Mallory M. Koenings, Ph.D., RDN

Mallory Koenings, PhD, RDN is a National Program Leader in the Division of Nutrition, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA (NIFA).  Previously at NIFA, she provided national program leadership to the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the Web-based Nutrition Education, Evaluation, and Reporting System (WebNEERS) as the National EFNEP Coordinator, to advance the science of nutrition education and deliver enhanced low-income national nutrition education programs and services to consumers throughout the United States, District of Columbia, and the Territories. She also provided programmatic support for the AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention Challenge Area Program and the AFRI Function and Efficacy of Nutrients Foundational Program. In a Special Assignment to the Office of the Director she provided support and leadership to the Science Program and Analysis Officer.

Prior to joining NIFA, Dr. Koenings specialized in designing and implementing databases for reliable public health data collection and analysis, adapting health education to meet the needs of specific populations via web-delivered interventions and mobile applications, especially young adults and preschool children. She has authored publications in journals, such as the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, Advances in Nutrition, and the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Her expertise spans healthy lifestyle behaviors, nutrition, physical activity, stress, alcohol, and sleep, paying special attention to environmental influences on nutrition and health.

Dr. Koenings has received a number of awards and honors, which include being named an ASN Translational Research Award Competition Finalist, the NIFA, USDA Director’s Team Award, and the USDA’s Abraham Lincoln Honor Award. She served as Chair of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Higher Education Division 2016-2019.

Dr. Koenings received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry, a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences, and a certificate in Environmental Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park.  She earned her doctoral degree in Nutritional Sciences with an emphasis in the built environment and health behaviors from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She completed her dietetic internship at West Virginia University, and post-doctoral fellowships at West Virginia University and Rutgers University. Dr. Koenings also received a Certificate in Public Leadership from Brookings Executive Education.