Minnetonka Resident Named 2017-2018 Minnesota School Nutrition Association President

During its 61st Annual State Conference, the Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA) installed Wendy Knight as its president for the 2017-2018 school year. A celebrated local professional, Knight serves as coordinator of food and nutrition services for Independent School District #196 (ISD 196), which covers Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools. She will now take the helm of an organization representing roughly 3,000 school nutrition professionals statewide.

Knight first began her career as a supervisor for Minneapolis Public Schools. Her years as a dietician began at the University of Minnesota Hospitals and Clinics, working her way up to assistant director of food services at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park. She took what she learned at the hospitals and began working for Upper Lakes Foods, Inc. as a distributor sales representative. It was there that she began consulting with dietary managers and supervisors regarding menus, pricing, food cost, special events, labor reduction, etc. It was only natural that she combined her experience and began working in a school system, using her knowledge of food services and account management to help plan and implement healthy school meals for students. She has worked at ISD 196 for 23 years.

In her role as coordinator of food and nutrition services, Knight organizes and administers all aspects of the federal school meals programs in her school district. With a background in technology systems, Knight provided back-up technology support for 25 food services managers operating a computerized food management system, training the managers on new components of the system.

She goes above and beyond her role in food services, serving as a member for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Twin Cities District Wellness Committee, Minnesota Dietetic Association, School Nutrition Association, Minnesota School Nutrition Association Membership committee and Omicron Nu Honor Society.

Knight received the MSNA Thelma Flanagan Gold Award in 1994 and 1998. She has helped lead MSNA before, as chapter president in 1994 and 1998 and president-elect in 2017.

“Wendy’s passion for engaging in all aspects of the school nutrition decision process has made her stand out as a leader – educating both students and staff to enhance the wellness of Minnesota’s children,” said Sharon Maus, executive director of MSNA. “Her partnerships with others in the industry have only enhanced her already vast wealth of experience, advancing our mission as dedicated school nutrition professionals to promote healthier lifestyles for students.”

Knight earned her bachelor's degree in Foods, Nutrition, Institutional Management from the Washington State University in Pullman, WA and held her dietetics internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics in Minneapolis.

About the Minnesota School Nutrition Association

The Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA), founded in 1956 as a state-wide association with local chapters, is a non-profit association of 3,000 members who work to ensure that all children have access to healthy meals and nutrition education in Minnesota. For more information about MSNA and upcoming events, please visit www.mnsna.org.