Professor Research My research focuses on the nutrition of women and infants, infant and young child feeding, breastfeeding promotion and protection, growth of infants and children, body composition of infants, children and pregnant women, as well as community and international interventions for nutrition and health. I have expertise in both qualitative, quantitative and nutritional research methods. I am currently involved in a multi-site research project evaluating parental practices supporting positive eating behaviors during independent eating occassions among early adolescent children. I am also in the early stages of a collaborative study examining barriers to healthy weight management among women of childbearing age in Ghana. With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation we are preprating to begin a new project as part of a consortium to develop and use technology for dietary assessment in low- and middle-income countries. For more information, see the Maternal and Child Nutrition Laboratory. Current Research I am evaluating the parental practices that support positive eating behaviors during independent eating occassions of early adolescent children with a multi-site team. In a pending study, I am examining barriers to healthy weight management among women of childbearing age in Ghana. As part of the Innovative Passive Dietary Monitoring System Project, I will be conducting both formative and validation studies using various passive technologies for dietary assessemnt in both rural and urban Ghana. Teaching My regular teaching include: Optimal Nutrition for the Life Span (FDNS 4050/6050) Public Health Dietetics (FDNS 4540/6540) Nutritional Epidemiology (FDNS/EPID 5040/7040) First Year Odyssey Seminar (FYOS 1001) titled "Sustainability: Infant Feeding". Outreach Lead a Service-Learning program to Ghana with UGA students, and serve as an advisor to the Athens Area Breastfeeding Coalition. Areas of Expertise Research Methods Community and International Nutrition Nutritional Epidemiology Nutrition Education Program Evaluation Recognition Congratulations to Dr. Alex Kojo Anderson (Professor, Nutrition), and the College of Family and Consumer Sciences for the The UGA Ghana Service-Learning Study Away program selection as a finalist for a 2020 PIEoneer Real Life Learning award. Alex has been the Director of the summer service-learning program since 2006. The program was created to act as a practicum with two main components: hospital and community. Students have the opportunity to observe in hospitals, to perform screenings in the local neighborhoods and to attend lectures on public health issues in Ghana. The PIEoneer Awards is a global award that recognizes both individuals and organizations who are pushing professional standards, evolving their engagement or redefining the international student experience. The winners of the award are to be announced on October 2. Education Education: PhD Nutritional Sciences University of Connecticut 2005 MPH Epidemiology & Biostatistics University of Connecticut 2005 MPHIL Human Nutrition University of Ghana 2001 BSc Nutrition and Food Science University of Ghana 1998
