Biography
Dr. Lori Andersen Spruance's primary research interest is food insecurity, nutrition and physical activity in children. She focuses on evaluating programs aimed at improving physical activity and nutrition in children and adolescents, with a particular interest in the School Breakfast Program. She has worked on several federally funded grants examining the effectiveness of school-based salad bar programs, and has published in the area of active transportation to schools, physical activity among low-income African American adults, and stair usage. Her current projects examine fruit and vegetable outcomes relative to participation in school breakfast, the effect of alternative breakfast models on cognitive performance, and interventions to improve the youth sports environment. In her spare time, Dr. Spruance likes to run, ski, and go on hikes with her dog and husband, Clint. Dr. Spruance graduated with her Bachelor's degree from Utah State University in School Health and Physical Education, a Master's of Education in Health Promotion from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and received her PhD from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.