Susan Finn, who earned her master's degree in nutrition from Case Western Reserve University's School of Graduate Studies in 1968, has been named the first chair of the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN).

As chair, she will lead the organization's efforts to combat the obesity epidemic facing America, particularly its youth.

The ACFN is comprised of food, beverage and consumer products companies and related organizations that share an interest in advancing research, education and policies designed to promote a healthy balance between fitness and nutrition. ACFN supports increased nutrition education in schools, mandatory physical education and applied research on behavior change to support fitness and nutrition education goals.

"There is a growing consensus among nutrition and fitness experts that small changes in one's diet and physical activity can achieve real results for better health," Finn said. "The promotion of such science-based information is one of my goals as the council's chair."

As part of her new position, Finn will provide the media with data from the medical, nutrition and fitness communities on programs and methods that help people meet their fitness and nutrition goals. She also will lead sessions with health and medical professionals, recreation and fitness experts, parents groups, educators and policymakers related to nutrition and fitness issues in their communities. Finn also will inform them of available resources for weight and health issues such as U.S. Department of Education Physical Education Program grants and cost-effective nutrition curricula for schools.

In addition to public outreach, Finn will meet regularly with ACFN's membership and its advisory board to discuss industry activities.

Finn formerly was director of nutrition and communications at Ross Products, a division of Abbott Laboratories, where she was responsible for nutrition and education programs for dietitians, nurses, physicians, pharmacists and other health care professionals and also established partnerships with health care professionals and organizations.

A registered and licensed dietitian, she is a fellow and former president of the American Dietetic Association and received the organization's Medallion Award in 1988 and Marjorie Hulsizer Award in 1998. While leading the ADA in the early 1990s, she focused on lobbying in Washington, D.C., initiated the group's Women's Nutrition & Health Campaign and created partnerships with industry, government and health care professionals. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Nutrition and the American Society for Parental and Enteral Nutrition.

In addition to her master's degree from CWRU, Finn holds a bachelor's degree in nutrition from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and a doctorate in nutritional science from The Ohio State University, which she earned in 1973. She is an adjunct associate professor and director of the Industry, Communications and Research program at OSU, where she formerly was an assistant professor in medical dietetics. She previously was on faculty at Whittier College, Whittier, Calif.

Finn co-authored two books on nutrition, The Real Life Nutrition Book: Making the Right Food Choices Without Changing Your Lifestyle (Penguin Books, 1992) and The American Dietetic Association's Guide to Women's Nutrition for Healthy Living (Perigee, 1997). She has produced public education programs for the electronic and print media and has published a variety of professional research and consumer articles in publications such as The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the Journal of Nutrition Education, Family Circle, Working Parent and others.

Also, she has delivered numerous lectures and speeches around the world and has made more than 500 appearances on radio and television shows such as "Good Morning America" and "The Today Show," delivering information about nutrition