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Assistant Professor
Winston Salem State University
Krista Sowell is an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Sport Studies at Winston Salem State University. Her primary teaching responsibilities are in the area of general nutrition. She received her PhD in Nutritional Biology from the University of California Davis in 2016 and specialized in the area of immunology. Dissertation work included research work on investigating maternal nutritional and immunological factors that altered the susceptibility of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in alcohol-exposed infants. The nutritional environment a fetus is exposed to during gestation has a life-long impact on many areas of human health including birth defects, cognitive performance, obesity, and chronic disease risk. Her current research interests are in improving nutrition through evidence-based nutrition education in vulnerable populations. Current projects include reducing the risk of adverse maternal and fetal health complications in underserved populations through embedding a culturally tailored nutrition education program into group prenatal care.