David Ginsburg
David Ginsburg, director of the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program, helped bring stability and
growth to a program that serves the nutritional needs of thousands of low-income Californians. He is
being recognized as “Outstanding Staff” with a CA&ES Award of Distinction.
A large program in the college, UC CalFresh implements the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program Education (SNAP-Ed). Its main goal is to improve the diet and nutrition-related skills of CalFresh
recipients and their families. In 2008 Ginsburg stepped in when the program was facing major
administrative challenges. He provided the oversight and guidance that improved operations with the
adoption of transparent procedures and protocols. As a result, program funding has doubled and
services have expanded. In partnership with more than 30 UC Cooperative Extension county offices, the
UC CalFresh program annually reaches more than 150,000 California residents.
Ginsburg’s exceptional leadership abilities have also been evident on the national level. He served on
the Land Grant University SNAP-Ed Program Development Team. He also is former chair of the
Association of SNAP-Ed Nutrition Networks and Other Implementing Agencies. Through Ginsburg’s
efforts, working relationships with federal agencies have greatly improved. Further, he led efforts
among partnering organizations to advocate for needed policy changes.
Ginsburg previously worked on other life-changing programs at the California Public Health Department,
American Cancer Society, and with Migrant Education.
“David Ginsburg joined the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program as State Office Director in a time of
crisis. His excellent leadership saved the program, and he then led it through substantial expansion to the
benefit of hundreds of thousands of low-income California children and their parents.”
—Lovell (Tu) Jarvis, professor
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics