Dr. Stephenson, an Associate Professor in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, has served on the faculty in the department for 18 years. She started her career in DHN as a Lecturer and has a passion for teaching, student success, and student administration. Dr. Stephenson is the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Dietetics and Human Nutrition programs, Director of the Undergraduate Certificate in Food Systems and Hunger Studies, and Co-Director of the Undergraduate Certificate in Nutrition for Human Performance. During her career at UK, Dr. Stephenson has taught a wide range of courses and currently teaches Introductory Nutrition, Advanced Nutrition, Nutrition Issues in Physical Activity, Research and Writing in Dietetics, and Special Topics in Dietetics in Human Nutrition. In addition, she teaches GEN 100: Current Topics in Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, a course taken by incoming freshman in the College.

Dr. Stephenson has mentored over 200 undergraduate research projects and serves as the faculty advisor to the Campus Kitchen at the University of Kentucky, Spoon U at UK, and the UK chapter of Changing Health, Attitudes, and Actions to Recreate Girls (CHAARG). She is involved in numerous experiential learning and outreach activities, including Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud.  She serves on the Undergraduate Council at UK, the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee in the College, and the Student Success Team in the College.

Writing and development of innovative, engaging, and impactful digital learning materials are important to Dr. Stephenson. She is the co-author of an introductory nutrition textbook, Human Nutrition: Science for Healthy Living 1e and 2e (McGraw-Hill Education), and a sports nutrition textbook, Williams’ Nutrition for Health, Fitness, and Sport 12e (McGraw-Hill Education). In addition to the print textbook, Dr. Stephenson serves as the lead digital author for the online adaptive digital learning activities for each of these textbooks.

Dr. Stephenson is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB), the North American Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), and the Textbook and Academic Authors Association (TAA). She has been active in the Nutrition Educators of Health Professionals (NEHP) practice group of AAND for many years, having served in the Chair and Secretary roles and currently as The Educator’s Resource newsletter editor (quarterly publication).

Professor Stephenson has received several awards and honors in recognition of excellence in teaching, advising, and undergraduate mentoring. These include the UK Alumni Association’s Great Teacher Award (2016), the UK Provost’s Outstanding Teacher Award (2014),  the UK Outstanding Faculty Partner through the Division of Student Affairs (2015), the NACTA Teaching Award of Merit (2015), the Kentucky Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Outstanding Educator Award (2014), the Bob Hough Teaching Tip Award from the NACTA Journal (2015), the UK College of Nursing Excellence in Teaching Award (2012), and the Gamma Sigma Delta Master Teacher Award (2012). She has also been recognized multiple years as a nominee for the UK Ken Freedman Outstanding Faculty Advisor award and as a Teacher Who Makes a Difference through the UK College of Education.

As Albert Einsten wrote, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” Dr. Stephenson strives to do this in her teaching, research, textbook and educational material development, advising, administrative work, and mentoring.

Research

• Innovative teaching in higher education
• Learner-centered approaches to teaching
• Service learning in higher education
• Effective use of technology in teaching