Carol Connell, Ph.D., R.D. profile and information

Professional Experience

Academic Experience

October 2023 to Present Interim Extension Specialist; Human Nutrition, Diet and Health Department of Nutritional Sciences College of Human Sciences Auburn University January 

2021 to Present Professor Emeritus of Nutrition The University of Southern Mississippi

May 2021 to May 2023 Adjunct Instructor Nutrition & Hospitality Management The University of Alabama

July 2018 –December 2020 Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education College of Education and Human Sciences Professor, Nutrition and Food Systems The School of Kinesiology and Nutrition The University of Southern Mississippi 

July 2016-June 2018 Professor Nutrition and Food Systems College of Health The University of Southern Mississippi 

August 2013- June 2016 Professor, Director Didactic Program in Dietetics Nutrition and Food Systems College of Health The University of Southern Mississippi 

March 2010-July 2013 Associate Professor, Director Didactic Program in Dietetics Nutrition and Food Systems College of Health The University of Southern Mississippi 

August 2007-March 2010 Associate Professor Nutrition and Food Systems College of Health The University of Southern Mississippi 

August 2005-June 2007 Assistant Professor Nutrition and Food Systems College of Health The University of Southern Mississippi 

2002-2005 Research Scientist/Assistant Research Professor Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative (Delta NIRI) The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 

1996-2002 Research Coordinator Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative (Delta NIRI) The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 

1997-2004 Adjunct Instructor Department of Nutrition and Food Systems The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 

1999-2003 Adjunct Instructor Pearl River Community College Forrest County Center, Hattiesburg, MS 

1992-1996 Adjunct Instructor Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL 

1988-1990 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Graduate Research Assistant Department of Nutrition and Foods, Auburn University, AL

Industry Experience 

1995-1996 Renal Dietitian Northeast Alabama Kidney Clinic, Anniston, AL 

1991-1995 Chief Clinical Dietitian Food and Nutrition Services Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center, Anniston, AL

1989-1990 Consultant Dietitian & 1991-1992 Nutritional Health Care/CHH Health Technologies, Lanett, AL/St. Louis, MO 

1989- 1990 Consultant Dietitian Opelika Health Care, Opelika, AL 

1986-1988 Clinical Dietitian/Chief Clinical Dietitian Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center, Anniston, AL 

1985-1986 Institutional Dietitian I Partlow State School and Hospital, Tuscaloosa, AL 

1983-1985 Clinical Dietitian Citizens Hospital, Talladega, AL

Innovation

Representative Research Publications

Huye, H.F., Paprzycki,P., Connell, C.L. (2024). Improving the Performance of a Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire for a Low-Socioeconomic-Status Population using Rasch Analysis. Published online ahead of print at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15248399231222463 Health Promotion Practice.

Huye, H.F., Connell, C.L., Dufrene, B.A., Mohn, R.S., Newkirk, C. Tannehill*, J., Sutton, V. (2020). Development of the Impact of a Preschool Obesity Prevention (I-POP) Intervention Enhanced with Positive Behavioral Supports for Mississippi Head Start Centers. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior,52, 1148-1152. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2020.09.010.

Connell, C.L., Wang, S., Crook, L., Yadrick, K. (2019). Barriers to healthcare seeking and provision among African American adults in the rural Mississippi Delta region: Community and provider perspectives. Journal of Community Health, online ahead of print: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-019-00620-1 January 19, 2019.

Huye, H.F., Molaison, E.F., Downey, L.H., Landry, A.S., Crook, L.B., Connell, C.L. (2017). Development of a Nutrition Education Program for the Mississippi Communities for Healthy Living Nutrition Intervention Using the Diffusions of Innovations Theory. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 5(3), 16-34.

Wang, S., Crook, L., Connell, C., Yadrick, K. (2017) “We need help in the Delta”: Barriers to health promotion among older African American men in the Mississippi Delta. American Journal of Men’s Health, 11, 414-425. DOI: 10.1177/1557988316684472

Landry, A. S., Thomson, J. L., Huye, H. F., Yadrick, K., & Connell, C. L. (2016) Mississippi Communities for Healthy Living: Results of a 6-Month Nutrition Education Comparative Effectiveness Trial. Health Education & Behavior, 44(2), 316-325.

Connell, C.L., Thomson, J.L., Huye, H.F., Landry, A.S., Crook, L.B., Yadrick, K. (2015). Mississippi Communities for Healthy Living: Implementing a nutrition intervention effectiveness study in a rural health disparate region. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 42, 196-203.

Landry, A. S., Thomson, J. L., Madson, M. B., Zoellner, J. M., Mohn, R., Noble, J.*, Connell, C., & Yadrick, K. (2015). Changes in psychosocial constructs and post-intervention changes in physical activity and dietary outcomes in a lifestyle intervention: HUB City Steps, 2010. Preventing Chronic Disease, 12:140525. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd12.140525.

Zoellner, J.M., Connell, C., Madson, M., Thomson, J.L., Landry, A.S., Molaison, E., Reed, V.B., Yadrick, K. (2014). HUB City Steps: A 6-month lifestyle intervention improves blood pressure among a primarily African American community. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic, 114, 603-612.

Cuy Castellanos, D.*, Downey, L., Graham-Kresge, S., Yadrick, K., Zoellner, J., Connell, C.L. (2013). Examining the diet of post-migrant Hispanic males using the precede-proceed model: predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling dietary factors. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior,45, 109-118.

Connell, C.L., Zoellner, J.M., Yadrick, M.K., Chekuri, S.C., Crook, L.B., Bogle, M.L. (2012) Energy density, nutrient adequacy and cost per serving can provide insight into food choices in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior, 44, 148-153. doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2011.02.003

Zoellner, J.M., You, W., Connell, C., Smith-Ray, R.L., Allen, K., Tucker, K.L., Davy, B.M., Estabrooks, P.A. (2011). Health literacy is associated with healthy eating index scores and sugar-sweetened beverage intake: Findings from the Rural Lower Mississippi Delta. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111, 1012-1020.

Molaison, E.F., Taylor, K.*, Erickson, D., Connell, C.L. (2009) The use and perceptions of concept mapping as a learning tool by dietetic interns and preceptors. Journal of Allied Health,38(3), e-97-e-103

Connell, C.L., Yadrick, M.K., Simpson, P., Gossett, J., McGee, B., Bogle, M.B. (2007) Food adequacy in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior, 39(2), 77-83.

Casey, P.H., Simpson, P.M., Gossett, J.M., Bogle, M.L., Champagne, C.M., Connell, C., Harsha, D., McCabe-Sellers. B., Robbins, J.M., Stuff, J.E., Weber, J. (2006) Child and Household Food Insecurity is Associated with Childhood Overweight Status. Pediatrics, 118(5), e1406-e1413.

Connell, C.L., Lofton, K. L.*, Yadrick, K., Rehner, T.A. (2005) Children’s experiences of food insecurity can assist in understanding its effect on their well-being. Journal of Nutrition, 135, 1683-1690.

Tucker, K.L., Maras,J., Champagne, C., Connell, C., Goolsby, S., Weber, J., Zaghloul, S., Carithers, T., Bogle, M.L. (2005) Development of a regional food frequency questionnaire based on food contributors to energy and nutrients in the Mississippi Delta Region of the United States. Public Health Nutrition. 8(1), 87-91.

Connell, C.L., Nord, M., Lofton, K.L., Yadrick, K. (2004) Food security of older children can be assessed using a standardized survey instrument. Journal of Nutrition 134, 2566-2572. 

Stuff, J., Casey, P., Szeto, K., Gossett, J., Robbins, J., Simpson, P., Connell, C., Bogle, M.L. (2004) Household food insecurity is associated with adult health status. Journal of Nutrition. 134, 2330-2335.

The Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Consortium (Authors: Stuff, J.E., Horton, J.A., Bogle, M.L., Connell, C., Ryan, D., Zaghloul, S., Thornton, A., Simpson, P., Gossett, J., Szeto, K.) (2004) High prevalence of food insecurity and hunger in households in the rural lower Mississippi Delta. The Journal of Rural Health. 20 (2), 173-180.

(for full listing, see Curriculum Vita, *indicates student)