UC Davis nutrition professor Barbara Schneeman has been appointed to lead the Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Beginning May 3 in her new position, she will oversee the development of policy and regulations for dietary supplements, nutrition labeling and food standards, infant formula and medical foods.

Schneeman, who was dean of UC Davis' College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences from 1993 to 1999, has been a member of the UC Davis faculty in the Department of Nutrition since 1976. Beginning in 1999, she served an 18-month term as the assistant administrator for nutrition in the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For the last three years, she has served as the associate vice provost for university outreach in UC Davis' office of University Outreach and International Programs, in addition to her faculty appointment. She will retain that faculty appointment during her tenure at the FDA.

Schneeman received her bachelor's degree in food science and technology from UC Davis and her doctoral degree in nutrition from UC Berkeley. Her many professional activities and honors include membership on the 1990 and 1995 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee, election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and receiving the FDA Commissioner's Special Citation.

In July, the Institute of Food Technologists will present Schneeman with the Carl R. Fellers Award, recognizing her distinguished career, leadership, service and communication skills.