Following a 30-year career with UNH Cooperative Extension, Val Long is now a Senior Policy Associate-Food Assistance Program with Altarum Institute. During her tenure with Cooperative Extension, Val served as an Extension educator and specialist, Food and Nutrition.

Under Val’s leadership, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) moved into all New Hampshire counties, integrating staff into county Cooperative Extension teams, securing funding from county governments and elevating classification status for program associates to “professional” staff. During that time, New Hampshire became one of the first states to seek funding from USDA Food and Nutrition Service, with the NH Food Stamp Program. An initial 1989 grant of $8,000 has grown to a proposed $1.7 million for 2009-2010.

Val’s emphasis included cancer risk reduction and increased physical activity. She was on the ground floor as the statewide HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) initiative launched and she taught “Community Nutrition” to UNH students for many years.

After retiring as a full time Extension specialist, Val continued to serve as coordinator for the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program. Her new position with Altarum Institute will provide her with the opportunity to work at the state and national level providing technical assistance and evaluation services in the areas of food assistance and nutrition education programs.