Biography

Dr. Olivia M. Thompson is a nutritional scientist with over 15 years of public health experience in both private and public sectors.  She earned her Master of Public Health Degree in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education from Emory University and her Doctorate in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Washington and she is Board Certified in Public Health (CPH).  Additionally, she has completed research fellowships at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Thompson currently serves as an Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico where she teaches public health courses and conducts research designed to prevent and control chronic diseases.

Areas of Specialty

  • Nutrition and Food Systems Science
  • Community Economic Development
  • Public Health Program and Policy Development, Implementation, and Evaluation

Education

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD (2009)

Ph.D. Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (2007)

Graduate Fellowship, Nutrition Branch, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA (2002)

M.P.H. Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (2001)

B.S. Major in Psychology and Minor in Biology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Sciences and Mathematics, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC (1999)

Certifications

Certified in Public Health (C.P.H.), National Board of Public Health Examiners, ID 17961

Achievements & Awards

Extramural Funding Awards

  • Sustainable Food Systems Curriculum Development Grant, Sponsor: The Boeing Company, Role: PI, Amount Funded: $250,000 (2018-2020)
  • State-Wide, Farm-to-School Program Development, Implementation and Evaluation Initiative, Sponsor: The Boeing Company, Role: PI, Amount Funded: $1,770,000 (2011-2019)
  • 7-County Summer Feeding Program Needs Assessment, Sponsor: ConAgra Foods Foundation, Role: External Evaluator, Amount Funded: $53,000 (2015-2016)
  • Tobacco-Free Campus Policy Development and Implementation Initiative, Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Role: Site PI, Amount Funded: $81,550 (2012-2013)
  • Nutrition Assistance in Farmers Markets: Understanding Current Operations Study, Sponsor: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Role: Manager of Survey Operations (Consultant), Amount Funded: $1,800,000 (2010-2011)
  • Understanding the Intersection between Childhood Obesity and Childhood Hunger Study, Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (NIH), Role: Epidemiologist (Consultant), Amount Funded: $180,000 (2009-2011)

Training Grant Awards

  • NIH Biobehavioral Cancer Prevention and Control Training Grant, Epidemiology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (2005-2007)
  • Global Field Experience Training Grant, Hawaii State Department of Health, Honolulu, HI (2000)

Key Publications

Complete List of Published Work in My Bibliography: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/olivia.thompson.2/bibliography/public/

Courses Taught

Undergraduate

  • Introduction to Public/Population Health
  • Global Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Introduction to Human Nutrition/Principles of Nutrition
  • Public Health Capstone Course

 

Graduate or Professional

  • Public Health Nutrition
  • Theory in Health Education and Behavior
  • Sustainable Farming/Food Systems
  • Sustainable Food Production/Food Systems
  • Dietetic Internship Preceptor: Food Service and Research Rotations