PA Nutrition Education Network

Thank You for Attending the 2026 PA NEN Conference!

Thank you for joining us at the PA NEN Conference! On Thursday, April 23rd 2026, we gathered in State College to connect, learn, and share successes in community nutrition education & PA SNAP-Ed. The conference featured 195 attendees, 33 speakers, 10 exhibitors, a pre-conference training, networking, a food drive, movement & dance, a farm tour and more!

The PA NEN Conference "Connected in Purpose" awards 5.75 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.

Keynote Speaker: Chef Joe Rocchi

In this energizing keynote address, Chef Joseph “Joe” Rocchi will share the story of his professional path, from personal passion to profound leadership. In addition to being a Culinary Arts Instructor, he is a board member of the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance (NAFSA) and a member of the Traditional Eastern Woodlands Foodways Alliance (TEWFA), among other roles. Chef Rocchi’s work centers around raising Native voices, shaping food systems, and promoting access to nourishing foods.

Featured Speaker: Micki Orlowsky

In this interactive presentation, Micki will delve into the connections between communication, success stories, nutrition, laughter, and improvisation. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to share success stories from their work, collaboratively creating narratives about the impactful work of community nutrition educators.

Agenda

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026:

4:00pm-6:00pm: Early Registration & Networking/Best Practices Session

Thursday, April 23rd, 2026:

7:00am-8:30am: Breakfast & Registration
8:30am-9:30am: Opening Address & Keynote
9:45am-10:45am: Session 1
11:00am-12:00pm: Session 2
12:00pm-1:00pm: Lunch & Poster Session
1:15pm-2:15pm: Session 3
2:30pm-3:00pm: Session 4
3:15pm-3:45pm: Session 5
4:00pm-4:30pm: Closing & Awards

Click the button below to download the full detailed agenda.

Awards

Awards were presented during the Award Ceremony at the PA NEN Conference on April 23rd, 2026!

The Conference Awards were an opportunity to celebrate the passion, creativity, and impact of our SNAP-Ed community and staff. This year, we shifted to a peer-driven approach, inviting all conference attendees to nominate colleagues, partners, and leaders who make a difference in big and small ways.

Awards highlighted both:

Meaningful contributions to SNAP-Ed work and leadership
Lighthearted superlatives that reflect the joy, personality, and culture of our community

Exhibitors:

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