News & Events

UNC Asheville's Gardner and Stradley Named to Statewide Leadership Positions

May 2, 2011

David Gardner and Laurie Stradley of UNC Asheville's N.C. Center for Health & Wellness (NCCH&W) have been named to leadership positions with two partner organizations that promote healthier lifestyles.

Gardner, NCCH&W executive director and Raleigh native, has been named chair of Eat Smart Move More NC's Leadership Team. The multidisciplinary team, composed of 63 statewide partners, oversees implementation of the North Carolina Plan to Prevent Overweight, Obesity and Related Chronic Diseases and works to increase opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity across the state.

"Helping more children avoid obesity is a key focus of UNC Asheville's N.C. Center for Health & Wellness," Gardner said. "Our work with Eat Smart Move More NC and its many partners enables us to have the best chance of making a real difference," Gardner said.

Stradley, NCCH&W's director of state and community collaboration, has been named North Carolina state lead for the National Farm to School Network. The National Farm to School Network connects

K-12 schools and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers.

Stradley said, "This work is about renewing the connections between children, community and farmers. The Asheville area has some great programs integrating fresh, healthy produce and the people who grow it into school curricula and cafeterias, making a lasting impact upon children and their families. We hope to germinate more of these kind of programs in schools and communities across North Carolina."

UNC Asheville's N.C. Center for Health & Wellness works to improve the lives of all North Carolinians by establishing and promoting prevention as an essential component of health through leadership, applied research, outcomes verification and collaboration. The Center's initial focus is on three of North Carolina's most pressing health concerns: childhood obesity, workplace wellness and healthy aging.

The N.C. Center for Health & Wellness serves as a statewide resource for health and wellness professionals and stakeholders by coordinating and supporting applied interdisciplinary faculty and undergraduate research assessing community-based programs that address critical wellness issues and promoting replication of best practice approaches in preventive health and wellness.

For more information visit the N.C. Center for Health & Wellness Web site.