Jung Sun Lee

Education

Research

My research examines nutritional health issues in low-income population with a focus on food insecurity, food environments, healthcare utilization, program evaluation of community-based nutrition interventions, and nutrition policy. My research uses multidisciplinary approaches, and both quantitative and qualitative research methods. I have been conducting studies to better understand the extent and nature of food insecurity, to improve the capacity of food and nutrition assistance programs, and to establish research methodology and datasets to examine the nutrition issues in human services including aging services, healthcare, and public assistance to meet the needs of low-income Georgians. For more information about my research and the UGA SNAP-Ed project, visit the Community Nutrition Laboratory.

Teaching

• FDNS4540/6540 Public Health Dietetics
• FDNS4070/6070 Research Methodology in Human Foods and Nutrition

Prior Professional Positions

Editorial Appointments

Outreach

Read about the UGA SNAP-Ed project, Georgia CAFE, and Georgia Hunger Study on the Community Nutrition Laboratory page.

Areas of Expertise

• Community Nutrition
• Nutrition and Health Disparities, Food and Nutrition Insecurity, and Food Assistance Programs
• Aging
• Community-based Nutrition Interventions
• Program Evaluation

Awards

Award Name	Awarded By	Year Awarded
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior Gold Author Recognition Award	Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior	2023
Social Media Education Award 2nd Place State Winner, 3rd Place Regional Winner, as part of the University of Georgia SNAP-Ed (Drink Water, Georgia! a statewide Social Marketing Campaign)	National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences	2023
Program Excellence Through Research Award 1st Place National Winner and 1st Place Southern Region Winner, as part of the University of Georgia SNAP-Ed (A Systematic Evaluation guides the development of UGA SNAP-Ed Social Marketing)	National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences	2020
UGA Athletic Association Professorship	University of Georgia	2019
Program Social Media- Online Video Category Award 3rd Place Southern Region Winner and 1st State Winner, as part of the University of Georgia SNAP-Ed (“Sweet Deceit”)	National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences	2018
Faculty Poster Award	Georgia CTSA Conference	2018
Chris Todd Outstanding Outreach Award (as part of UGA SNAP-Ed)	University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences	2017
Joint Korean Society of Community Nutrition and Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior’s Achievement Award	Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior	2017
Nutrition Education and Behavioral Science Research Interest Group Mid Career Award	American Society for Nutrition	2017
Health Promotion Policy Award (as part of Georgia CAFE)	Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Advisory Committee on Public Policy	2016
Bill and June Flatt Outstanding Extension and Outreach Faculty Award	University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences	2016
Bill and June Flatt Outstanding Faculty Research Award	University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences	2014
University of Georgia Nominee for the 2014 Outreach Scholarship W.K. Kellogg Foundation Engagement Award (as part of the Athens Senior Hunger Coalition)	University of Georgia	2014
Summer Research Award	University of Georgia	2014
C. Peter Magrath University Community Engagement National Outreach Scholarship Examplary Program Award (as part of the Athens Senior Hunger Coalition).	Association of Public and Land Grant Universities	2013
Summer Research Award	University of Georgia	2013
Teacher of the Year	University of Georgia, Department of Foods and Nutrition	2010
Delta Sigma Gamma Junior Research Award	University of Georgia Delta Sigma Gamma Chapter	2010

Books

Herron, B. A., Bell, D., Lee. J. S. (2023). Recruiting for and Conducting Virtual Focus Groups and Interviews with Low-income Populations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In Quests for Questions: Inventive approaches to qualitative interviews, Kathryn Roulston (Ed.), Myers Education Press.

Stotz, S., Lee, J. S. (2020). Food eTalk: Culturally Responsive Focus Group Example. In Focus Groups: Culturally Responsive Approaches for Qualitative Inquiry and Program Evaluation, J. Hall., Myers Education Press.

Fischer, J. G., Johnson, M. A., Lee, J. S. (2014). Nutrition and Healthy Eating in Older Adulthood. In Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion, T. P. Gullotta and M. Bloom (Ed.), Springer Reference.

Current Research

Since I joined the University of Georgia (UGA), I have developed the Georgia Advanced Performance Outcomes Measures Project (GA Advanced POMP) which is the first study to test the feasibility of innovative research methods to improve program evaluation as part of administrative processes based on the partnership between GA Aging Services Network and UGA. I have led the Georgia CAFE (Community Advocacy to Access Food Stamps for the Elderly and Disabled) project since 2011, the first-ever SNAP application assistance model in Georgia to enhance coordination, access, and participation in SNAP for low-income older Georgians based on collaborations among the UGA, the Georgia Legal Services Program, and Georgia Division of Family and Children Services in around 30 urban and rural counties in Georgia. I have also established the UGA SNAP-Ed project, which provides an evidence-based, culturally tailored, multi-level nutrition education and obesity prevention intervention to SNAP-Ed eligible adult Georgian population using existing/augmented network and practice of the UGA Cooperative Extension Services (CES) since 2013.  I have conducted the Georgia Hunger Study in 2023, a statewide needs assessment of the charitable food assistance network based on a partnership among UGA, Feeding Georgia, Geoergia Food Bank Associations, UGA Extension, and GA DHS. This study intended to understand barriers and challenges in food access ampong low-income Georgians using mixed methods. 

Journal Articles

Selected  (2013-Present)

Thapa, K., Rajbhandari-Thapa, J., Hanks, A., Lee, J. S., Zhen, C. (2023). Sugar-sweetened beverage restriction or fruit and vegetable purchase incentive in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Participant’s voice and choice behavior. J Hunger Environ Nutr (In press).

Lee, J. S. (2022). Food insecurity in older adults. J Nutr, 152(8):1808-1809.

Lee, J. S., Bhargava, V., Smith, T., Walker, T. A. (2022). The effects of aging services and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on food insecurity among older Georgians: 2018-2020. Appl Econ Perspect Policy, 44(2):635-652.

Newman, T., Lee, J. S. (2021). Strategies and challenges: Qualitative lessons learned from Georgia Produce Prescription Programs. Health Promot Pract (In Press).

Slagel, N., Newman, T., Sanville, L., Thompson, J. Dallas, J., Cotto-Rivera, E., Lee, J. S. (2021). A pilot Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) program improves local fruit and vegetable consumption, nutrition knowledge, and food purchasing practices. Health Promot Pract (In Press).

Cook, M., Ward, R., Newman, T., Berney, S., Slagel, N., Bussey-Jones, J., Schmidt, S., Lee, JS., Webb-Girard, A. (2021). Food security and clinical outcomes of the 2017 Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) program. J Nutr Educ Behav, 53(9):770-778.

Stotz, S., Lee, J. S., Thompson, J. (2021). “It was an Unexpected Bond”: How an emerging participant-driven online social network may be enhancing an eLearning nutrition education & supplemental produce intervention. Digit Health (In Press).

Stotz, S. A., Habibi, M., Sanville, L., Cotto-Rivera, E., Soler, A., Powell, A., Giraudo, S., Lee, J. S. (2021). Adapting a nutrition education curriculum for low-income Spanish speaking adults: Recommendations from key stakeholders. Ecol Food Nutr (In Press). 

Wei, Y.,  Shannon, J., Lee, J. S. (2021). Impact of grocery store proximity on store preference among Atlanta SNAP-Ed participants. J Nutr Educ Behav, 54(3):263-268.

Walker, T. A., Lee, J. S. (2020). Exploratory study of changes in key food purchasing practices of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-eligible older adults following SNAP benefit receipt. Transl Behav Med, 10:1286-1296.

Ryan-Ibarra, S., DeLisio, A., Bang, H., Omolola, A., Bhargava, V., Franck, K., Funderburk, K., Lee, J. S., Palmer, S., Sneed, C. (2020). The U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education improves nutrition-related behaviors. J Nutr Science, 9 (e44).

Stotz, S., Thompson, J. J., Bhargava, V., Scarrow, A., Lee, J. S. (2020). Feasibility of eLearning nutrition education and supplemental locally-grown produce dissemination model: Perspectives from key stakeholders. J Hunger Environ Nutr. https://doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2020.1768998.

Cotwright, C. J., Bradley, H., Celestin, N., Lee, J. S., Hall, J., Stotz, S., Birch, L. (2020). Determining eLearning Preferences to Inform Beverage Policy Training for Georgia Child Care Providers. J Nutr Educ Behav. 52(7):732-741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2020.02.020.

Stotz, S. A., Sanville, L., Cotwright, C., Reed, R., Habibi, M., Lee, J. S. (2019). Development of a healthful weight management nutrition education curriculum for low-income adults. J Extension, 57(5):#5IAW4.

Stotz, S. A., Thompson, J. J., Bhargava, V., Scarrow, A., Capitano, K., Lee, J.S. (2019). A supplemental produce and eLearning nutrition education program for Georgians who utilize safety-net clinics for their healthcare: Experiences from participants. J Nutr Educ Behav, 52:1099-1106.

Stotz, S., Lee, J. S., Rong, H., Murray, D. (2019). An eLearning nutrition education program for low-income adults: Perspectives of key stakeholders. J Extension, 57(1):#1RIB5.

Shannon, J., Bagwell-Adams, G., Shannon, S., Lee, J. S., Wei, Y. (2018). The mobility of food retailers: how proximity to SNAP authorized food retailers changed in Atlanta during the Great Recession. Soc Science Med, 209: 125-135. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.05.046.

Hague, R., Stotz, S., Childers, A., Phua, J., Hibbs, J., Murray, D., Lee, J. S. (2018). Social Marketing Nutrition Education for Low-Income Population. Soc Work in Public Hlth, 33(5):317-328. doi: 10.1080/19371918.2018.1469065.

Shannon, S., Shannon, J., Bagwell-Adams, G, Lee, J. S. (2018). SNAP benefit levels and enrollment rates by race and place: Evidence from Georgia, 2007-2013. J Hunger Environ Nutr (In press). doi: 10.1080/19320248.2018.1465002.

Stotz ,S., Lee, J. S. (2018). Development of an online smartphone-based eLearning nutrition education program for low-income individuals. J Nutr Educ Behav, 50 (1):90-95.

Bailey, C., Lee, J. S. (2017). Overweight and obesity, weight perception, and weight management practices among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) participants in Georgia: A Needs Assessment. J Nutr Educ Behav, 49(5):422-426.

Adams, G. B., Lee, J. S., Bhargava, V., Super, D. (2017). Offsetting the effects of medical expenses on low-income households’ food budgets: An analysis of the Standard Medical Expense Deduction. The Gerontologist, 57 (2): 359-366.

Bhargava, V., Lee, J. S. (2017). Food insecurity and health care utilization among older adults. J Appl Gerontol, 36(12):1415-1431.

Bhargava, V., Lee, J. S. (2016). Food insecurity and healthcare utilization in older adults in the U. S. J Nutr Gerontol Geriatrics, Jul-Sep;35(3):177-92.

Lee, J. S., Shannon, J. Brown, A. (2015). Characteristics of Older Georgians Receiving Older Americans Act Nutrition Program and Other Home and Community-Based Services. J Nutr Gerontol Geriatrics, 34(2), 168-188.

Sattler, E. L. P., Lee, J. S., Young, H. N. (2015). Factors associated with inpatient hospital (re)admissions in Medicare beneficiaries in need of food assistance. J Nutr Gerontol Geriatrics, 34(2), 228-244.

Shannon, J., Lee, J. S., Holloway, S., Brown, A., Bell, J. (2015). Evaluating the relationship between food access, urban environment, and food security in Georgia’s older population. Applied Geography, 60, 224-229.

Sattler, E. L. P., Lee, J. S., Bhargava, V. (2014). Food insecurity and medication adherence in low-income older Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes. J Nutr Gerontol Geriatrics, 33(4), 401-417.

Lee, J. S. (2013). Food insecurity and healthcare costs: Research strategies using local, state, and national data sources for older adults. Adv Nutr, 4(1), 42-50.

Publications

Bender, A., Lee, J.S., Kim, H., Kurtz, H. (2013). Community food assessment project: Mapping food availability and cost for a weekly regional menu based on the USDA Thrifty Food Plan. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hunger and Environmental Nutrition Dietetic Practitioners Group (Eds.), “Teaching food systems and sustainability in nutrition education and dietetic training: Lessons for educators”. 

Bender, A., Lee, J. S., Kim, H., Kurtz, H. Developing a regional weekly menu plan based on the USDA Thrifty Food Plan. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hunger and Environmental Nutrition Dietetic Practitioners Group (Eds.), “Teaching food systems and sustainability in nutrition education and dietetic training: Lessons for educators”. p68-80

Kurtz, H., Bender, A., Lee, J. S., Kim, H. Surveying food retail outlets for cost of Thrifty Food Basket. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hunger and Environmental Nutrition Dietetic Practitioners Group (Eds.), “Teaching food systems and sustainability in nutrition education and dietetic training: Lessons for educators”. P81-83

Lee, J. S., Bender, A., Kim, H., Kurtz, H. Analyzing food store survey data using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hunger and Environmental Nutrition Dietetic Practitioners Group (Eds.), “Teaching food systems and sustainability in nutrition education and dietetic training: Lessons for educators”. P84-85