Tathara M. Leak wins Nys Women of Distinction Award

The Senate of the state of New York has honored Tathara M. Leak, Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Cornell Human Ecology in New York City, College of Human Ecology (CHE), as 2025 woman of the award. The award honors women who have made outstanding contributions to their local communities. Each senator selects a award winner from his respective district.

The Senator Zellnor Myrie, JD '16, from the district of the 20th Senate, which includes parts of Brooklyn, has selected Leck for their efforts to improve nutrition, health and general well -being of young people. As a nutritionist and registered nutritionist, she ensures that families in low -income houses and risks for chronic diseases have training and resources they need to live a healthy life.

“Much of my work is about increasing access to healthy food, New York City and in the state of New York,” said Leak. “I mainly work with young people who are change agents in households with low resources. Often these young people are” adults “and drive the selection of household foods.”

Recognize the leak that health behavior is often determined in childhood and offers young people the opportunity to improve their health and well -being. You and your team developed the 4-H After School Club Advanced Cooking Education, the student in the title of I-financed New York Middle School's mindfulness exercises, nutritional lessons, career in food and nutrition as well as food to prepare for a culturally diverse vegetable meals.

“I never say to young people: 'Do not eat unhealthy food.' They don't like to be restricted. It is also important that you know that you don't have to give up your cultural food standards in order to be healthy. “

You and your team have also created the Black Girls for Wellness program that offers dance courses, nutritional lessons and food to prepare black teenagers for type 2 diabetes healthy meals that are patients from New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. In addition, the leak co-founder of Cornells Action Research Collaborative, which offers researchers, political decision-makers and community partners, offers opportunities to work with urgent issues in the entire state of New York.

In recognition of her work to combat nutritional uncertainty and health inequalities in the state of New York, Leak received the Presidential Early Career Award for scientists and engineers from the then President Joe Biden in January.

From the wife of Distinction Award, now in his 27th year, said Leak: “We are in an era of Firmsts for Women. We forget that in many rooms Cornell had one of her first president of the woman. This is an amazing opportunity to take a break and recognize that this award is specific to women.

The last time that a Cornell faculty member was honored with this award was in 2018 when Kathryn Boor '80, Dean by Ronald P. Lynch from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, received the award.