Professor, Nutritional Sciences and Wellness | Professor, Public Health | Professor, Innovations in Aging - GIDP | Associate Director, School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness | Professor, BIO5 Institute | Member of the Graduate Faculty | Director, Nutritional Sciences Graduate Program (Research Degrees)
I am a nutrition scientist, public health researcher, and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with experience and training in medical nutrition therapy, health promotion, behavioral sciences, and related research methodologies. My work is conducted at the intersection of nutritional sciences research and public health practice, where I seek to understand predictors and consequences of behavioral risk factors associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes and apply this knowledge to the design and delivery of lifestyle behavior modification interventions for children and families at risk of diet-sensitive disease. I am committed to interdisciplinary and team science, and my collaborations and work reflects this commitment. The overall goal of my research is the prevention of type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders, with an emphasis on youth and families. Three aims focus my research program activities: 1) understand predictors and correlates of the lifestyle behaviors associated with energy balance and diabetes risk, including diet and physical activity behavior; 2) develoand test new approaches to support participants in modifying lifestyle behaviors associated with diet-sensitive disease risk; and 3) integrate research findings with clinical and community practice, while identifying and addressing potential barriers that impede implementation at scale.