Chisom Blessing Okoli  First Place. PhD Student, Department of Nutritional Sciences

Presentation Title: Black Parents’ Perceptions about and Barriers to Limiting Sugar-Sweetened Beverages among Young Children

Chisom Blessing Okoli is a PhD Student in the Department of Nutritional Sciences., Her research focuses on childhood obesity prevention under the mentorship of Dr. Caree Cotwright. Chisom applies a mixed method approach (quantitative and qualitative) to develop innovative interventions that promote healthy beverages, fruit, and vegetable consumption among Black families.

Mary Catherine Prater  Second Place. PhD/DI Candidate, Department of Nutritional Sciences

Presentation Title: Cottonseed oil shows favorable blood lipid improvements in hypercholesterolemic adults compared to olive oil

Mary Catherine Prater is a third year PhD candidate and dietetic intern in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. She is a member of the Human Nutrition Lab and studies with Dr. Jamie Cooper. Her research interests include how fatty acid composition of the diet can influence cardiovascular and metabolic health

Christabel Ampong Domfe Third Place. MS Student, Department of Nutritional Sciences

Presentation Title: Area of Residence (rural vs urban) and Obesity Prevalence Among Mother-Father Dyads in Ghana

Christabel Domfe is an MS student in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. She works in Dr. Alex Anderson’s Maternal and Child Nutrition Research Laboratory as a Graduate Research Assistant. Her research interests center on promoting food security, and maternal and child health.