Kendra OoNorasak is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and has received a M.S. degree in Nutrition and Food Systems and a Ph.D. degree in Education Sciences with a specialization in Health Education at the University of Kentucky. With over a decade of experience in food and nutrition security, nutrition and health equity, and local food systems through community-based research, Kendra currently serves as the Project Management Director and a Co-Investigator on multiple NIH- and AHA-funded projects focused on culturally tailored dietary interventions for economically disadvantaged African American communities receiving housing assistance.

Kendra’s academic and professional journey is marked by a deep commitment to addressing food and nutrition insecurity, promoting sustainable local food systems for better nutrition equity, and advancing community health promotion and education efforts. Kendra is a passionate educator and mentor who has taught several undergraduate courses, mentored over 70 undergraduate and graduate students for research and service-learning, precepted 10 dietetics interns, and collaborated with more than 90 academic and community partners from multiple disciplines across 16 U.S. states and territories.

Kendra’s research interests include nutrition and health equity, implementation science, and community cardiometabolic health promotion and education. She is a member of the American Public Health Association, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, where she has held different leadership roles.