The Urban School Food Alliance has named Katie Wilson as its first executive director.
The alliance, a coalition of the largest districts in the U.S., shares best practices and leverages purchasing power within member districts.
Wilson is a former deputy under secretary of Food, Nutrition and Consumer services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and executive director of the Institute of Child Nutrition. She joins the alliance this month, according to a news release.
Districts in the group are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Miami-Dade, Orange County (Orlando, Fla.), Broward County (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston.
“Her knowledge about the school food industry, her influence and her undying passion for childhood nutrition will further advance the already groundbreaking work of the alliance when it comes to providing healthy and delicious meals to students,” Michael Rosenberger, chairman of the alliance and executive director of Food and Child Nutrition Services at Dallas Independent School District, said in the release.
