Julie Gardner, PhD

Julie Gardner serves as an associated faculty member in the Department of Human Sciences and Design. Dr. Gardner completed a BS in Home Economics with teaching certification (1994) and MS in Educational Administration (2001) from Tarleton State University. She received her PhD in Health Studies with an emphasis in Population Health from Texas Woman’s University in 1994. Dr. Gardner’s dissertation, Access versus Attitude: Determining Influences on Fruit and Vegetable Intake of Fifth Grade Students, focused on understanding food access and behaviors of youth living in food deserts.

Dr. Gardner has been employed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for 28 years. She currently serves as an Extension Specialist for Healthy Lifestyles in the Texas 4-H Youth Development unit of AgriLife. In her role, she provides leadership and coordination for youth health programs throughout the state of Texas. Dr. Gardner provides coordination of the Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador program, a peer education program which uses high school age youth to provide health education within schools and communities. Dr. Gardner is also involved in current research projects which focus on the health impacts of school-based interventions provided through the Healthy School Recognized Campus program of AgriLife. Additionally, Dr. Gardner provides leadership for the Path to the Plate: Connecting Agriculture and Health initiative of AgriLife and is responsible for creating internal and external partnerships to provide more comprehensive resources for nutrition and health education for youth and adults in Texas.

Areas of Teaching Expertise:

• General Nutrition
• Food Delivery Systems
• Youth Health Issues
• Community Partnerships for Improved Health Outcomes

Current Courses Taught:

• NUTR 2380 Food Delivery Systems