African American Collaborative Obesity Research Network
Center for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
 8th Floor Blockley Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19104
 Phone: (215) 746-0360
Fax: (215) 573-5311

AACORN | African American Collaborative Obesity Network

Class of 2006 Affiliates

In 2006, the 11 AACORN Charter Members invited 25 new affiliates to join the network's core group. These affiliates include academic researchers, researchers in training, and community research partners. Following are the names, affiliations, and a limited number of representative publications, reflecting AACORN-related research and interests, for the academic researchers and researchers in training. The names and brief descriptions of affiliates who are community research partners are listed in a separate section on this page.

Academic Researchers
and Researchers in Training

Community-Based
Research Partners

Academic Researchers and Researchers in Training

Alice Ammerman, DrPH, RD
Associate Professor, Nutrition, Cancer Prevention / Control
Director, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC

Representative publications:

  • Perrin EM, Vann JC, Lazorick S, Ammerman A, Teplin S, Flower K, Wegner SE, Benjamin JT. Bolstering confidence in obesity prevention and treatment counseling for resident and community pediatricians. Patient Educ Couns. 2008.
  • Ward DS, Benjamin SE, Ammerman AS, Ball SC, Neelon BH, Bangdiwala SI. Nutrition and physical activity in child care: results from an environmental intervention. Am J Prev Med. 2008;35(4):352-6.
  • Yeh MC, Ickes SB, Lowenstein LM, Shuval K, Ammerman AS, Farris R, Katz DL.Understanding barriers and facilitators of fruit and vegetable consumption among a diverse multi-ethnic population in the USA. Health Promot Int. 2008;23(1):42-51
  • Benjamin SE, Tate DF, Bangdiwala SI, Neelon BH, Ammerman AS, Dodds JM, Ward DS. Preparing child care health consultants to address childhood overweight: a randomized controlled trial comparing web to in-person training. Matern Child Health J. 2008;12(5):662-9.
  • Ammerman AS, Ward DS, Benjamin SE, Ball SC, Sommers JK, Molloy M, Dodds JM. An intervention to promote healthy weight: Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) theory and design. Prev Chronic Dis. 2007;4(3):A67.

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Jamy Ard, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition Sciences
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL

Representative publications:

  • Thomas AS, Greene LF, Ard JD, Oster RA, Darnell BE, Gower BA. Physical Activity May Facilitate Diabetes Prevention in Adolescents. Diabetes Care. 2008.
  • Brantley P, Appel L, Hollis J, Stevens V, Ard J, Champagne C, Elmer P, Harsha D, Myers V, Proschan M, William V, Svetkey L. Design considerations and rationale of a multi-center trial to sustain weight loss: the weight loss maintenance trial. Clin Trials. 2008;5(5):546-56.
  • Hollis JF, Gullion CM, Stevens VJ, Brantley PJ, Appel LJ, Ard JD, Champagne CM, Dalcin A, Erlinger TP, Funk K, Laferriere D, Lin PH, Loria CM, Samuel-Hodge C, Vollmer WM, Svetkey LP; Weight Loss Maintenance Trial Research Group. Weight loss during the intensive intervention phase of the weight-loss maintenance trial. Am J Prev Med. 2008;35(2):118-26.
  • Gower BA, Ard JD, Hunter GR, Fernandez J, Ovalle F. Elements of the metabolic syndrome: association with insulin sensitivity and effects of ethnicity. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2007;5(1):77-86.
  • Ard JD, Kumanyika S, Stevens VJ, Vollmer WM, Samuel-Hodge C, Kennedy B, Gayles D, Appel LJ, Brantley PJ, Champagne C, Charleston J, Svetkey LP. Effect of group racial composition on weight loss in African Americans. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008;16 (2):306-10.

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Ann Smith Barnes, MD
Assistant Professor,
Baylor College of Medicine
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Houston, TX

Representative publications:

  • Hwang KO, Farheen K, Johnson CW, Thomas EJ, Barnes AS, Bernstam EV. Quality of weight loss advice on internet forums. Am J Med. 2007;120(7):604-9.
  • Barnes AS, Goodrick GK, Pavlik V, Markesino J, Laws DY, Taylor WC. Weight loss maintenance in African-American women: focus group results and questionnaire development. J Gen Intern Med. 2007;22(7):915-22.
  • Barnes AS, Rogers, M, Tran, CT. Obesity as a clinical and social problem. Medical Management of Vulnerable and Underserved Patients: Principles, Practice and Populations. McGraw-Hill Medical, 2006.

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Daheia Barr- Anderson, PhD
Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development
Minneapolis, MN

Representative publications:

  • Barr-Anderson DJ, Neumark-Sztainer D, Schmitz KH, Ward DS, Conway TL, Pratt C, Baggett CD, Lytle L, Pate RR. But I like PE: factors associated with enjoyment of physical education class in middle school girls. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2008;79(1):18-27.
  • Barr-Anderson DJ, van den Berg P, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M. Characteristics associated with older adolescents who have a television in their bedrooms. Pediatrics. 2008;121(4):718-24.
  • Sirard JR, Barr-Anderson DJ. Physical activity in adolescents: from associations to interventions. J Adolesc Health. 2008;42(4):327-8.
  • Barr-Anderson DJ, Young DR, Sallis JF, Neumark-Sztainer DR, Gittelsohn J, Webber L, Saunders R, Cohen S, Jobe JB. Structured physical activity and psychosocial correlates in middle-school girls. Prev Med. 2007;44(5):404-9.

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Monica L. Baskin, PhD
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Health Behavior
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL

Representative publications:

  • Hughes SO, Shewchuk RM, Baskin ML, Nicklas TA, Qu H. Indulgent feeding style and children's weight status in preschool. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2008;29(5):403-10.
  • Faith MS, Fontaine KR, Baskin ML, Allison DB. Toward the reduction of population obesity: macrolevel environmental approaches to the problems of food, eating, and obesity. Psychol Bull. 2007;133(2):205-26.
  • Malpede CZ, Greene LE, Fitzpatrick SL, Jefferson WK, Shewchuk RM, Baskin ML, Ard JD. Racial influences associated with weight-related beliefs in African American and Caucasian women. Ethn Dis. 2007;17(1):1-5.
  • Ard JD, Fitzpatrick S, Desmond RA, Sutton BS, Pisu M, Allison DB, Franklin F, Baskin ML. The impact of cost on the availability of fruits and vegetables in the homes of schoolchildren in Birmingham, Alabama. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(2):367-72.

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Gary Bennett, PhD
Asst. Professor, Dept. of Society, Human Development & Health
Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, MA

Representative publications:

  • Bennett, G.G., Haughton, L., Wolin, K.Y., Duncan, D., Askew, S., Puleo, E., Emmons, K.M.. Neighborhood safety and pedometer-determined physical activity among low income housing residents. PLoS Med 2007 Oct 23; 4(10):E306.
  • Kontos, E.Z., Bennett G.G., Viswanath, K.. Barriers and facilitators to in-home Internet use among a group of low-socioeconomic novice computer users: implications for online health promotion. J Med Internet Res 2007 Oct 22; 9(4):E31
  • McNeill, L., Viswanath, V.V., Bennett, G.G., Emmons, K.M.. Feasibility of a web-based nutrition intervention among patients from working class, multi-ethnic neighborhoods. J Am Diet Assoc 2007 Jul; 4(3):A55
  • Kaphingst, K., Bennett, G.G., Sorensen, G., Kaphingst, K., McInnis, K.. Weight, physical activity, and nutrition among members of an urban fitness center. BMC Public Health 2007; 7:181
  • Bennett, G.G., Wolin, K.Y., Askew, S., Fletcher, R., Emmons, K.M. Immigration and obesity among lower income Blacks. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2007 Jun; 15(6):1391-4

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Lori Carter-Edwards, PhD
Director, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Research Assistant Professor
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC

Representative publications:

  • Boyington J, Carter-Edwards L, Hutson J, Piehl M, Langdon D, McManus S. Cultural attitudes and perceptions toward diet and physical activity among African American girls. Preventing Chronic Disease 2008;5(2):A36.
  • Boyington JE, Johnson AA, Carter-Edwards L. Evidence of high body dissatisfaction among low-income, postpartum African American women. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN) 2007 Mar-Apr; 36(2):144-51.
  • Boyington JE, Howard DL, Carter-Edwards L, Gooden KM, Busby-Whitehead J, Erdem N, Jallah Y, Busby-Whitehead J. Racial differences in resident characteristics and prevalence of urinary incontinence in nursing homes in the southeastern United States (MDS Atlanta Region). Nursing Research 2007; 56(2):97-107.
  • Carter-Edwards L, Jallah Y, Goldmon M, Roberson JT, Hoyo C. What health ministry attributes are important and which ones exist in African American churches? An exploratory survey. North Carolina Medical Journal 2006; 67(5):345-50.

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Dawnavan Davis, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL

Representative publications:

  • Mirza NM, Davis D, Yanovski JA. Body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, and overweight among inner-city Hispanic children and adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2005;36:267.

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Marian L. Fitzgibbon, PhD
Professor, Department of Medicine and School of Public Health
Director, Health Promotion Research Program
Institute for Health Research and Policy
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL

Representative publications:

  • Fitzgibbon ML, Stolley M, Schiffer L, Sharp L, Singh V, Van Horn L, Dyer A. Obesity Reduction Black Intervention Trial (ORBIT): design and baseline characteristics. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2008;17(7):1099-110.
  • Banitt AA, Kaur H, Pulvers KM, Nollen NL, Ireland M, Fitzgibbon ML. BMI percentiles and body image discrepancy in black and white adolescents. Obesity. 2008;16(5): 987-991.
  • Pulvers KM, Kaur H, Nollen NL, Greiner KA, Befort CA, Hall S, Born W, Fitzgibbon ML, Ahluwalia JS. Comparison of body perceptions between obese primary care patients and physicians: implications for practice. Patient Educ Couns. 2008;73(1):73-81
  • Sánchez-Johnsen LA, Hogan K, Wilkens LR, Fitzgibbon ML. Correlates of problematic eating behaviors in less acculturated Latinas. Eat Behav. 2008;9(2):181-9.

  • Banitt AA, Kaur H, Pulvers KM, Nollen NL, Ireland M, Fitzgibbon ML. BMI percentiles and body image discrepancy in black and white adolescents. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008;16(5):987-91.

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Sonya Grier, PhD
Associate Professor, Marketing
American University
Kogod School of Business
Washington, DC

Representative publications:

  • Grier SA, Kumanyika SK. The context for choice: health implications of targeted food and beverage marketing to African Americans. Am J Public Health. 2008 Sep;98(9):1616-29.
  • Williams CT, Grier SA, Marks AS."Coming to town": the impact of urbanicity, cigarette advertising, and network norms on the smoking attitudes of black women in Cape Town, South Africa. J Urban Health. 2008 Jul;85(4):472-85.
  • Mehrotra A, Grier S, Dudley RA. The relationship between health plan advertising and market incentives: evidence of risk-selective behavior. Health Aff (Millwood). 2006;25(3):759-65.
  • Kumanyika S, Grier S. Targeting interventions for ethnic minority and low-income populations. Future Child. 2006;16(1):187-207.

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LaShanda Jones, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Psychiatry
Weight and Eating Disorders Program
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Representative publications:

  • Jones LR, Fries E, Danish SJ. Gender and ethnic differences in body image and opposite sex figure preferences of rural adolescents. Body Image. 2007;4(1):103-8.
  • Myers MG, MacPherson L, Jones LR, Aarons GA. Measuring adolescent smoking cessation strategies: instrument development and initial validation. Nicotine Tob Res. 2007;9(11):1131-8.
  • Wadden TA, Sarwer DB, Fabricatore AN, Jones L, Stack R, Williams NS. Psychosocial and behavioral status of patients undergoing bariatric surgery: what to expect before and after surgery. Med Clin North Am. 2007;91(3):451-69, xi-xii.
  • Jones LR, Wadden TA. State of the science: behavioral treatment of obesity. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2006;15 Suppl:30-9.

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Betty Kennedy, PhD
Instructor, Dietary Assessment and Food Analysis Core
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Baton Rouge, LA

Representative publications:

  • Svetkey LP, Stevens VJ, Brantley PJ, Appel LJ, Hollis JF, Loria CM, Vollmer WM, Gullion CM, Funk K, Smith P, Samuel-Hodge C, Myers V, Lien LF, Laferriere D, Kennedy B, Jerome GJ, Heinith F, Harsha DW, Evans P, Erlinger TP, Dalcin AT, Coughlin J, Charleston J, Champagne CM, Bauck A, Ard JD, Aicher K; Weight Loss Maintenance Collaborative Research Group. Comparison of strategies for sustaining weight loss: the weight loss maintenance randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2008; 299(10):1139-48.
  • Kennedy BM, Burnett MF. Clinical research trials: factors that influence and hinder participation. J Cult Divers. 2007;14(3):141-7.
  • Kennedy BM, Ard JD, Harrison L Jr, Conish BK, Kennedy E, Levy EJ, Brantley PJ. Cultural characteristics of African Americans: implications for the design of trials that target behavior and health promotion programs. Ethn Dis. 2007;17(3):548-54.
  • Kennedy BM, Paeratakul S, Champagne CM, Ryan DH, Harsha DW, McGee B, Johnson G, Deyhim F, Forsythe W, Bogle ML; Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative. A pilot church-based weight loss program for African-American adults using church members as health educators: a comparison of individual and group intervention. Ethn Dis. 2005;15:373-8.

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Thomas Lasater, PhD
Professor, Community Health
Director, Institute for Community Health Promotion
Brown Medical School
Providence, RI

Representative publications:

  • Parker DR, Windsor RA, Roberts MB, Hecht J, Hardy NV, Strolla LO, Lasater TM. Feasibility, cost, and cost-effectiveness of a telephone-based motivational intervention for underserved pregnant smokers. Nicotine Tob Res. 2007;9(10):1043-51.
  • Risica PM, Burkholder G, Gans KM, Lasater TM, Acharyya S, Davis C, Kirtania U. Assessing fat-related dietary behaviors among black women: reliability and validity of a new Food Habits Questionnaire. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2007;39(4):197-204.
  • Weinstock MA, Risica PM, Martin RA, Rakowski W, Dubé C, Berwick M, Goldstein MG, Acharyya S, Lasater T. Melanoma early detection with thorough skin self-examination: the "Check It Out" randomized trial. Am J Prev Med. 2007;32(6):517-24.
  • Gans KM, Burkholder GJ Jr, Risica PM, Harrow B, Lasater TM. Cost-effectiveness of minimal contact education strategies for cholesterol change. Ethn Dis. 2006; 16(2):443-51.

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Wendell Taylor, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor, Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences
University of Texas Health Science
Houston, TX

Representative publications:

  • Lees E, Taylor WC, Hepworth JT, Feliz K, Cassells A, Tobin JN. Environmental changes to increase physical activity: perceptions of older urban ethnic-minority women. J Aging Phys Act. 2007;15(4):425-38.
  • Dowda M, Pate RR, Sallis JF, Freedson PS, Taylor WC, Sirard JR, Trost SG. Agreement between student-reported and proxy-reported physical activity questionnaires. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2007;19(3):310-8.
  • Whitt-Glover MC, Taylor WC, Heath GW, Macera CA. Self-reported physical activity among blacks: estimates from national surveys. Am J Prev Med. 2007; 33(5):412-7.
  • Taylor WC, Floyd MF, Whitt-Glover MC, Brooks J. Environmental justice: a framework for collaboration between the public health and parks and recreation fields to study disparities in physical activity. J Phys Act Health. 2007; 4 Suppl 1:S50-63.
  • Hyman DJ, Pavlik VN, Taylor WC, Goodrick GK, Moye L. Simultaneous vs sequential counseling for multiple behavior change. Arch Intern Med. 2007; 167(11):1152-8.

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Delia Smith West, PhD
Professor, Department of Health Behavior & Health Education
Director, Interdisciplinary Obesity Program
College of Public Health
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, AR

Representative publications:

  • Allison KC, Engel SG, Crosby RD, de Zwaan M, O'Reardon JP, Wonderlich SA, Mitchell JE, Smith West D, Wadden TA, Stunkard AJ. Evaluation of diagnostic criteria for night eating syndrome using item response theory analysis. Eat Behav. 2008; 9(4):398-407.
  • Krukowski RA, West DS, Siddiqui NJ, Bursac Z, Phillips MM, Raczynski JM. No change in weight-based teasing when school-based obesity policies are implemented.
    Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162(10):936-42.
  • Locher JL, Ritchie CS, Robinson CO, Roth DL, Smith West D, Burgio KL. A multi-dimensional approach to understanding under-eating in homebound older adults: the importance of social factors. Gerontologist. 2008;48(2):223-34.
  • Allison KC, Crow SJ, Reeves RR, West DS, Foreyt JP, Dilillo VG, Wadden TA, Jeffery RW, Van Dorsten B, Stunkard AJ. Binge eating disorder and night eating syndrome in adults with type 2 diabetes. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007;15(5):1287-93.
  • Huffman L, West DS. Readiness to change sugar sweetened beverage intake among college students. Eat Behav. 2007;8(1):10-4.

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Sharon B. Wyatt, RN, CS, PhD
Professor, Nephrology & Hypertension
University of Mississippi Medical Center
School of Nursing/Division of Medicine-Hypertension
Jackson, MS

Representative publications:

  • Minor D, Wofford M, Wyatt SB. Does socioeconomic status affect blood pressure goal achievement? Curr Hypertens Rep. 2008 Oct;10(5):390-7.
  • Wyatt SB, Akylbekova EL, Wofford MR, Coady SA, Walker ER, Andrew ME, Keahey WJ, Taylor HA, Jones DW. Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the Jackson Heart Study. Hypertension. 2008 Mar;51(3):650-6.
  • Carson AP, Rose KM, Catellier DJ, Kaufman JS, Wyatt SB, Diez-Roux AV, Heiss G. Cumulative socioeconomic status across the life course and subclinical atherosclerosis. Ann Epidemiol. 2007 Apr;17(4):296-303.
  • Loustalot FV, Wyatt SB, Boss B, McDyess T. Psychometric examination of the Daily Spiritual experiences Scale. J Cult Divers. 2006 Fall;13(3):162-7.

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Antronette (Toni) Yancey, MD, MPH
Associate Professor, Health Services
Director, DrPH Program
UCLA School of Public Health
Los Angeles, CA

Representative publications:

  • McCarthy WJ, Yancey AK, Siegel JM, Wong WK, Ward A, Leslie J, Gonzalez E. Correlation of obesity with elevated blood pressure among racial/ethnic minority children in two Los Angeles middle schools. Prev Chronic Dis. 2008;5(2):A46.

  • Kratz RE, Ponce NA, Yancey AK. Process evaluation of the Los Angeles Unified School District Nutrition Network. Prev Chronic Dis. 2008;5(2):A42.
  • Yancey AK, Herring RP, Fraser GE, Yan R, Baker P, Lampkin A, Kyle J. Black art posters, an incentive to increase study enrollment among Blacks in a large cohort study.
    Prev Med. 2008;46(4):370-3.
  • Lara A, Yancey AK, Tapia-Conye R, Flores Y, Kuri-Morales P, Mistry R, Subirats E, McCarthy WJ. Pausa para tu Salud: reduction of weight and waistlines by integrating exercise breaks into workplace organizational routine. Prev Chronic Dis. 2008;5(1):A12
  • Yancey AK, Kumanyika SK. Bridging the Gap: understanding the structure of social inequities in childhood obesity. Am J Prev Med. 2007;33(4 Suppl):S172-4.

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Deborah Rohm Young, PhD
Assoc. Professor, Exercise Epidemiology
University of Maryland
College Park, MD

Representative publications:

  • Funk KL, Elmer PJ, Stevens VJ, Harsha DW, Craddick SR, Lin PH, Young DR, Champagne CM, Brantley PJ, McCarron PB, Simons-Morton DG, Appel LJ. PREMIER--a trial of lifestyle interventions for blood pressure control: intervention design and rationale. Health Promot Pract. 2008 Jul;9(3):271-80.
  • Elder JP, Lytle L, Sallis JF, Young DR, Steckler A, Simons-Morton D, Stone E, Jobe JB, Stevens J, Lohman T, Webber L, Pate R, Saksvig BI, Ribisl K. A description of the social-ecological framework used in the trial of activity for adolescent girls (TAAG). Health Educ Res. 2007 Apr;22(2):155-65.
  • Kuo J, Voorhees CC, Haythornthwaite JA, Young DR. Associations between family support, family intimacy, and neighborhood violence and physical activity in urban adolescent girls. Am J Public Health. 2007 Jan;97(1):101-3.Mabry IR,
  • Young DR, Phillips JA, Yu T, Haythornthwaite JA. Effects of a life skills intervention for increasing physical activity in adolescent girls. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006 Dec; 160(12):1255-61.

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Community-Based Research Partners

Hugh "Habibullah" Green
Community Health Advocate
Sankofaa Health Institute
Portland, OR

Habib Green was a key player in Multnomah County Power for Health, a project designed to research disparities and similarities between the African-American and Latino populations throughout the greater Portland (OR) metropolitan area. He taught classes with Kaiser Permanente with their Diffusion study researching the effectiveness of community based participatory research within the inner-city African-American community. Currently, he works with the Sankofaa Health Institute offering free health services to Portland inner-city specializing in prostate cancer awareness, diabetes, and obesity.

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Kajuandra Harris Huntley
Regional Extension Agent, Human Nutrition, Diet and Health
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Tuskegee, AL

Kajuandra Harris Huntley provides clientele with current research-based information, in the form of educational programs, presentations and exhibits. Her professional and research interests include community nutrition, pediatric overweight prevention and management, physical activity assessment, chronic diseases, lifestyle and behavior modification, and health disparities. Mrs. Harris-Huntley is also actively involved in several health initiatives to promote healthier and active lifestyles, and she is committed to developing and providing superior nutrition, diet and health education programs. Most recently, she served as Co-Project Investigator on a grant funded by the Alabama Department of Education to train school food service workers throughout the state of Alabama on ways to implement new wellness policies in their schools.

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Anna Huff
Project Director, Mid-Delta Community Consortium
Community Liaison, College of Public Health
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
West Helena, AR

As the Project Director of the Mid Delta Community Consortium (MDCC), Ms. Huff manages an annual budget of $1 million, $700,000 of which is administered and distributed among 38 Delta counties in Arkansas to assist in meeting unmet health needs through the provision and coordination of technical assistance to ensure sustainability in these communities. She is very engaged in community activities and community-campus partnerships. She presently serves as a member of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, Community-Campus Partnerships for Health, and the Marvell Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative (NIRI)

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Denise Johnson, MPH
Health Education Coordinator
CareOregon
Portland, OR

Ms. Johnson is the Health Education Coordinator with CareOregon, a managed health care plan serving Medicaid and Medicare enrollees. She also is the owner/principal of Health Pursuits, a firm offering fitness and health consultation services to individuals and community-based organizations. Her research interests include the study of the effects of exercise on chronic conditions and exercise adherence.

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Laverne Morrow Carter, PhD, MPH
President/Managing Principal
REsearch and Evaluation SolutionS, Inc.(REESSI) (formerly Carter Research Group, Inc.) Alexandria, VA

Laverne Morrow Carter is a community health researcher who possesses more than 25 years of experience in designing and evaluating community-based health and social programs. She has managed more than $20 million in government and commercial health-related projects. For the last few years, Dr. Carter has conducted evaluations and assessments of the health status and health behaviors of residents of both urban and rural Black communities. Through her consulting firm, she studies and facilitates strategies that assist both government and non-government organizations in the implementation of interventions that offer a broad range of health, social, and economic opportunities in poor communities of color.

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Jackie Scott
Community Health Advocate
Portland, OR

Jackie Scott first became involved with public health as a tobacco prevention and education manager for The Urban League of Portland. During his three-year tenure he primarily worked with teens, pre-teens and young mothers regarding tobacco and health and methods of smoking cessation. He also was the Urban League's representative on a multicultural council that worked with the medical community in identifying inequities in healthcare in minority and underserved communities.

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Tirzah Spencer, PhD
Washington, DC

Representative publications:

  • Sirard JR, Alhassan S, Spencer TR, Robinson TN. Changes in physical activity from walking to school. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2008 Sep-Oct;40(5):324-6.
  • Alhassan S, Sirard JR, Spencer TR, Varady A, Robinson TN. Estimating physical activity from incomplete accelerometer data in field studies. J Phys Act Health. 2008;5 Suppl 1:S112-25.

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© 2007 African American Collaborative Obesity Research Network. All Rights Reserved.