In Memoriam: Joanne Ikeda, Co-Founder of UC Berkeley Center for Weight and Health

Joanne Pakel Ikeda was a pioneer in the field of nutrition education for over 50 years. Joanne was a Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of California (UC), Berkeley. She remained in that position until her retirement in 2006. Joanne loved her job, which included teaching, conducting nutrition education research and extending discoveries to the public, particularly to vulnerable populations. Joanne and colleagues in the Department of Nutritional Sciences established the Center for Weight and Health at UC Berkeley, which is now known as the Nutrition Policy Institute. The center, the first of its kind, facilitated interactions among researchers, policymakers, and community-based organizations to promote healthy weight and reduce food insecurity of children and their families. Joanne passed away on November 27, 2018. Her family, friends and colleagues will remember her always as a fearless leader who worked tirelessly to protect the nutritional health of the public, and in particular, the most vulnerable among us. Joanne's full In Memoriam is available online.