White House selects new executive director for Let’s Move!

WASHINGTON — Debra Eschmeyer has been named the new executive director of the White House’s Let’s Move! anti-childhood-obesity campaign. She will also take on the role of senior policy advisor for nutrition policy for the Obama Administration, the White House said.

In the latter role, she will offer guidance on food and nutrition topics beyond the scope of Let’s Move, which aims to promote healthier lifestyles for children, in part by working with schools and chefs.

Eschmeyer co-founded FoodCorps, which is part of the national AmeriCorps service program. The FoodCorps program allows young adults to take on a year of service and implement programs that focus on food and nutrition in schools with limited resources.

“For more than a decade, Deb has been leading the way in teaching kids about the importance of healthy eating,” said First Lady and Let’s Move! champion Michelle Obama.

Previous executive director Sam Kass departed in December to live in New York full-time.