Karen Kafer, RD
Karen Kafer, RD, joined National Dairy Council (NDC) in 2008 and is the Vice President of Health Partnerships, leading strategic partnerships and educational initiatives with national nutrition, health and government organizations.
Prior to joining NDC, Karen worked as a Washington, DC based consultant specializing in health professional outreach, public-private partnerships and nutrition and health communications, taking a leadership role in representing nutrition education and research initiatives on behalf of clients, working to bring about change in the diet and health of Americans through collaboration.
An award-winning marketing and nutrition communicator, Karen has more than 20 years of corporate, nutrition and health communications experience. Before moving to DC in 2002, Karen held a number of management positions at Kellogg Company, including positions in corporate affairs, marketing, public relations, functional foods, Kellogg Kitchens, and as director nutrition communications for Kellogg Canada. In her last position as director of marketing communications for Kellogg USA, Karen headed up the team responsible for all internal and external communications, health professional relations and outreach for the Kellogg’s, Morningstar Farms and Kashi brands. She led the development of creative partnerships with nutrition, health and medical organizations to advance health and nutrition education, including SuperKids with The Rosie O’Donnell Show, AAP’s Age +5 fiber campaign for children, and the first Komen Foundation Race for the Cure package promotion. Karen was named Consumer Marketing All-Star by the Public Relations Society of America.
Karen began her career in clinical dietetics and out-patient education for St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, OK, where she specialized in obesity and cardiac care. She also worked as nutrition reporter for NBC’s Oklahoma affiliate, hosting a weekly cooking show, Cooking Light, which focused on weight management.
Karen is an active volunteer. She recently served on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Program Planning Advisory Committee and is currently president-elect of the DC Metro Academy affiliate. She has served on a number of Foundation boards, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, The Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure Foundation and the SNA Foundation. Karen is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where she was recently honored with the Distinguished Alumnae Award.
