Lydia West has worked in public health and community health for over 20 years. For the majority of her profession, she has focused her work in the areas of maternal/child health as well as school breakfast and lunch programs.
Lydia brings experience from roles at Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi Public Health Institute, Mississippi State Department of Health, and Tulane University. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts Technology at Hinds Community College; a Bachelor of Science in Human Sciences from Mississippi State University; and a Masters in Public Health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
She has been a member in MPHA since 2010. Over the last 15 years, she has served as the Nutrition Section Chair, Board Secretary, Member at Large, and President-elect for the MPHA Board of Directors. Lydia has also served on several MPHA groups and committees such as the National Public Health Committee, Young Professionals Specialty Interest Group, Strategic Planning Committee, Legislative Committee, Communications Committee, and Annual Conference Education Committee. She chaired the 2024 MPHA Awards Committee.