WASHINGTON, May 15, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that Lisa Pino will serve as Deputy Administrator for USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. The agency works to increase food security and reduce hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthy diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence.

"Lisa has spent her career working with and helping underserved communities and she brings valuable hands on experience that will help strengthen our national food and nutrition programs," said Vilsack. "Her expertise will be invaluable as President Obama and I continue working to improve the health and nutrition of people across this great country."

Pino most recently served as Director of Public Affairs for the International Institute of the Americas College in Phoenix, Ariz. She has also worked with the Florence Immigrant Rights and Refugee Project as well as the Community Legal Services Farmworker Unit in rural Arizona.

A New York native, Pino received her B.A., M.A., and J.D. from Arizona State University, and is a member of the Arizona State Bar Association. In 2008, she completed Harvard University's Executive Public Leadership Program as a National Hispana Leadership Institute Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government, and The White House Project program in New York.