Nutrition and Foods Program

Brook Harmon

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First Name: 
Brook
Last Name: 
Harmon
Title: 
Associate Professor
Degree: 
PhD in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior at the University of South Carolina
Email: 
harmonbe1@appstate.edu
Office: 
LLH 575
Phone: 
828-262-2630
Fax: 
828-262-8626

Background  

Dr. Harmon is an Associate Professor in Nutrition and Foods at Appalachian State University. She served as a dietetic preceptor for 8 years and has taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels for 10 years. Before earning her doctorate, she served as the Director of Dietary Interventions at the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Harmon uses the application of community-based participatory research practices to examine the role of the faith-based community in the development and implementation of health promotion and disease prevention programs. Much of her work includes partnering with churches to promote health through culinary and physical activity skills training as well as research on leadership and environmental factors that influence healthy behaviors.

Education   

  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Cancer Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii’s Cancer Center
  • PhD, Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina
  • MS, Exercise Science, University of South Carolina
    • Certificate of Study, Gerontology, University of South Carolina
  • BS, Human Nutrition, Winthrop University

Current Courses Being Taught

  • NUT 2202 Nutrition and Health
  • NUT 5000 Research Methods in Nutrition and Foods

Professional Affiliations / Organizations  

  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 
  • Society of Behavioral Medicine
  • American Society for Nutrition

Research Interests   

  • Community-based participatory research (particularly with faith-based partners) 
  • Nutrition and physical activity behavior change 
  • Obesity and chronic disease prevention 
  • Influence of health messaging and social networks on diet and physical activity practices 

Selected Publications   

  • Harmon, BE, Shvetsov, YB, Lim, U, Leak, CL, San Diego ERN, Monroe, KR, Wilkens, LR, Le Marchand, L. The Joint Association of Cardiometabolic Health and Weight on Mortality in the Multiethnic Cohort. Ethnicity & Health. 2020; doi: 10.1080/13557858.2020.1771680.
  • Harmon, BE, Schmidt, M, Escobar, F, San Diego, ERN, Steele, A. Filling the gaps: The role of faith-based organizations in addressing the health needs of today’s Latino Communities. Journal of Religion and Health. 2020; doi: 10.1007/s10943-020-01002-x. 
  • Nigg, CR, Harmon, BE, Jiang, Y, Martin Ginis, KA, Motl, RW, Dishman, RK. Temporal sequencing of physical activity change constructs within the Transtheoretical Model. Psychology of Sport & Exercise. 2019; 45(101557), doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101557. 
  • Geller, K, Harmon, B, Burse, N, Strayhorn, S. Church-based social support on African-Americans’ physical activity varies by support type and source. Journal of Religion and Health. 2020; 58(3): 977-991, doi: 10.1007/s10943-018-0576-4. 
  • Park, SY, Kang, M, Wilkens, L, Shvetsov, Y, Harmon, B, Shivappa, N, Wirth, M, Hebert, J, Haiman, C, Le Marchand, L, Boushey, C. The Dietary Inflammatory Index and all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and cancer mortality in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Nutrients. 2018; 10(12), 1844; doi:10.3390/nu10121844.

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