Laura Downey profile and information
Learn more about Laura Downey
- Professor
- Nutritional Sciences
More bio information
Short Bio
Laura received a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) from the University of Kentucky in 2006, with a concentration in health behavior. She has an M.S. and a B.A. from Auburn University. She has more than two decades of experience teaching, conducting research, managing evaluation projects, and facilitating community-engaged programs. Before returning to Auburn in 2022, she was a professor and Extension specialist in the School of Human Sciences at Mississippi State University, where she led Extension program planning and evaluation efforts. A collaborative approach that engages students and faculty, community members, and both informal and formal leaders as co‑learners is central to her work.
Education
DrPHUniversity of Kentucky2006
M.S.Auburn University 2002
B.A.Auburn University2000
Professional Experience
Laura’s career spans faculty, administrative, and national leadership roles. She has served within the Cooperative Extension System at Mississippi State University, Auburn University, and the Extension Foundation. She has previously provided strategic leadership for Human Sciences Extension programs as the associate dean for Extension in the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University. Laura stepped away from university administration in 2025 to serve as an associate project director of the EXCITE initiative through the Extension Foundation. In this role, she co-leads efforts to strengthen the Cooperative Extension System’s national infrastructure to improve health and well-being. Laura holds the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES®) credential, demonstrating advanced expertise in health education and public health practice.
Innovation
Through research and evaluation, Laura seeks to understand what works, why it works, and how promising practices can be scaled for broader organizational and public health impact. Her scholarly interests include the use of behavioral theory, social marketing strategies, and community-engaged approaches to identify and document strategies for promoting and protecting public health. Her individual and collaborative research efforts have been consistently funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Extension Foundation.
Engagement
Laura’s outreach and engagement efforts have focused on nutrition and human health, family relations, and 4-H healthy living programs.
