Jung Sun Lee

Education

Research

My research focuses on food security, nutrition assistance programs, community-engaged nutrition interventions, and policies that promote nutritional among socioeconomically and geographically underserved populations. I lead externally funded, interdisciplinary research that integrates nutritional sciences, community engagement, and evidence-based approaches to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based nutrition interventions and policies. 

Building on research, outreach, and community partnerships developed through projects, including the University of Georgia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (UGA SNAP-Ed), Georgia Hunger Study, and food security research among older Georgians, my current work focuses on advancing evidence-based nutrition interventions and policies, strengthening public health nutrition research and outreach, expanding opportunities to integrate nutrition into medical training and food is medicine initiatives, and improving access to nutrition assistance through SNAP application assistance.

For more information about my current research, please visit the Community Nutrition Laboratory.

Teaching

• NUTR 4070/6070 Research Methodology in Human Foods and Nutrition
• NUTR 4540/6540 Public Health Nutrition

Editorial Appointments

Areas of Expertise

• Community and Public Health Nutrition
• Food Security
• Nutrition Assistance Programs
• Community-engaged Nutrition Interventions
• Nutrition Policy
• Nutrition and Aging

Awards

Award Name	Awarded By	Year Awarded
Bill and June Flatt Outstanding Extension and Outreach Faculty Award	University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences	2024
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior Gold Author Recognition Award	Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior	2023
Program Excellence Through Research Award 1st Place National Winner and 1st Place Southern Region Winner, as part of the University of Georgia SNAP-Ed (A Systematic Evaluation guides the development of UGA SNAP-Ed Social Marketing)	National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences	2020
Georgia Athletic Association Professorship	University of Georgia	2019
Chris Todd Outstanding Outreach Award (as part of UGA SNAP-Ed)	University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences	2017
Joint Korean Society of Community Nutrition and Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior’s Achievement Award	Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior	2017
Nutrition Education and Behavioral Science Research Interest Group Mid Career Award	American Society for Nutrition	2017
Health Promotion Policy Award (as part of Georgia CAFE)	Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Advisory Committee on Public Policy	2016
Bill and June Flatt Outstanding Extension and Outreach Faculty Award	University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences	2016
Bill and June Flatt Outstanding Faculty Research Award	University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences	2014

Books

Herron, B. A., Bell, D., Lee. J. S. (2023). Recruiting for and Conducting Virtual Focus Groups and Interviews with Low-income Populations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In Quests for Questions: Inventive approaches to qualitative interviews, Kathryn Roulston (Ed.), Myers Education Press.

Stotz, S., Lee, J. S. (2020). Food eTalk: Culturally Responsive Focus Group Example. In Focus Groups: Culturally Responsive Approaches for Qualitative Inquiry and Program Evaluation, J. Hall., Myers Education Press.

Fischer, J. G., Johnson, M. A., Lee, J. S. (2014). Nutrition and Healthy Eating in Older Adulthood. In Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion, T. P. Gullotta and M. Bloom (Ed.), Springer Reference.

Journal Articles

Selected 

Bhargava, V., Lee, J. S., Smith, T. (2026). Measuring nutrition security using the Consumer Food Data System Datasets. Appl Econ Perspect Policy, 48(4): 1089–1100.

Shannon, J., Rao, M., Lee, J.S., Berg, A., Borron, A. (2026). The importance of TEFAP in supporting charitable food distribution in Georgia during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Hunger Environ Nutr, 21(4): 805-816. 

Bhargava, V., Lee, J. S., Smith, T. (2026). Assessing nutrition security and its risk factors using the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey Data. Public Hlth Nutr. 29 (1): e37. 

Bhargava, B., Lee, J. S., Smith, T. A., Chakraborty, A. (2025). Exploring a Measure of Nutrition Security Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. JAMA Network Open, 8(2): e2462130. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.62130.

Darwin, A. E., Nunoo, N., Lee, J. S., Borron, A., Thompson, J. J. (2024). Setting the table for a new rural food access approach. JAFSCD, 14(1), 1–24.

Thapa, K., Rajbhandari-Thapa, J., Hanks, A., Lee, J. S., Zhen, C. (2023). Sugar-sweetened beverage restriction or fruit and vegetable purchase incentive in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Participant’s voice and choice behavior. J Hunger Environ Nutr, 19(1): 1-22.

Lee, J. S. (2022). Food insecurity in older adults. J Nutr, 152(8):1808-1809.

Lee, J. S., Bhargava, V., Smith, T., Walker, T. A. (2022). The effects of aging services and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on food insecurity among older Georgians: 2018-2020. Appl Econ Perspect Policy, 44(2):635-652.

Newman, T., Lee, J. S., Thompson, J. J., Thapa, J. (2022). Current landscape of produce prescription programs in the U.S. J Nutr Educ Behav, 54 (6):575-581.

Slagel, N., Newman, T., Sanville, L., Thompson, J. Dallas, J., Cotto-Rivera, E., Lee, J. S. (2022). A pilot Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) program improves local fruit and vegetable consumption, nutrition knowledge, and food purchasing practices. Health Promot Pract. Jun 2;15248399211018169.

Cook, M., Ward, R., Newman, T., Berney, S., Slagel, N., Bussey-Jones, J., Schmidt, S., Lee, JS., Webb-Girard, A. (2021). Food security and clinical outcomes of the 2017 Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) program. J Nutr Educ Behav, 53(9):770-778.

Stotz, S. A., Habibi, M., Sanville, L., Cotto-Rivera, E., Soler, A., Powell, A., Giraudo, S., Lee, J. S. (2021). Adapting a nutrition education curriculum for low-income Spanish speaking adults: Recommendations from key stakeholders. Ecol Food Nutr. 60(6):737-750. 

Walker, T. A., Lee, J. S. (2020). Exploratory study of changes in key food purchasing practices of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-eligible older adults following SNAP benefit receipt. Transl Behav Med, 10:1286-1296.

Ryan-Ibarra, S., DeLisio, A., Bang, H., Omolola, A., Bhargava, V., Franck, K., Funderburk, K., Lee, J. S., Palmer, S., Sneed, C. (2020). The U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education improves nutrition-related behaviors. J Nutr Science, 9 (e44).

Stotz, S. A., Sanville, L., Cotwright, C., Reed, R., Habibi, M., Lee, J. S. (2019). Development of a healthful weight management nutrition education curriculum for low-income adults. J Extension, 57(5):#5IAW4.

Stotz, S. A., Thompson, J. J., Bhargava, V., Scarrow, A., Capitano, K., Lee, J.S. (2019). A supplemental produce and eLearning nutrition education program for Georgians who utilize safety-net clinics for their healthcare: Experiences from participants. J Nutr Educ Behav, 52:1099-1106.

Shannon, J., Bagwell-Adams, G., Shannon, S., Lee, J. S., Wei, Y. (2018). The mobility of food retailers: how proximity to SNAP authorized food retailers changed in Atlanta during the Great Recession. Soc Sci Med, 209: 125-135. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.05.046.

Stotz ,S., Lee, J. S. (2018). Development of an online smartphone-based eLearning nutrition education program for low-income individuals. J Nutr Educ Behav, 50 (1):90-95.

Adams, G. B., Lee, J. S., Bhargava, V., Super, D. (2017). Offsetting the effects of medical expenses on low-income households’ food budgets: An analysis of the Standard Medical Expense Deduction. The Gerontologist, 57 (2): 359-366.

Bhargava, V., Lee, J. S. (2016). Food insecurity and healthcare utilization in older adults in the U. S. J Nutr Gerontol Geriatrics, Jul-Sep;35(3):177-92.

Lee, J. S., Shannon, J. Brown, A. (2015). Characteristics of Older Georgians Receiving Older Americans Act Nutrition Program and Other Home and Community-Based Services. J Nutr Gerontol Geriatrics, 34(2), 168-188.

Sattler, E. L. P., Lee, J. S., Young, H. N. (2015). Factors associated with inpatient hospital (re)admissions in Medicare beneficiaries in need of food assistance. J Nutr Gerontol Geriatrics, 34(2), 228-244.

Lee, J. S. (2013). Food insecurity and healthcare costs: Research strategies using local, state, and national data sources for older adults. Adv Nutr, 4(1), 42-50.

Lee, J. S., Johnson, M. A., Brown, A., Nord, M. (2011). Food security of older adults requesting Older Americans Act Nutrition Program in Georgia can be validly measured using a short form of the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module. J Nutr, 141(7), 1362-1368.

Newman, A. B., Lee, J. S., Visser, M., Goodpaster, B. H., Kritchevsky, S. B., Tylavsky, F. A., Nevitt, M., Harris, T. B. (2005). Weight change and the conservation of lean mass in old age: the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. Am J Clin Nutr, 82(4), 872-878.

Lee, J. S., Kritchevsky, S. B., Tylavsky, F., Harris, T., Simonsick, E. M., Rubin, S. M., Newman, A. B. (2005). Weight change, weight change intention, and the incidence of mobility limitation in well-functioning community-dwelling older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 60(8), 1007-1012.

Lee, J. S., & Frongillo, E. A., Jr. (2001). Factors associated with food insecurity among U.S. elderly persons: importance of functional impairments. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 56(2), S94-99.

Lee, J. S., & Frongillo, E. A., Jr. (2001). Nutritional and health consequences are associated with food insecurity among U.S. elderly persons. J Nutr, 131(5), 1503-1509.

Lee, J. S., & Frongillo, E. A., Jr. (2001). Understanding needs is important for assessing the impact of food assistance program participation on nutritional and health status in U.S. elderly persons. J Nutr, 131(3), 765-773.