Background

Kate Zahner, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian and Project Coordinator for the Connecticut Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Partnership at UConn.Her research is centered on the whole child approach in schools, which emphasizes the connection between health and academics. She is especially interested in school nutrition and supporting healthy behaviors among children and adolescents. “My background as a registered dietitian helps me see the many ways that nutrition intersects and interacts with social, emotional, and environmental factors – factors that influence the health and well-being of children,” Zahner says.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from UConn, Zahner became a registered dietitian. She spent two years as an outpatient clinical dietitian, providing nutrition counseling to patients who struggled with weight loss, diabetes management, and various other health concerns. Zahner observed that her patients’ dietary choices were influenced by many factors, including mental health, family and home situations, finances, and food access. While nutrition was an important piece to the puzzle of health, she saw that many patients needed a more comprehensive approach to reach their health goals. These experiences inspired her to shift her focus toward prevention and health promotion, leading her to pursue a master’s degree in Health Promotion Sciences at UConn. During her graduate studies, Zahner explored the implementation of various school nutrition programs, including Farm to School and the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. She also coordinated school-based nutrition efforts in Connecticut as part of SNAP-Ed, a federal nutrition education program.

As the Project Coordinator for the CT WSCC Partnership at UConn, Zahner is the primary point of contact for Connecticut school districts that are interested in the whole child approach. Zahner organizes professional development opportunities and technical assistance for whole child efforts both in the priority district of East Hartford and across the entire state of Connecticut. One such opportunity includes the annual WSCC Academy, a day of professional development that helps school wellness teams strengthen wellness policies and practices as aligned with the WSCC model. The WSCC Academy is available to all school wellness teams across the state of Connecticut. The team’s professional development and technical assistance aims to promote an interdisciplinary approach to student health, well-being, and academic success.

Involvement with CSCH

Zahner joined the Collaboratory as an affiliate out of a desire to collaborate with professionals across multiple areas of research that concern school health. She values the opportunity to connect with other professionals across all domains of school health, as they all have the same common goal of supporting students’ well-being. Zahner emphasizes the importance of recognizing your own area of expertise while also appreciating the strengths that professionals in other fields bring. “I’ve learned so much from working with those who have other areas of expertise,” she says.

Zahner also values the Collaboratory’s focus on the whole child perspective, emphasizing the importance of supporting the health and well-being of youth within school environments. She finds that schools provide an ideal setting for prevention and early intervention, given the significant amount of time children spend at school. Supporting students during early stages of their lives can help shape healthier habits that last into adulthood.

Zahner’s work is closely connected to CSCH through her role in the CT WSCC Partnership, one of the Collaboratory’s major initiatives. In addition to organizing professional development opportunities with school wellness teams and administrators, she has also collaborated with various other professionals and organizations throughout the state, including the School Nutrition Association of Connecticut. She also helps coordinate the WSCC Community of Practice, where professionals who have attended the WSCC Academy can receive ongoing support. Through this initiative, she assists professionals in developing action plans and goals tailored to each district’s needs. Zahner is also currently working on a WSCC legislation page, which compiles all recent legislation and programs in Connecticut related to school health domains, such as Safe Environment, Nutrition Environment & Services, and Physical Education & Physical Activity, providing a central resource for educators and organizations.

You can learn more about Zahner and her work through her through her Rudd Center Page and LinkedIn profile.

Fun Facts

Zahner is an avid outdoors enthusiast. She spends much of her free time hiking and exploring the outdoors, both in the US and internationally.

Undergraduate Researcher Elena Roberts interviewed Kate Zahner and wrote this profile.