In January, the School of Human Environmental Sciences welcomed Heather Norman-Burgdolf as an Assistant Extension Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition. She is a Kentucky native, raised in Lyon County. She received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Georgetown College in 2011 before earning her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences with a College Teaching and Learning Certificate from the University of Kentucky in 2016.
As an Assistant Extension Professor, Norman-Burgdolf will translate research into extension programming related to nutrition and chronic disease prevention. She also holds a teaching assignment and is teaching the DHN 408G, Seminar in Dietetics and Human Nutrition, this semester.
Dr. Sandra Bastin, Extension Professor and Chair of the Dietetics and Human Nutrition Department said, “It is proposed that nearly one in three Americans are obese, and almost the same number of children between the ages of two and 19 are overweight or obese. Since research indicates that obesity may increase the risk of many chronic diseases, we are very fortunate to have Dr. Norman-Burgdolf joining us. Using food as medicine, she plans to make use of her expertise in obesity related metabolic syndrome to help Kentuckians improve their health.”
Outside of her work at the University of Kentucky, Norman-Burgdolf is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB), and the National Association of Extension Program and Staff Development Professionals (NAEPSDP). In addition, Heather is involved in numerous community outreach programs.