Newswise — Rachel K. Johnson, PhD, MPH, RD is the Bickford Professor of Nutrition and Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont. Dr. Johnson served as Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences from 2001-2008 and as Associate Provost from 2009-2011.

Dr. Johnson's research expertise covers pediatric nutrition and obesity, national nutrition policy, dietary intake methodology and nutrition and cardiovascular disease . She has published numerous scholarly papers and book chapters on those and other topics.

Dr. Johnson was appointed by the U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Surgeon General to the Year 2000 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. She served on the Panel on Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for the macronutrients for the National Academy of Sciences / Institute of Medicine.

Dr. Johnson currently serves on President Obama’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Science Board. She is Chair of the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee.