Julie Ralston Aoki joined the Center in 2007 and has over two decades of experience in developing public policy for the public good. She coordinates the work of the Healthy Eating and Active Living team and provides legal technical assistance to support Tribal, state, and local communities in developing laws and policies to support healthy food systems, active living, and alcohol control in ways that advance health equity goals. She has written amicus briefs to support local public health laws; oversees the development of educational resources and materials; and provides educational and training presentations at state, regional, national and Tribal conferences. She has taught Public Health Law and Legal Writing as an adjunct professor. She is also the past president and current member of the Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance Board, a volunteer member of the Robbinsdale Human Rights Commission, and the parent of three kids.

Before joining the Center, Julie served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office in the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Divisions. She is an avid science fiction reader and is working on learning to play the ukulele.

Education
B.A., Yale University, cum laude
J.D., The University of Iowa College of Law, summa cum laude