Rachel Johnson, professor of nutrition in UVM's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences department of nutrition and food science, began her new role as associate provost on July 1, after serving for seven years as dean of the College. Johnson came to the University of Vermont in 1991.
In addition to being an accomplished administrator and teacher, she is a highly productive scholar, with more than 75 papers published in peer-reviewed journals. A winner of the American Dietetic Association Foundation's 2001 Award for Excellence in Research, Johnson is an internationally recognized scholar in the area of pediatric nutrition. Her research on children's consumption of flavored milk has been widely published in academic journals and in the popular press. Johnson succeeds Jill Tarule in the role of associate provost.
"I am enjoying working with faculty, staff and students across the university. It's giving me a new perspective on the many exciting programs and initiatives that are happening at UVM," says Johnson, who will lead sessions in an Aug. 24-25 new-faculty orientation and is working on a professional development program for incoming chairs and assistant and associate deans, for example. Also in the works, she and colleagues will develop an electronic data collection of faculty research, scholarship, teaching and service accomplishments, she says. Her new role builds on her leadership of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
"CALS is an efficiently run, well managed college with a long history of engaging in strategic planning for the future," she observes. "Although I knew it as dean, it's now being reinforced how well thought of CALS is across the university." Johnson will continue to conduct research, advise undergraduates majoring in nutrition, food sciences and dietetics and mentor graduate students.
"My heart will always be in my field of nutrition," she says. "I love the role of advisor, as it keeps me in touch with the lifeblood of our university — our undergraduates." For more information on Rachel Johnson, click here.