Christine Birns

Christine Birns provides program support focused on food and health systems, nutrition security, and community-based approaches to improving health. She leads needs assessments, builds and strengthens community partnerships, and advances impactful nutrition and health initiatives designed to improve community well-being.Christine’s commitment to University of Illinois Extension spans decades. She began her Extension journey as a 10-year DuPage County 4-H member and has served as an Extension staff member since 1998. This experience provides her with a unique perspective as both a lifelong 4-H participant and Extension professional, giving her a deep understanding of Extension’s role in supporting individuals, families, and communities.

Birns has a B.S. from Northern Illinois University, where she majored in Human Development & Family Sciences and minored in Sociology. She earned her M.S.W. from the University of Illinois Chicago, with an emphasis in child and family services.

Her work encompasses partnerships with food pantries, K–12 schools, early childhood centers, and community organizations serving people across the lifespan—from youth and adults to older adults.

She provides technical assistance at the policy, systems and environmental levels, helping communities strengthen food and health systems, advance nutrition security, and create environments that make healthy choices more accessible and achievable. Through nutrition education and systems-level initiatives, Christine works alongside community partners to make the healthy choice the easy choice and create lasting, sustainable improvements in community health.