Amy Block Joy, Chair
Amy Block Joy, PhD is a Professor Emerita at UC Berkeley. Her forty years of service at the University of California focused on creating, conducting, and evaluating strategies to reduce poverty in vulnerable populations. She retired in 2013.
EDUCATION
BA (Biochemistry; Bacteriology) UC Berkeley, 1974 (Honors)
PhD (Metabolic Biology & Nutrition) UC Berkeley, 1979
Certificate in Ethical Decision Making (2012, Stanford)
CAMPUS SERVICE (UC BERKELEY)
CUCEA Chair 2026-2028
CUCEA Chair-Elect 2024-2026
UC Berkeley Emeriti Association President: 2019-2021
UC Berkeley Emeriti Association Vice President: 2017-2019
UC Berkeley Emeriti Association Treasurer: 2014-2017
POSITIONS/EXPERIENCE
UC Berkeley Recall: “Eating Green: The science behind the grassroots food movement;” Metabolic Biology & Nutrition Department (2016 - present)
Faculty and Statewide Director; Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (1994-2007)
Visiting Research Scholar, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England (1994)
UC Office of the President, Statewide Director, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (1984-1994)
Evaluation Internship, United Nations Development Program, New York (1980)
Assistant Professor and Specialist, Metabolic Biology & Nutrition Department, UC Berkeley (1980-1984)
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
For more than four decades, I have worked to improve the health of California's poorest families through research, education, and directing two statewide nutrition programs. From 1980 to 1994, I served as the Statewide Director of California’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) serving over 300,000 families with children in 10 California counties (see “Hunger in California: What interventions are needed?” and "An Investment in America’s Future: An interview with Congressman Leon Panetta"). After a sabbatical at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London, England, I created a new program for individuals and families with children participating in the food stamp program. As Statewide Director (1992-2007), I secured 44 competitive grants totaling more than $120 million to improve the health, adaptability and quality of life of over 1.5 million families across 42 California counties.
My research has focused on hunger prevention, nutrition education, program evaluation, cost-effectiveness, and research ethics. I conducted the first rigorously controlled experimentally designed evaluation of EFNEP (“EFNEP Evaluation Study” monograph); conducted the first cost-benefit analysis demonstrating the economic value of nutrition education in California (“Cost-benefit analysis conducted for nutrition education in California”) and have published widely on hunger, public health, and nutrition policy. I also served for 24 years as Associate Editor of California Agriculture journal and have mentored graduate students, public health professionals, and researchers throughout my career. In addition, I have published three books on workplace ethics and authored a chapter in the "Complete Healthcare Compliance Manual" (Running an Effective Compliance Program) in 2026.
After I retired from full-time faculty service in 2013, I continued at UC Berkeley teaching an undergraduate class that I created on critical thinking skills. I also was elected President of the UC Berkeley Emeriti Association (2019-2021) after serving two years as the Vice President. As Chair of CUCEA, I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues both on campus and at the Office of the President to strengthen our shared mission to protect, improve, and extend a broad spectrum of retirement benefits and privileges.
EDUCATION
BA (Biochemistry; Bacteriology) UC Berkeley, 1974 (Honors)
PhD (Metabolic Biology & Nutrition) UC Berkeley, 1979
Certificate in Ethical Decision Making (2012, Stanford)
CAMPUS SERVICE (UC BERKELEY)
CUCEA Chair 2026-2028
CUCEA Chair-Elect 2024-2026
UC Berkeley Emeriti Association President: 2019-2021
UC Berkeley Emeriti Association Vice President: 2017-2019
UC Berkeley Emeriti Association Treasurer: 2014-2017
POSITIONS/EXPERIENCE
UC Berkeley Recall: “Eating Green: The science behind the grassroots food movement;” Metabolic Biology & Nutrition Department (2016 - present)
Faculty and Statewide Director; Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (1994-2007)
Visiting Research Scholar, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England (1994)
UC Office of the President, Statewide Director, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (1984-1994)
Evaluation Internship, United Nations Development Program, New York (1980)
Assistant Professor and Specialist, Metabolic Biology & Nutrition Department, UC Berkeley (1980-1984)
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
For more than four decades, I have worked to improve the health of California's poorest families through research, education, and directing two statewide nutrition programs. From 1980 to 1994, I served as the Statewide Director of California’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) serving over 300,000 families with children in 10 California counties (see “Hunger in California: What interventions are needed?” and "An Investment in America’s Future: An interview with Congressman Leon Panetta"). After a sabbatical at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London, England, I created a new program for individuals and families with children participating in the food stamp program. As Statewide Director (1992-2007), I secured 44 competitive grants totaling more than $120 million to improve the health, adaptability and quality of life of over 1.5 million families across 42 California counties.
My research has focused on hunger prevention, nutrition education, program evaluation, cost-effectiveness, and research ethics. I conducted the first rigorously controlled experimentally designed evaluation of EFNEP (“EFNEP Evaluation Study” monograph); conducted the first cost-benefit analysis demonstrating the economic value of nutrition education in California (“Cost-benefit analysis conducted for nutrition education in California”) and have published widely on hunger, public health, and nutrition policy. I also served for 24 years as Associate Editor of California Agriculture journal and have mentored graduate students, public health professionals, and researchers throughout my career. In addition, I have published three books on workplace ethics and authored a chapter in the "Complete Healthcare Compliance Manual" (Running an Effective Compliance Program) in 2026.
After I retired from full-time faculty service in 2013, I continued at UC Berkeley teaching an undergraduate class that I created on critical thinking skills. I also was elected President of the UC Berkeley Emeriti Association (2019-2021) after serving two years as the Vice President. As Chair of CUCEA, I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues both on campus and at the Office of the President to strengthen our shared mission to protect, improve, and extend a broad spectrum of retirement benefits and privileges.