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DAVIS-KOVACS NAMED DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE'S DIVISION OF FOOD AND NUTRITION
Contact: Lynne Richmond
(609) 633-2954
(TRENTON) – After serving as Acting Director of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Division of Food and Nutrition for the past eight months, Emma Davis-Kovacs was recently named Director of the Division. The State Board of Agriculture approved the appointment at its meeting on March 28.
Davis-Kovacs has been with the State for 27 years, serving in the Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs, first in the New Jersey Department of Education, then in the Department of Agriculture since 1999. Davis-Kovacs has served as Director of the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program, Coordinator of the Day Care Food Program, and most recently, Coordinator of School Nutrition Programs.
“This is an exciting time to be involved in administering federal and state nutrition and food distribution programs in New Jersey,” said Davis-Kovacs. “The New Jersey Model School Nutrition Policy, the most comprehensive policy in the country, now is placing the Department of Agriculture at the forefront of the campaign to combat childhood obesity and its associated health risks and the Governor’s Hunger Initiative is providing nutritious food to another half million New Jersey residents.”
The Division of Food and Nutrition administers the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, After School Snack Program, Summer Food Service Program, Child and Adult Day Care Food Program, Family Day Care Program, Commodity Food Distribution Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program.
“Emma Davis-Kovacs has a long history of innovative thinking and dedication to professional excellence that has highlighted her service to the young people of our state,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus. “One of the architects of our comprehensive school nutrition program, her passion, experience and institutional knowledge bodes well for her as she administers the Division of Food and Nutrition.”
Davis-Kovacs, a resident of Brant Beach, Ocean County, has a Bachelor of Science in elementary education and a Master of Education in elementary/early childhood education, both from Trenton State College, now, the College of New Jersey. Prior to her state service, she worked as both teacher and director of early childhood centers.
“I have always considered myself an advocate for the health and well-being of children and early in my career realized that there is a strong correlation between proper nutrition and success in school,” said Davis-Kovacs. “The public policies that we are developing and implementing are the drivers of substantial change. I look forward to working with the Secretary, the State Board of Agriculture and Division staff in implementing these important initiatives.”