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Kelly D. Brownell, Robert L. Flowers Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Public Policy  

Office Location: 240A Sanford Building, Box 90245, Durham, NC 27708
Duke Box: 90239
Email Address: kelly.brownell@duke.edu
Web Page: https://sites.duke.edu/wfpc/

Areas of Expertise

  • Food Policy
    • Obesity Prevention
    • World Hunger
    • Sustainability
    • Food Marketing
    • Food Taxes
  • Health Policy
    • Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases
    • Health and Behavior

Education:
Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1977
Clinical Psychology, PhD, Rutgers University, 1977
Clinical Psychology, MS, Rutgers University, 1975
M.S., Rutgers University, 1975
Psychology, BS, Purdue University, 1973
B.S., Purdue University, 1973

Research Categories: Impact and Regulation of Food Marketing, Taxes and Food Policy, Law and Nutrition Policy

Representative Publications   (More Publications)

  1. Brownell, KD, and Gold, MS. Food and Addiction: A Comprehensive Handbook. Edited by Brownell, KD; Gold, MS. Oxford University Press, August, 2012.  [abs]
  2. Harris, JL; Schwartz, MB; Ustjanauskas, A; Ohri-Vachaspati, P; Brownell, KD. "Effects of serving high-sugar cereals on children's breakfast-eating behavior.." Pediatrics 127.1 (January, 2011): 71-76. [full], [doi]  [abs]
  3. Brownell, KD; Farley, T; Willett, WC; Popkin, BM; Chaloupka, FJ; Thompson, JW; Ludwig, DS. "The public health and economic benefits of taxing sugar-sweetened beverages.." The New England journal of medicine 361.16 (October, 2009): 1599-1605. [NEJMhpr0905723], [doi]
  4. Gearhardt, AN; Yokum, S; Orr, PT; Stice, E; Corbin, WR; Brownell, KD. "Neural correlates of food addiction.." Archives of general psychiatry 68.8 (August, 2011): 808-816. [doi]  [abs]
  5. Brownell, KD; Frieden, TR. "Ounces of prevention--the public policy case for taxes on sugared beverages.." The New England journal of medicine 360.18 (April, 2009): 1805-1808. [NEJMp0902392], [doi]
  6. Brownell, KD; Ludwig, DS. "The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, soda, and USDA policy: who benefits?." JAMA 306.12 (September, 2011): 1370-1371. [doi]
  7. Pomeranz, JL; Brownell, KD. "Advancing public health obesity policy through state attorneys general.." American journal of public health 101.3 (March, 2011): 425-431. [available here], [doi]  [abs]
  8. Pomeranz, JL; Brownell, KD. "Portion sizes and beyond--government's legal authority to regulate food-industry practices.." The New England journal of medicine 367.15 (October, 2012): 1383-1385. [doi]

Highlight:
Kelly Brownell is the Robert L. Flowers Professor Emeritus of Public Policy. He served as dean of the Sanford School from 2013-2018 and as Director of the School's World Food Policy Center from 2018-2022.

In 2006 Time magazine listed Brownell among “The World’s 100 Most Influential People” in its special Time 100 issue featuring those “.. whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world.”

Brownell was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine in 2006 and has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, Graduate Mentoring Award from Yale, the James McKeen Cattell Award from the New York Academy of Sciences, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Purdue University, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Rutgers University, and the Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology from the American Psychological Association.

Prior to joining the faculty at Duke, Brownell was at Yale University where he was the James Rowland Angell Professor of Psychology, professor of epidemiology and public health, and director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. While at Yale he served as chair of the department of psychology and as Head of Silliman College.

Brownell has published 15 books and more than 350 scientific articles and chapters. He has served as president of several national organizations, including the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy and the Division of Health Psychology of the American Psychological Association.

Brownell has advised the White House, members of congress, governors, world health and nutrition organizations, and media leaders on issues of nutrition, obesity and public policy. He was cited as a “moral entrepreneur” with special influence on public discourse in a history of the obesity field and was cited by Time magazine as a leading “warrior” in the area of nutrition and public policy.

Bio/Profile
Kelly Brownell is Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, and is a professor of public policy. He also holds a faculty appointment in the department of psychology and neuroscience and serves on the board of directors of the Duke Global Health Institute.

In 2006 Time magazine listed Brownell among “The World’s 100 Most Influential People” in its special Time 100 issue featuring those “.. whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world.” Brownell was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine in 2006 and has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, Graduate Mentoring Award from Yale, the James McKeen Cattell Award from the New York Academy of Sciences, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Purdue University, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Rutgers University, and the Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology from the American Psychological Association.

Prior to joining the faculty at Duke, Brownell was at Yale University where he was the James Rowland Angell Professor of Psychology, professor of epidemiology and public health, and director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. While at Yale he served as chair of the department of psychology and as master of Silliman College.

Brownell has published 15 books and more than 350 scientific articles and chapters. He has served as president of several national organizations, including the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy and the Division of Health Psychology of the American Psychological Association.

Brownell has advised the White House, members of congress, governors, world health and nutrition organizations, and media leaders on issues of nutrition, obesity and public policy. He was cited as a “moral entrepreneur” with special influence on public discourse in a history of the obesity field and was cited by Time magazine as a leading “warrior” in the area of nutrition and public policy.

Kelly D. Brownell