Eschmeyer
Former Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy and Executive Director, Let's Move!, Obama Administration
2017 Speaker

Washington, D.C.

Debra Eschmeyer has dedicated her career to making safe, healthy, delicious food available to all, while restoring the connections between food, community, land and place. Eschmeyer is the former executive director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative and senior White House policy adviser for nutrition, working to help America raise a healthier generation of kids. To ensure that all children have the opportunity for the long, healthy lives they deserve, she championed healthier school meals and snacks for 50 million kids; modernized the nutrition facts label on 800,000 products with a refreshed design and relevant nutrition information; and leveraged the power of marketing to encourage all Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables and drink more water. Prior to serving in the Obama administration, she co-founded FoodCorps, a national nonprofit that places AmeriCorps leaders into schools to connect kids to healthy food. While expanding FoodCorps into more than 500 schools in 18 states, she started a fruit and vegetable farm in her hometown in rural Ohio. Eschmeyer is a recipient of the James Beard Foundation Leadership Award and the Xavier University Magis Award. With 15 years of food system experience, Eschmeyer is a tireless advocate for healthy kids and families.