SNAP-Ed Resources

LGU SNAP-Ed

Implemented at 58 land-grant universities (LGUs) in 49 states and territories, SNAP-Ed helps millions of individuals with limited incomes make healthy food and lifestyle choices each year. LGU SNAP-Ed programs coordinate with many local, state, and national partners to conduct programming. One of the most fruitful relationships an LGU can have is their relationship with the greater LGU system and Cooperative Extension implementing SNAP-Ed elsewhere. This website is a dedicated space for LGU SNAP-Ed programs to find and share resources pertaining to all aspects of SNAP-Ed.


In addition to this site, LGU SNAP-Ed programs also have a website dedicated to educating decision makers about SNAP-Ed programming conducted through LGUs.

Program Development Team

This website is maintained by the LGU SNAP-Ed Program Development Team , or PDT for short.

The PDT is a 17-person team that encompasses members from all Extension regions, representing both 1862 and 1890 institutions, and includes an EFNEP representative. Team members are family and consumer science program leaders and other university administrators, SNAP-Ed program coordinators, the SNAP-Ed LGU PDT Executive Director, and a federal partner from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), U.S. Department of Agriculture. The goal of the team is to improve the consistency and effectiveness of Cooperative Extension SNAP-Ed programming to address national health and nutrition-related problems facing populations with limited financial resources in the context of Extension’s broader nutrition education portfolio.

The members of the PDT use their listening, communication, and thinking skills and experience to strengthen SNAP-Ed programs and nutrition networks at the state, regional, and national levels. Diversity is embraced in drawing upon the unique experiences, skills, backgrounds, responsibilities, thinking and operating styles of team members and the respective institutions and regions of the country that they represent. Team members volunteer time and effort to foster communication and understanding of SNAP-Ed programming among federal and state/university organizational systems, provide leadership to professional and staff development, and help guide program planning, management, reporting, and evaluation. The PDT helps to identify linkages that can be forged to support the land-grant university system’s broader outreach, education, and research mission and cooperation with other partners. Potential members are recommended by their peers and supervisors. Members serve three-year, staggered terms. They reflect a balance in terms of program size, geographic location, and institutional affiliation.

Meet the Current Team

Back row, left to right Gina Wood (West Virginia University), Macy Helm (University of Nevada), Amber Canto (University of Wisconsin), Josh Phelps (University of Arkansas), Jeannie Butel (University of Hawaii), Shea Austin-Cantu (Arizona State University), Kimberly Keller (University of Missouri); Front row, left to right: Jo Britt-Rankin (University of Missouri), Amy Hollar (University of New Hampshire), Patricia Olson (University of Minnesota), Jacquelyn White (Prairie View A&M University), Karla Shelnutt (University of Florida), Jennifer McCaffrey (University of Illinois),  Mindy Meuli (University of Wyoming); PDT members not pictured: Helen Chipman (NIFA), Lauren Sweeney (Program Development Team), Matt Vukovich (South Dakota State University)


Members of the LGU SNAP-Ed Program Development Team for 2024-2025

North Central Region

  • Patricia Olson, Associate Dean, University of Minnesota
  • Amber Canto, Director, Extension Institute for Health & Well-Being, University of Wisconsin 
  • Kimberly Keller, Evaluation Specialist, Extension Health and Human Sciences, University of Missouri


Northeast Region

  • Gina Wood, EFNEP Extension Specialist, West Virginia University 
  • Amy Hollar, State Specialist, Health & Well-Being, EFNEP and SNAP-Ed Principal Investigator. University of New Hampshire

Southern Region

  • Jacquelyn White, Program Leader, Family & Community Health, Prairie View A&M University, 1890 representative 
  • Karla Shelnutt, Extension Nutrition Specialist, State Program Leader for Nutrition, University of Florida
  • Josh Phelps, Associate Professor-Nutrition, University of Arkansas
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Western Region

  • Jean Butel, Program Manager, University of Hawaii at Manoa
  • Macy Helm, SNAP-Ed Coordinator, University Nevada Reno
  • Mindy Meuli, Director, Cent$ible Nutrition Program, University of Wyoming

Executive Committee

  • Jo Britt-Rankin, Extension Professor, Administrative Director for SNAP-Ed and EFNEP, University of Missouri
  • Jennifer McCaffrey, Assistant Dean, Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Illinois
  • Matthew Vukovich, Associate Dean of Research/Professor, Education & Human Sciences, South Dakota State University
  • Lauren Sweeney, LGU SNAP-Ed PDT Assistant, Program Development Team
  • Helen Chipman, ex officio member, National Program Leader Food & Nutrition Education, NIFA/USDA
Rotating Off – April 2024
  • Gina Crist, Community Health Specialist, University of Delaware
  • Shea Austin Cantu, Director, SNAP-Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), Arizona State University