TKC Research Fellowship

Alexandra Alvarenga, MPH, is a doctoral candidate in Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Austin, Texas. Her research examines food insecurity, nutrition incentive programs, and dietary behaviors among SNAP participants, with a focus on evaluating the impact of the Double Up Food Bucks program in Texas. Her work aims to strengthen evidence-based strategies to improve access to healthy foods in underserved communities.

Mary Catherine Schallert, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Memphis, where she leads teaching kitchen–based initiatives that integrate applied nutrition, culinary skills, and experiential learning across university, K–12, and Division I athletics settings. A doctoral candidate in the Doctorate of Liberal Studies program at the University of Memphis, her scholarship focuses on the intersection of applied nutrition and higher education and on best practices for preparing tomorrow’s nutrition leaders. Her work positions teaching kitchens as a central model for professional preparation, translating nutrition science into practice while advancing education, research, and community impact.