Dear Colleagues,
It is my pleasure to announce that, after an extensive nationwide search, Hannah Thompson has been named as the new director of the Nutrition Policy Institute. She will start in this role on Sept. 1, 2025.
Thompson is uniquely qualified to lead NPI during this challenging new era in the public health nutrition space. An assistant research professor at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Thompson also has served as senior epidemiologist at NPI since 2020.
After earning her Master of Public Health from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Translational Science from UC San Francisco, Thompson has established herself as a leading researcher on the effects of physical education, recess and nutritious school meals.
Noted for her cross-disciplinary, cross-sector collaborative ethos, Thompson is highly regarded for her work in designing and evaluating interventions that improve the health of young people. She also has been a catalyst and convener to advance programmatic and policy approaches that reduce health inequities.
In addition to her impressive academic output, Thompson has actively helped shape policy that makes a positive impact in our communities. For example, her research and testimony informed the language of California SB 291, the “Recess For All” bill, which mandates daily recess minutes for public-school elementary students.
Meaningful and enduring community impact has become a hallmark of NPI’s work, and I am fully confident Thompson will build on the legacy of founding director Lorrene Ritchie – while realizing her own bold vision for the institute.
With Ritchie retiring July 1, I am grateful that Wendi Gosliner has agreed to serve as interim director until Thompson begins on Sept. 1.
I hope the entire UC ANR community will join me in congratulating Hannah on her new role!
Brent Hales
Associate Vice President for Research and Cooperative Extension