Karen Gillian

Karen Gillian serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at California State University, Fresno's Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, holding an Adjunct Faculty Instructor position since January 2017.

Education:

• B.S. from Swarthmore College
• Internship at University of California, San Francisco
• M.S. from California State University, Fresno

Research Interests: Her expertise centers on public health nutrition with emphasis on maternal-child nutrition programs, evidenced by her decade-long leadership of a multi-county WIC program. She investigates intersections of food policy, community nutrition interventions, and dietary guideline implementation, particularly within school and childcare settings as reflected in her course Nutrition and Health: Realities and Controversies (NUTR 53).

Professional Experience and Grants: Managed multi-million dollar federal grants during her tenure as WIC Program Director for Merced County (2011-2022), overseeing 53 staff across 11 sites while implementing USDA regulations. Her grant administration expertise includes budget analysis, fiscal compliance, and cross-agency coordination with healthcare providers. Earlier, she provided technical assistance for California Department of Education nutrition programs across 20 years, conducting program evaluations and staff training for school districts.