Future dietitians, nutritionists train in kitchen named for Neva Cochran
By Celie Price
For more than 30 years, nutritionist Neva Cochran has worked to help others understand and enjoy their food better.
The Preston Hollow dietitian, philanthropist, and communications consultant has partnered with food, nutrition, and agricultural organizations to promote science-based nutrition messages so people can “eat beyond the headlines” and enjoy a variety of nutrient-rich foods.
Her name may sound familiar because she’s participated in 1,000 newspaper, magazine, radio, and television interviews and contributed to several publications, including Woman’s World, a magazine for which she wrote meal plans, columns, and feature stories for more than 20 years.
“I believe so much in the power of nutrition and helping people have better health and a better life,” Cochran said. “But I also believe strongly in the role of registered dietitians being able to help people translate the science that we’ve learned into their everyday living.”
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In recognition of her pioneering work and a donation to her alma mater, Texas Woman’s University has named an industrial kitchen for her within the new $107 million Health Sciences Center, which opened in February.
The 136,000-square-foot facility includes advanced simulation labs, a state-of-the-art therapy gym, clinical training areas, collaborative learning spaces, and outdoor therapy areas as well as the Neva Hudiburgh Cochran Wellness Kitchen.
Cochran, who earned a master’s degree in nutrition from TWU after getting her bachelor’s from the University of Oklahoma, remembers fondly time spent on the Denton campus.
“Not only were the faculty there great, but also the other students that I got to interact with,” she said. “The opportunities that I had to be involved on the campus and in the community really helped in setting me up for my career, and to do a lot more than I would’ve if I hadn’t gotten that education.”
Cochran’s work in both the public and private sectors has allowed her to educate people on the importance of nutrition and help bust widely circulated myths.
“There’s so much stuff out there, like, gluten is bad, sugar is bad, artificial sweeteners are bad, etc.,” Cochran said. “People are very confused. So, I tried to be the person who would take things and make them simple, and say, ‘No, it’s OK.’ I’m trying to take the guilt away. There are no bad foods, only bad diets.”
Cochran is newly retired, but that doesn’t mean she has taken a break from her life’s mission. Nowadays, she primarily keeps busy through her extensive philanthropy work.
She serves on the board of the Philanthropy Council of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation and the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation. Much of her work focuses on underserved populations, specifically low-income families and children.
“Everybody deserves to have proper health and nutrition; those are just the basic necessities of life,” Cochran said. “So, if I can help people to do that, that’s important to me. And the university will be helping the students who are going to become the future dietitians on the front lines do that as well.”
