Thesis: Mediation of the association between sociodemographic characteristics and psychosocial well-being by food insecurity among Mexican and U.S. Mexican American adults in 2021 and 2022 Thesis Advisor: Edward A. Frongillo, Jr, Ph.D., Professor, Director of Global Health Initiatives•Utilize structural equation modeling in Stata to estimate mediation by food insecurity between sociodemographic characteristics and psychosocial well-being indicators.•Serve as the lead author, responsible for selecting the appropriate variables to include, writing proposals to request the use of data from the International Food Policy Study survey, conducting literature reviews, completing the data analysis, leading team meetings, preparing posters, and drafting the manuscript.•Supported efforts to develop nutrition security measures by participating in research meetings, reviewing drafts of the manuscript, and helping with facilitating a nutrition security measurement workshop at the American Society for Nutrition, Nutrition 2023 conference. •Coded food policies for a project that used qualitative content analysis to determine if and how food policies addressed food safety in 3 low- and middle-income countries (Kenya, Ghana, and Tanzania).

Advisor: Christine E. Blake, Ph.D., RD. Associate Professor. Director of the Nutrition Consortium.•Performed a content analysis of Ghana television food advertisements, evaluating the physical attributes of the actors portrayed, the food types promoted, and the marketing strategies used to examine how food advertisements influence consumer food choice.•Assisted with cleaning the data for 607 advertisements, assessing inter-rater reliability, running descriptive statistics using Stata, creating frequency tables, analyzing the results, designing posters, drafting a manuscript, and advising the research team on selecting a target journal for the manuscript.•Reviewed existing literature on food marketing in Ghana, collaborating with team members to identify gaps.•This work resulted in 6 conference presentations and 1 submitted manuscript.

•Worked with Drs. Caree Cotwright and Sheila Fleischhacker on USDA’s core priority to tackle food and nutrition insecurity, implementing the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, and making MyPlate a household name.•Collaborated with the award-winning NIFA Food and Nutrition Security Team of more than 80 staff by helping to develop weekly updates, plan monthly team meetings, and present progress during the agency All-Hands meeting led by the Director.•Helped advance President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative by serving on the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Prevention and Screening Task Force Nutrition Sub-Group, which developed and disseminated talking points, public-facing messages, and resources to elevate the role of nutrition screening during cancer prevention and treatment.•Participated in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) led Federal Food is Medicine Work Group, including volunteering at the HHS Food is Medicine Summit, engaging in data and metrics workshops, and attending the HHS Black Health Forum.•Contributed to the joint ad hoc USDA and HHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans Sustainability Work Group examining if and how to integrate sustainability into future editions by conducting research landscape activities.•Assisted in making MyPlate a household name by attending weekly meetings, planning and executing promotional events, brainstorming with strategic partners, and following the development of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.•Developed runs of shows, PowerPoint slides, and scripts for various internal and external events to build awareness of USDA activities to advance nutrition security, including helping with 10 editions of the USDA Food and Nutrition Security Brown Bag Webinar Series.

Supervisor: Christine E. Blake, Ph.D., RD, Associate Professor, Director of the Nutrition Consortium•Designed the framework for a new community partnership initiative and compiled a list of 30 local organizations dedicated to improving nutrition and health, aiming to establish partnerships to facilitate student internships and research assistantships.•Created a spreadsheet of research information for over 50 Nutrition Consortium Affiliates including their research topics, sub-topics, tools used, and methodologies to facilitate student research opportunities and encourage faculty collaboration, followed by contacting all affiliates to ensure accuracy.•Contributed to a literature review on evidence gaps and measurement methods for drivers of food choice behaviors in South Asia, evaluating the validity of instruments and tools used across 150 publications.•Crafted a code book for a study on animal-sourced foods and the nutritional status of women and children in Nairobi.•Researched suitable nutrition classes, drafted a proposal, and contacted graduate programs to draft a University of South Carolina Undergraduate Nutrition Certificate.

Supervisor: Will Britt, JD. Chief Legal Counsel of Public Health•Researched policies impacting maternal and child health in peer-reviewed articles, identifying relevant South Carolina laws and regulations linked with changes in infant mortality rates to aid the South Carolina Legal Epidemiology Learning Cohort in developing a presentation and manuscript. •Participated in a legal epidemiology conference hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, national public health law peer group meetings, and meetings with state legislators regarding proposed changes to vital statistics regulations.•Crafted responses to vital record amendment requests, reviewed Childhood Lead Program regulations, assisted with agency efforts to revise Vital Statistics regulations, conducted legal research on issues facing the agency, and helped draft a memorandum and reference materials for a copyright law project.

•Worked 25-30 hours per week, including 1-2 days of working a double shift each week.•Refilled the bakery display case whenever supply was low and plated baked goods.•Developed strong communication skills by seating guests and maintained organization through managing a seating chart.•Performed opening and closing duties including cleaning and helped fellow team members when needed.