Kathrine E. Wright, Ph.D., MPH

Ph.D. Alumna, Social and Behavioral Health
Kathrine Wright

Summary

Kathrine E. Wright earned her Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Nevada, Reno, in August 2020.  Her research focuses on food insecurity and food inequity and the role these two constructs have in creating health disparities. Wright utilizes a CBPR approach to address cultural level factors that may alleviate food insecurity and associated poor health outcomes. Her dissertation research incorporated anthropological theories and concepts through a public health lens to understand how cultural food security impacts cultural identity and well-being. She believes that a multi-disciplinary approach that combines public health and anthropology is needed to tackle particular food insecurity aspects not widely addressed.

Faculty mentors

Awards

  • Public Health Doctoral Student of the Year, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, 2017

Selected publications

  • Wright, K. E., Lucero, J. E., Ferguson, J. K., Granner, M. L., Devereux, P. G., Pearson, J. L. & Crosbie, E. (2021). The impact that cultural food security has on identity and well-being in the second-generation U.S. American minority college students. Food Security.
  • Wright, K. E., Lucero, J. E., Ferguson, J. K., Granner, M. L., Devereux, P. G., Pearson, J. L. & Crosbie, E. (2021). The influence of cultural food security on cultural identity and well-being: A qualitative comparison between second-generation American and international students in the United States. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 1-27. 
  • Crosbie, E., Pomeranz, J. L., Wright, K. E., Hoeper, S. & Schmidt, L. (2021). State preemption: An emerging threat to local sugar-sweetened beverage taxation. American Journal of Public Health, 111(4), 677-686.
  • Wright, K. E., Lucero, J. E. & Crosbie, E. (2019). “It’s nice to have a little bit of home, even if it’s just on your plate”: Perceived barriers for Latinos accessing food pantries. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 1-18.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Public Health with specialization in Social and Behavioral Health, 2020
  • MPH with an emphasis in Public Health Nutrition, Michigan State University - College of Human Medicine, 2016
  • B.S. in Kinesiology with a specialization in Health Promotion & Fitness Leadership, Michigan State University, 2013