Nutrition and Foods Program

Brook Harmon

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First Name: 
Brook
Last Name: 
Harmon
Title: 
Professor
Degree: 
PhD in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior at the University of South Carolina
Email: 
harmonbe1@appstate.edu
Office: 
LLH 572
Phone: 
828-262-2630
Fax: 
828-262-8626

Background  

Dr. Harmon is a Professor in Nutrition and Foods at Appalachian State University. She is a registered dietitian with a BS in human nutrition, MS in exercise science, and PhD in health promotion, education, and behavior. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in nutrition epidemiology at the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center. Before arriving at AppState, she was faculty at the University of Memphis where she taught graduate courses and mentored master's and doctoral students in their School of Public Health. Dr. Harmon's scholarship uses community-based participatory research approaches and partnerships with faith-based organizations to impact diet, physical activity, and other health behaviors among clergy, congregations, and communities. 

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 3400 Cultural Foods
  • NUT 4560 Community Nutrition
  • NUT 5000 Research Methods in Nutrition and Foods

Professional Affiliations / Organizations  

  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 
  • Society of Behavioral Medicine
  • Society for the Scientific Study of Religion

Research Interests   

  • Community-based participatory research (particularly with faith-based partners) 
  • Community health needs assessment
  • The impact of resources and environments on nutrition and physical activity behaviors

Selected Publications   

  • Harmon, B.E., Lewis, J., Ivery-Glover, J., Baptist, B., Daniel, R., Warnock, J., Townsend, S., Smith, S., Madubuonwu, S. (2025). A cross-sectional study conducted in the United States examining associations between religious engagement and in-patient hospital experience and 30-day readmission. Journal of Religion and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-025-02429-w
  • San Diego, E.R.N., West, N.T., Pichon, L.C., Jiang, Y., Powell, T.W., Rugless, F., Lewis, J., Campbell, B., McCann, L., McNeal, S., Harmon, B.E. (2024). Associations between sociodemographic variables, social determinants of health, and diabetes: Findings from a Congregational Health Needs Assessment. American Journal of Health Promotion. doi.org/10.1177/08901171241234662. PMCID: 11376194
  • Harmon, B.E., Nelson, J., West, N.T., Webb, B., Webster, K., Webster, T., Case, T., Leach, C. (2024). Establishing the Reliability and Validity of the Caring Factor Survey-Caring for Self among Protestant Clergy. Pastoral Psychology, 73:683-694, doi.org/10.1007/s11089-023-01121-8.
  • West, N.T., Harmon, B.E., Case, T., Huey, M., Webb, B.L., Nelson, J., Webster, K.H., Webster, T.A., Leach, C.H. (2024). A scoping review of self-care within the context of obesity-related outcomes among faith leaders. American Journal of Health Promotion. doi.org/10.1177/08901171231204669. 
  • Harmon, B.E., West, N.T., Webb, B.L., Johnson, B.M., Smith, S. (2023). Fit with Faith: An exploratory study examining a behavior change intervention for African-American clergy and their spouses. Journal of Religion and Health. doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01820-9. 

Ministerial Wellness and Care Collective Website

Congregational Health Needs Assessment Survey and Planning Tools