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Name: Anand, Rajen
Current Position: Former Executive Director
A college professor, Indian-American community activist and Democratic Party player, Rajen Anand was chosen by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to return to his leadership role at the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion in the U.S. Department of Agriculture on July 8, 2009. Anand previously served as the center’s executive director during the Clinton administration.
Anand attended college in India, where he received his Bachelor of Science in biology from Meerut University. He earned his PhD in physiology, biochemistry and nutrition and a second doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of California, Davis in 1969. He completed post-doctoral fellowships at UC Davis in metabolism and at the UCLA Harbor Medical Center in pediatric endocrinology. Anand’s research was in the area of energy metabolism, particularly involving in-utero studies on the effect of maternal nutrition on the developing fetus.
Anand began his career as a university professor. He joined the faculty at California State University, Long Beach in 1970 and taught courses in biology, human physiology, pathophysiology and mammalian metabolism. He also served as the founding chair of the Department of Anatomy and Physiology (1985-1989) and chair of the Department of Communicative Disorders (1990-1992).
Additionally, he served on numerous university-wide committees, including the Academic Senate; Planning and Educational Policy; College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Council, and Budget Committee; Strategic Planning Committee; and Retention, Tenure and Promotion Committee. He chaired the Asian & Pacific American Forum and was secretary of the California Faculty Association.
Anand founded the Indo-American Political Association in 1987.
In 1994, Anand was appointed to serve on the congressionally-mandated National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation. He was reappointed in 1997 and 2000.
Anand first joined the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion in January 1995 as its deputy director. Two years later he was promoted to executive director, serving until 2001. During his tenure the center released the 1995 and 2000 editions of Dietary Guidelines for Americans, developed and issued a Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children, ages 2-6, produced a new Thrifty Food Plan, and developed a Healthy Eating Index, a measure of overall diet quality of individuals.
With the ascension of George W. Bush to the White House in 2001, Anand left his post at the center and served as president and chairman of the National Federation of Indian-American Associations (NFIA).
He served as a delegate to the 2000 and 2004 Democratic Party presidential conventions.
During the 2008 Democratic presidential primary contest, Anand was a supporter of Hillary Clinton, serving as national co-chairman of South Asians for Hillary. But once Obama secured the party’s nomination, Anand switched his support and joined the steering committee of Asian Americans for Obama.
He has published more than 40 scientific articles in national and international journals and made presentations at numerous professional meetings worldwide.
He has published more than 40 scientific articles in national and international journals and made presentations at numerous professional meetings worldwide.
Anand is a member of the American Association for Advancement of Science and The American Physiological Society.
He has served as an officer of several organizations, including: Asian and Pacific Americans in Higher Education (vice president); NFIA (secretary, vice president, executive vice president); Indo-American Political Association (chair); DNC Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus (vice chair and chair).
Rajen S. Anand, Ph.D. (Who’s Who of Asian Americans)
