Ayine Priscilla

Priscilla Ayine, PhD
Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist
Nutrition Security and Healthy Eating
Office Location: 214-A Farrell-Westbrook Complex
Phone number: 615 963 5536

Research/Extension Focus
Food and Nutrition security
Food Systems and Healthy food access
School-based health initiatives
community-engaged level interventions

 

POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING

Postdoctoral Research Associate. Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture, Texas A&M AgriLife. Dallas, TX.

EDUCATION

PhD, Nutrition Science, Auburn University. Auburn, AL.

MS, Tuskegee University, Food and Nutritional Science Department. Tuskegee, AL.

BEd, Basic Education, University of Education. Winneba, Ghana.

Teaching Diploma, Boscos College of Education. Navrongo, Ghana


PAST RESEARCH FUNDING

American Heart Association (Resigned)                                                             Ayine ($143,177.00)
 Role: PI                                                                                                            4/1/2023 – 3/31/2025
Evaluating and Promoting Parent Engagement in the Healthy School Recognized Campus (HSRC) Initiative.

The aims of this project are (1) to evaluate the cardiovascular health outcomes of parents who actively participate in the HSRC initiative vs parents who do not actively participate in the HSRC initiative, and (2) use a sequential mixed methods approach to explore barriers, facilitators, and psychosocial health benefits (e.g., reduced stress, increased energy) of parents who actively participate in the HSRC initiative vs parents who do not actively participate in HSRC.

GMaP   Training Grant (Completed)                                                                   Uribe/Ayine ($7500.00)
 Role: Co-Investigator                                                                                                   

Understanding fruit and vegetables intake among low-income infants and caregivers in Dallas, Texas to address cancer health disparities.

The objective of this pilot study is to characterize Fruit and Vegetable consumption among infants and their caregivers and understand ways primary caregivers of low income can increase fruit and vegetable intake in transitioning infants (1 – 3 years old). 

HONORS AND AWARDS

2022     GMaP Travel Award ($2500)

2022     Texas A&M University Postdoctoral Scholar Travel Award ($500)

2021     Auburn University Graduate School Distinguished Dissertation Awards in Humanities/Fine Arts and Biological/Life Sciences.

2021     Second Place Award for Oral Presentation in Human Sciences, Social Sciences, Creative Arts and Humanities. Auburn University – Office of Vice President for Research and Economic Development. Student Research Symposium.

2020     Second Place Award for Poster Presentation in Human Sciences, Social Sciences, Creative Arts and Humanities. Auburn University – Office of Vice President for Research and Economic Development. Student Research Symposium.

2016     First Place for Graduate Student Poster Presentation. Tuskegee University College of Agriculture, Environment, Nutrition Science. The George Washington Carver Lecture Series.

2016     Outstanding Graduate Student Leadership Award. Institute of Food Technologist (Southeastern Section).

Selected Publications

1. Rebecca A. Seguin-Fowler; Karla L. Hanson; Deyaun Villarreal; Chad D. Rethorst; Priscilla Ayine; Sara C. Folta; Jason E. Maddock; Megan S. Patterson; Grace A. Marshall; Leah C. Volpe; Galen D. Eldridge; Meghan Kershaw; Vi Luong; Hua Wang; Don Kenkel. Evaluation of a Civic Engagement Approach to Catalyze Built Environment Change and Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity among Rural Residents: A Cluster (Community) Randomized Controlled Trial. – BMC Public Health DOI 10.1186/s12889-022-13653-4. [IF-3.98].

2. Ayine P; Selvaraju V; Venkatapoorna CMK; Bao Y; Gaillard P; Geetha T. Eating behaviors in relation to child weight status and maternal education. Children 2021; 8(1):32. doi: 10.3390/children8010032 [IF-2.863].

3. Balakrishnan B; Selvaraju V; Chen J; Ayine P; Yang L; Ramesh Babu J; Geetha T; Taneja V. Ethnic variability associating gut and oral microbiome with obesity in children. Gut Microbes 2021; 13(1):1-15. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2021 [IF-10.245].

4. Ayine P; Selvaraju V; Venkatapoorna C; Geetha T. Parental feeding practices in relation to maternal education and childhood obesity. Nutrients 2020; 12: 1033 [IF-6.706].

5. Venkatapoorna C; Ayine P; Selvaraju V; Parra EP; Koenigs T; Babu JR; Geetha T. The relationship between obesity and sleep timing behavior, television exposure, and dinnertime among elementary school-age children. J. Clin. Sleep Med. 2020; 16: 129-136 [IF-4.324].

6. Selvaraju V; Ayine P; Fadamiro M; Babu JR; Brown M; Geetha T. Urinary biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress are elevated in obese children and correlate with a marker of endothelial dysfunction. Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev. 2019; 9604740. [IF-7.310].

7. Venkatapoorna C; Ayine P; Parra EP; Koenigs T; Phillips M; Babu JR; Sandey M; Geetha T. Association of salivary amylase (AMY1) gene copy number with obesity in Alabama elementary school children. Nutrients 2019; 11: 1379 [IF-6.706].

Date joined faculty: October, 2023