Kelly Brownell

Kelly D. Brownell is the Robert L. Flowers Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Professor Emeritus in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, where his work in health science centers on nutrition, obesity, and food policy. He served as Dean of the Sanford School from 2013 to 2018 and Director of the World Food Policy Center from 2018 to 2022. Brownell is also Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Neuroscience and an Affiliate of the Duke Global Health Institute. He earned a B.S. from Purdue University in 1973, an M.S. from Rutgers University in 1975, and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 1977. Prior to Duke, at Yale University, he held the James Rowland Angell Professorship of Psychology, was Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Chair of the Department of Psychology, and Master of Silliman College.

Brownell's research specializations include nutrition, obesity, public policy, food policy, ultraprocessed foods, food addiction, and the climate crisis in health psychology and behavioral medicine. He has authored 15 books and more than 350 scientific articles and chapters. Key publications encompass "Bias, discrimination and obesity" (2013), "Effects of soft drink consumption on nutrition and health: a systematic review and meta-analysis" (2007), "Preliminary validation of the Yale food addiction scale" (2009), "The impact of food prices on consumption: a systematic review of research on the price elasticity of demand for food" (2010), "From Tobacco to Ultraprocessed Food: How Industry Engineering Fuels the Epidemic of Preventable Disease" (2026), and the introduction to "Food & Addiction: A Comprehensive Handbook" (2024). His honors include election to the National Academy of Medicine (2006), designation as one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People (2006), Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, James McKeen Cattell Award from the New York Academy of Sciences, Distinguished Alumni Award from Purdue University, Lifetime Achievement Award from Rutgers University, and Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology from the APA. Brownell has served as president of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, and Division of Health Psychology of the APA, and advised the White House, members of Congress, governors, and world health organizations on nutrition, obesity, and public policy.

Professional Email: kelly.brownell@duke.edu