Kristal Shelden is Dairy Council of CA’s advocacy manager, driving the organization’s thought leadership strategies and communications to provide support, key insights, tools and resources to the dairy community and opinion leaders in public health and nutrition policy. In her role, she builds advocacy for dairy’s role in sustainable, healthy eating patterns to ensure all children are nourished and supported for optimal growth and development.

Her passion for improving the health of children and communities through nutrition developed early. In college, Shelden worked at summer youth camps, specifically supporting community programs that positively impact children. The experience was so rewarding that improving the lives of children through community efforts became a strong value that continues to inspire her today.

From there, she moved to New Orleans where she saw the integral role food can play in bringing communities together. Combining her interest in public health with a love for food and nutrition, Shelden joined Dairy Council of California to put her passion to practice, leveraging science to develop nutrition resources and support food access programs that help to ensure children and families are supported for optimal health. 

Shelden earned a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from the University of California, Davis and a B.S. in Nutrition from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She completed her dietetic internship at Tulane University.

I believe children are the heart of communities. By ensuring all children have access to healthy foods and nutrition education, we can support lifelong good health and empower healthier communities now and in the future.