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Dorothy Caldwell was appointed as deputy administrator for special nutrition programs in the Food and Nutrition Service. She succeeded Ed Cooney, who held that position from September 1997 until November 1999, and who now serves as the special assistant for nutrition to Secretary Dan Glickman.

From September 1997 until her recent appointment Caldwell served as the special assistant for nutrition and nutrition education to Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Shirley Watkins. From 1988-1997 she was director of child nutrition for the Arkansas Department of Education, based in Little Rock. She served as director of food and nutrition for the Lee County, Ark., School District, based in Marianna, Ark., from 1968-88. Since she had worked in those two field-level positions, she becomes the first person ever to serve as deputy administrator for special nutrition programs who has administered FNS programs at both the state and local levels.

During her tenure in Arkansas Caldwell was the lead author for the chapter on school nutrition in a book on coordinated school health, titled “Health Is Academic,” ultimately published in February 1999 by Teacher’s College Press. She was also the author of a chapter on nutrition integrity in a book titled “Managing Child Nutrition Programs: Leadership for Excellence,” ultimately published in June 1999 by Aspen Publishers. She taught home economics at a public high school in Marianna, Ark., from 1956- 58.

From 1993-94 Caldwell served as president of the American School Food Service Association, based in Washington, DC. She served as president of the School Food Service Foundation, also based in Washington, DC, from 1994-95.

A native of Cotton Plant, Ark., Caldwell holds a B.S. degree in home economics from the University of Arkansas and an M.S. degree in food systems administration from the University of Tennessee. She is a registered and licensed dietitian.