Joley Helton joined the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition in 2025 and supports research efforts focused on improving food security and healthy eating in rural Appalachia. Joley holds a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Boston University, where her training focused on noncommunicable disease prevention and nutrition-related health outcomes. A proud native of Southeastern Kentucky, Joley has a keen interest in improving food access and community health in rural areas through a blend of research and community outreach. Prior to joining the University of Kentucky, Joley managed large-scale food access programs within the nonprofit sector and contributed to national frameworks for advancing nutrition equity research efforts at the National Institutes of Health.