Neva Hudiburgh Cochran, LD, RDN '78
Neva Hudiburgh Cochran, LD, RDN earned her master’s in nutrition in 1978 from TWU after receiving her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Oklahoma. Ms. Cochran went on to be an award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist. She currently serves as a consultant for Bayer U.S. – Crop Science LEAD Network. She is a communications consultant in Dallas, Texas, who partners with food, nutrition, and agricultural organizations to promote positive, accurate, scientific-based nutrition messages. From 1990 – 2013 she was an ongoing contributor for Woman’s World, a weekly magazine with an estimated 6-7 million readers, where she created meal plans and compiled the research for the diet cover stories, wrote the Diet Club column for eight years, and authored several feature articles. From 2012 – 2022 she wrote a monthly nutrition article for Southern Dallas County Business and Living Magazine as well as for Lake Forest Living from 2018 – 2021.
Neva brings a broad range of professional experiences to enhance her nutrition and communications skills. She taught the nutrition classes for an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program for 13 years, was Program Coordinator for the Consumer Services Division of the Associated Milk Producers, Inc., an instructor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the Texas Woman’s University and a clinical dietitian in two hospitals. She has also been a nutrition writer for Maximum Fitness, The Female Patient, First for Women and Todays Dietitian magazines, a contributing writer for two editions of The Competitive Edge: Advanced Marketing for Dietetics Professionals and authored or co-authored five peer-reviewed journal articles.
A familiar face in the media, Neva has participated in approximately 1000 newspaper, magazine, radio and television interviews about nutrition. From 1990 to 1997 she served as a national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and from 1985 to 1990 was a Texas Dietetic Association media representative. She was also the featured nutrition expert in video news releases for Fresh Express Salads and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Ballpark Food Survey. She has worked as a consultant and/or spokesperson for the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, California Cantaloupe Board, Grass Run Farms, Dairy West, Dairy MAX, GMO Answers (as a volunteer expert), the American Frozen Food Institute, Kemin Human Nutrition and Health, Calorie Control Council, Bigelow Tea, Egg Nutrition Center, American Beverage Association, Corn Refiners Association, Sargento, McDonald’s, Mazola Corn Oil, Solae Soy, Cherry Marketing Institute, California Raisin Board, Nutrilite, Nestle Raisinets, KIND Snacks, Texas Beef Council, Kao Health and Nutrition, The Coca-Cola Company, Subway’s Fresh Fit meals launch, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation-General Mills Foundation’s Champions for Healthy Kids satellite media tour, Trade Commission of Spain’s Clementines from Spain campaign, Lean Cuisine’s Lean on Me campaign, National Dairy Board’s Milk Mustache campaign and The Dallas/Fort Worth Chinese Restaurant Association, August Moon Restaurants, ZuZu Restaurants and Audits International. She has appeared in interviews across the country from USA Today and the Washington Post to CNN and Fox News Network.
Active in her professional organization throughout her career, Neva currently serves as the Dietitians in Business and Communication (DBC) practice group Academy Foundation Fundraising Chair. She also serves on the Philanthropy Council of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics Foundation and previously as Secretary of the Dietitians in Business and Communication Dietetic Practice Group (DBC DPG) and Nominating Committee Chair for the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Other positions have included the Academy’s Honors Committee, Member Value Committee, Nominating Committee, Foundation Board (2006 – 2007 Chairman), Board of Directors and House of Delegates Executive Committee. She is a past president of both the Texas and Dallas Dietetic Associations. Neva is the of the recipient of the 2021 DBC DPG Founders Award, 2016 Texas Academy Outstanding Preceptor Award – Veteran, 2012 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Medallion Award, 2009 Dallas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Media Award, the 2008 Dallas Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2004 Texas Academy Media Award, the 1996 Texas Academy Distinguished Dietitian Award and a 1981 Academy and Texas Academy Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year. In October 2013, she was recognized as a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (FAND).
Since 2003, she has served as a preceptor to over 130 dietetic interns for a one-week nutrition communications rotation. And in May 2016, she was invited to present the keynote speech, “Take Opportunities, Make Opportunities and Walk Through Fear,” at the Texas Woman’s University College of Health Sciences commencement.
Neva earned a Master of Science degree in nutrition from the Texas Woman’s University and a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Oklahoma. She completed her dietetic internship at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas.