Dianne Stanton Ward

Dianne Stanton Ward, EdD, FTOS, FACSM, was a Professor in the Department of Nutrition and a former Associate Dean for Administration at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research focused on childhood nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention, particularly in childcare settings and schools. She led the development of the NAPSACC program, later expanded to Go NAPSACC, which improved health outcomes for over 54,000 children in North Carolina and was adopted internationally. Ward was a dedicated mentor, fostering students from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels, and a collaborative leader in public health initiatives.

Education:

• EdD in Physical Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1979)
• MS in Physical Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1971)
• BS in Physical Education, Coker College (1968)

Research & Service: Ward’s work emphasized translational research, bridging academia and community practice. She co-led initiatives like the Children’s Healthy Weight Research Group (CHWRG) and served on committees such as the Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Steering Committee and the Early Care and Education Special Interest Group (ISBNPA). Her legacy includes advancing global childhood health policies and mentorship programs.

Awards:

• Recognition of Service (Society for Behavioral Medicine, 2014)
• Fellow, Obesity Society (2014)
• Montoye Scholar (American College of Sports Medicine, 2013)

Labs & Teams: Her research team at the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP) developed impactful programs like Go NAPSACC, now implemented in 20+ U.S. states and internationally. She also explored extending NAPSACC principles to elderly populations.