Katherine L Cason, PhD, RD, LD

As interim Director, Cason provides strategic leadership for the development, delivery, and evaluation of extension education programs statewide; develops and administers the extension education program planning process and related reporting activities; creates and fosters collaborative, coordinated programming relationships among faculty and extension staff across all units within the College of Agricultural Sciences; and builds programmatic relationships between Penn State Extension and other colleges and partner outreach enterprises at the University. Cason administers the Extension budget, program, and personnel matters in accordance with federal, state, local, and University policies and secures new federal, state, and local government funding; private funding; and extramural grant and contract funding to support Extension programming.

 A registered and licensed dietitian, she holds a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from Penn State University, an MS in Nutrition from the Texas Woman’s University, and a PhD in Nutrition from Virginia Tech. A registered and licensed dietitian, Dr. Cason holds a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from Penn State University, an MS from the Texas Woman’s University, and a Ph.D. in Nutrition from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Cason has extensive experience in community education and outreach, resident instruction, and research. Her research is in the areas of socioeconomic, cultural, and ecological factors on food choices, nutrient intake, food purchasing and preparation practices, and level of food security among limited resource audiences and the impact of nutrition education on dietary adequacy, food and nutrition practices of children, youth and adult audiences.