Donna Vandergraff

Foods and Nutrition Extension Specialist/Purdue Liaison Indiana CTSI-Community Health Partnerships-Connections IN Health (CHeP-CINH)

Department of Nutrition Science, HHS Extension

Biography

Ms. Vandergraff is an Extension Specialist in the Department of Nutrition Science at Purdue University and the Purdue Liaison to the Community Health Partnerships and Connections IN Health of the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (Indiana CTSI/CHeP/CINH). She is the PI for the Well-Connected Communities Initiative for Indiana (2017-2023) and has been the Program Manager for the High Obesity CDC grant (2016-2018). The focus of her recent work centers on coalition engagement via Purdue Extension throughout the state in addition to Foods and Nutrition related activities. Prior to her work as an Extension Specialist, she directed the EFNEP program at Purdue for many years. Ms. Vandergraff received her Bachelors of Science Degree in Dietetics as well as her Master’s Degree in Nutrition with Health Promotion Emphasis from Purdue.

Education

MS, 1990, Purdue University
RD
LD

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Navigating Difference
HHS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Science Consortium

Selected Honors/Awards

Ann Hancook Award, Community Health Coalition Capacity Building Issue Based Action Team - 2015
Indiana Youth Institute Blueprint Award - 1998
North Central Region Team Award, Epsilon Sigma Phi - 1996
Outstanding Masters Student, School of Consumer and Family Sciences - 1990
Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year, Indiana Dietetic Association - 1987

Professional Affiliations

National Health Extension Institutional Contact, 2020-present
ECOP/ESCOP Creating Healthy Communities Community of Practice Health in all Policies Expert Response Team, 2015-2017
External Review Board, IN Community Health Workers Association, 2016-2018
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Association Board, 2008-2011