SWITCH – How to Change Things when Change is Hard: FoodGrads Book Club

Join graduate students from Northeastern University in a synchronized reading of SWITCH How to Change Things when Change is Hard by Chip Heath & Dan Heath.

Related: Latest Book Club Blog – Chapter 1

When I began my food policy journey, I was motivated to make a change in the lives of consumers.  I wanted to help food industry decision-makers bring about positive changes when it comes to the safety of the food we serve.

Far too many consumers are harmed, hospitalized, and even killed due to failures in our food systems.

As a professor, a common thread I find with my students is that they are interested in being an agent of change mostly in their professional lives, but also in their personal lives.

Food is not only a topic that unites us, but is also a political, economic, geographic, and social platform that demands change from every angle.

In SWITCH, the authors use a compelling, story-driven narrative to help readers see how to effect transformative change.  Past students have praised this book for helping them to understand the how that supports their case study research and consultations.

Join our Tribe (& Book Club!)

Beginning January 7, in collaboration with FoodGrads we will have a weekly blog post for each chapter where we encourage others to read along and share their thoughts, their examples, their concerns, and their ideas related to the readings.

The goal is to open the discussions to a wider audience of like-minded individuals.  So please grab a copy and read along.  Look for the weekly blog where we post commentary and questions.  Share in this virtual experience.  Technically, you don’t even have to read the book to participate, as the discourse alone should be of interest to all.

Be the change we need.

Author: Dr. Darin Detwiler, LP.D., M.A.Ed., is the Assistant Dean at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies. He is a professor of food regulatory policy, specializing in food safety, global economics of food and agriculture, Blockchain, and food authenticity.  Detwiler recently received the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Distinguished Service Award (Sponsored by Food Safety Magazine.)

Over the past 25 years, Detwiler has consulted with the USDA in strengthening food safety policies, particularly in the areas of consumer education, product labeling, and their pathogen reduction program. In addition to serving in various educational and advisory capacities, his committee work includes appointments to two terms as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection for USDA, where his work improved standards and policies related to risk-based sampling. He later served two terms as a council member for the Conference for Food Protection, identifying and addressing emerging problems of food safety to influence model laws and regulations among all government agencies.

Detwiler received his doctorate of law and policy from Northeastern University with a research focus on state implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.

Twitter: @DarinDetwiler