Sarah Amin

  • Assistant Professor, Community Nutrition Education Director (SNAP-Ed, EFNEP & CYFAR)
  • Department of Nutrition, Community Nutrition Education
  • Phone: 401.874.4024
  • Email: sarah_amin@uri.edu
  • Office Location: Fogarty Hall, Rm 117B
  • Website

Lab

Implementation Science-Driven Community Health Promotion Lab

Courses Taught

  • NUT 458: Nutrition Education
  • NUT 394: Nutrition in the Lifecycle I

Biography

Sarah Amin, Ph.D., M.P.H., is an Assistant Professor and Director of Community Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed & EFNEP). Her research lab uses community-based participatory research and implementation science to promote positive nutrition and physical activity behaviors among limited resource families. Dr. Amin completed her post-doctoral training in school-based physical activity interventions at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She received her Ph.D. in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Vermont, and M.P.H. from Brown University. In her spare time, she enjoys doing anything that gets her outside and active, including biking, swimming, running, and hiking (currently peak-bagging the 48 NH 4000 footers). She’ll never turn down a “walking meeting” around campus with her students and colleagues.

Research

While there have been some successful efforts to improve the diet quality and food security of children, there continues to be a gap in the implementation and translation of evidence-based recommendations especially among historically marginalized communities. ​​To address this gap, we use implementation science to examine the nutrition and physical activity behaviors of children and develop culturally inclusive interventions and measurement tools across school, out-of-school, and clinical settings. Federal nutrition education programs including SNAP-Ed and EFNEP represent an organic linkage to our research given their important role in improving the nutrition and food-related behaviors of Rhode Island families. Our team also leads the evaluation of campus food and nutrition-related initiatives with Cooperative Extension, including the URI Free Farmer’s Market.

Education

  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, 2015-2017
  • Ph.D., Nutrition and Food Science, University of Vermont, 2015
  • M.P.H., Brown University, 2012
  • B.A., Biology, Wheaton College, 2010

Doctoral Students

  • Nick Hamdi, MS, RD, LDN
  • Jackie Potvin, MS

Masters Students

  • Luisa Santos
  • Fatima Tobar (Rhode Island College)

Accelerated B.S. to M.S. Program

  • Maria Meola

Selected Publications

Potvin J, Chappell K, Balestracci K, Greene G, Sweetman S, Amin S. A Formative Evaluation of a STEAM and Nutrition Education Summer Program for Low-Income Youth. Evaluation and Program Planning. 2023; 97:102255. doi: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2023.102255

Donahue B, Amin S, Barley L, Richardson S. New England Feeding New England: Volume 1: Estimating Resilient Eating Patterns, 2023. https://nefoodsystemplanners.org/wp-content/uploads/NEFNE_Volume-1_Estimating-Resilient-Eating-Patterns.pdf

Amin S, Hafner S, McNamara J, Raymond J, Balestracci K, Missimer A, Potvin J, Greene G. Development and validation of the ASKFV-SE tool for requesting fruits and vegetables. Journal of Nutritional Science. 2023; 2(12). doi: 10.1017/jns.2022.59

Bouchard K, Grigsby-Toussaint D, Fox K, Amin S, Vadiveloo M, Greaney M, Tovar A. Maternal experiences with discussing complementary feeding in primary care. Patient Education and Counseling, Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(19):12061. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912061

Sacheck JM, Wright CM, Amin SA, Anzman-Frasca V, Chui K, Duquesnay P, Nelson ME, Economos CD. The FLEX Study: effects of a two-year randomized controlled trial of school-based activity programs on children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2021; 60(6): 239-249. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.02.002

Lyerly R, Rummo P, Amin S, Evans W, Cohen ED, Lawson E, Hallett E, De’Oliveria S, Rose J, Coats C, Nunn A. Effectiveness of mobile produce markets in increasing access and affordability of fruits and vegetables among low-income seniors; Public Health Nutrition. 2020; 1-10. doi: 10.1017/S1368980020002931

Amin SA, Lehnerd M, Cash S, Economos CD, Sacheck JM. The reliability and validity of a youth food literacy tool. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2019; 51(3): 364-369. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2018.12.006

Sacheck JM, Amin SA. Cardiorespiratory fitness in children and youth—a call for surveillance, but how do we do it? Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. 2018; 46(2).  doi: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000145

Amin SA, Panzarella C, Lehnerd M, Cash S, Economos CD, Sacheck JM. Identifying food literacy educational opportunities for youth. Health Education & Behavior. 2018; 1-8.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198118775485

Amin SA, Duquesnay PJ, Wright CM, Chui K, Economos CD, Sacheck JM. Perceived athletic competence and physical activity: implications for low-income schoolchildren. Pediatric Exercise Science. 2018; 20: 1-8. doi: 10.1123/pes.2017-0242

Amin SA, Lehnerd M, Cash S, Economos CD, Sacheck J. A case study of a nutrition cohort: the development of a funder-initiated learning collaborative. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. 2018; 8(2): 1-15. doi: 10.5304/jafscd.2018.082.009

Amin SA, Wright CM, Chui K, Economos CD, Chomitz V, Boulos R, Sacheck J. The association between the physical activity environment and academic success in Massachusetts schoolchildren. Journal of School Health. 2017; 87(12): 932-40.  doi: 10.1111/josh.12569