Deb Johnson-Shelton , served as the evaluator for the Food, Farms, and Community grant that helped launch the Lane County Food Policy Council. Born in Minnesota, Deb grew up in farm country and among family who both farmed and mined on the Mesabi Range. She has master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Oregon. Deb is an Associate Research Scientist at the Oregon Research Institute and is currently the evaluation director of a project working to ensure tribal permanency for Native American children in child protective services.