Director, Bonneville School District 93

Heather Plain is the child nutrition director for Bonneville School District 93 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She began her career in child nutrition in 2004. She worked part-time as a school cook for two years before joining the Child Nutrition Administration where she was secretary, assistant director, and then became the director in 2011. Heather and her staff work diligently to bring healthier options to the children of her district.

Heather has an associate’s degree in accounting from Ricks College.

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