CHR Has A New Director!
We are excited to announce that Dr. Alison K. Ventura has been appointed as the new director of the Cal Poly Center for Health Research (CHR). Ventura, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Public Health and the director of the Cal Poly Healthy Kids Lab, brings a wealth of expertise and a distinguished track record of research in early childhood nutrition and obesity prevention.
Ventura's academic journey started at the University of California, Davis, where she earned a B.S. in Psychology with a Biology Emphasis and minor in Community Nutrition. She then went on to earn dual M.S. degrees in Human Development and Family Studies and Nutrition Sciences and a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University. Enhancing her expertise, Ventura trained as a NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellow at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, a research institute dedicated to taste and smell research.
Ventura came to Cal Poly in 2014. Throughout her tenure at Cal Poly, Ventura has been a leading figure in research centered on identifying effective targets for the primary prevention of obesity within family contexts. Her research examines parent-child interactions during early childhood, aiming to promote responsive feeding practices during breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, and the introduction of complementary foods and beverages. Notably, she has published 81peer-reviewed journal articles, nine book chapters, an edited volume, and a book, and has secured multiple grants from National Institutes of Health, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and other public health institutions, totaling over $5.5 million. Ventura was awarded the 2021-2022 Cal Poly Distinguished Scholarship Award. Thus, Ventura brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this position and is committed to applying her experience to increase opportunities for mentorship and professional development among Cal Poly health researchers.
Beyond her research, Ventura is deeply committed to community service. She is a Lactation Educator Counselor, an active member of the Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition, and serves as a Commissioner for First 5 San Luis Obispo County. She was previously an executive board member for the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum.
Please join us in congratulating Ventura on her new role. We look forward to the innovative research and positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to the Center for Health Research and the broader Cal Poly community.
