Dr. Josephine Martin 2001
Dr. Josephine Martin served as the first Executive Director of the National Food Service Management Institute (NFSMI, now known as the Institute of Child Nutrition or ICN) from June 1, 1991, to August 31, 1996. This oral history interview, conducted in July 2008, gives a glimpse into her accomplishments and her philosophy of child nutrition that has guided her astonishing career and the path of the Institute. Dr. Martin passed away August 19, 2021. Please see her obituary Here.
Link to Dr. Josephine Martin Oral History and to Dr. Josephine Martin Papers.
Link to Dr. Josephine Martin and Dr. Jeanette Phillips Oral History Interview.
When she came to the Institute, Dr. Martin had over 40 years of experience in school food service and program administration in the child nutrition field. Her extensive experience in child nutrition programs covers having been an area school nutrition consultant with the Georgia Department of Education, a USDA regional nutritionist in the Southeast Region, and Georgia’s state child nutrition director. Prior to her retirement from the Georgia Department of Education in 1991, she worked as Director of School Nutrition Programs and Associate State Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Martin served as president of the American School Food Service Association (ASFSA, now the School Nutrition Association) 1976-77, and was a member of the Association of School Business Officials, the American Dietetic Association (ADA, now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics), the Georgia School Nutrition Association, and the Society of Nutrition Education.
She was co-editor of Managing Child Nutrition Programs: Leadership for Excellence by Aspen Publishers in 1999; second edition published by Jones and Bartlett in 2008.
Chapter One: Birth of School Nutrition Programs
Dr. Martin discusses the purpose of child nutrition programs, including some of the early efforts of the pioneers who first saw the need for these programs, and how these events in the early part of the twentieth century led to the passing of the National School Lunch Act of 1946. She also shares the story of how she first became involved in the field.
Chapter Two: Federal Legislation for School Nutrition Programs
Dr. Martin shares her experiences of testifying before Congress in the 1960s and 1970s as child nutrition programs became a major legislative issue. Senators McGovern and Dole led a bi-partisan effort throughout this period in support of these programs.
Chapter Three: Training, Nutrition and Physical Fitness
Dr. Martin discusses the need for food service training as the child nutrition programs expanded. This need included a national institute for training child nutrition personnel as well as the Nutrition and Education Training Program (NET Program) established by Congress in 1977. Congress funded the development of the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) in 1989, and Dr. Martin became first full time Executive Director in 1991.
Chapter Four: Menu, Evolution and the Future for School Nutrition
Dr. Martin discusses the collaborative effort required among school food service personnel, teachers, and parents in order to have a successful school nutrition program. She also shares the changes she has seen in school meals over the years as well as what she believes the future holds for child nutrition programs.