WASHINGTON, DC – The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) today announced the appointment of Amanda Berger, Ph.D. as Vice President of Science. In this role, Dr. Berger will advise DISCUS and the industry on matters related to scientific policy and research.
Dr. Berger most recently served as Vice President of Research for Porter Novelli in Washington, DC, where she led the research practice and provided science support on a range of issues including health and pharmaceuticals, food and nutrition, and consumer goods.
“Amanda has a strong science background and has spent the better part of her career researching and evaluating programs that promote responsible decision making to ensure that they are effective and evidence-based,” said Chris Swonger, DISCUS President and CEO. “We are delighted to have Amanda join DISCUS to help the spirits industry advance policies that are grounded in science, promote responsible alcohol choices among adults, and discourage alcohol abuse and underage drinking.”
Prior to her role at Porter Novelli, Berger was a principal research scientist at Battelle, a private nonprofit global research and technology development company. At Battelle, she provided research counsel on government education campaigns and programs for the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Berger also served as a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory science fellow at the National Academy of Medicine where she spent two years as a member of the research and evaluation team, and co-led the formative research and evaluation of an award-winning, evidence-based campaign to prevent youth tobacco use.
Dr. Berger is the author of numerous studies and research papers exploring public health issues and has taught as an adjunct professor and lecturer at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.
Dr. Berger earned a doctorate degree in public health from the University of Maryland; a master’s degree in education and human development from George Washington University; and a bachelor’s degree in psychology & cognitive studies at Vanderbilt University.
Swonger stated that Dr. Sam Zakhari, who served as the head of the DISCUS office of scientific affairs since 2012, retired earlier this year.
“After Dr. Sam’s remarkable career at NIH, we were honored to have him come to DISCUS to lead our office of scientific affairs,” said Swonger. “On behalf of our member companies, I want to thank Sam for his dedication and commitment to the fundamentals of evidence-based research and for working with our DISCUS team over the last eight years to ensure that our policies and positions are grounded in sound science and social responsibility.”
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For a headshot image, please click here: Amanda Berger, Ph.D.
