Area of Expertise

Nutrition and nutrition education; health communication; health promotion, including school and worksite health promotion

Additional Information

Dr. Anastasia Snelling is a professor and Chair of the Department of Health Studies at American University. She has been a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as a registered dietitian for over thirty years and a fellow in the American College of Nutrition. Her research focuses on methods of behavior change in nutrition education to manage risk factors related to chronic disease. Specifically, her work uses the school environment to improve the health status and academic achievement of children. This work is funded with a five-year National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant. Grounded in the Social Ecological Model, her work in school health examines different levels of influence that can improve the health and food environment, leading to improved health and weight status. By addressing the needs of the child within the social, economic, and cultural contexts where they live, the research aligns health and education to enable students to reach their full potential. Reliable evidence indicates that healthy students are better learners, and, consequently, good health is fundamental to ensuring an effective education. Additional research projects include evaluation of food consumption in DC public schools and the impact of healthy corner stores in neighborhoods. Dr. Snelling’s book, Introduction to Health Promotion was released in 2014. Dr. Snelling regularly presents her research at national and international conferences. Her research is published in many highly-regarded journals focusing on nutrition, health promotion, and school health. She has appeared on C-Span to discuss food labeling regulation and her opinions and expertise have appeared in such media outlets as Education Week, Washington Post, US World and News Report, and Fox Business News.