Shauna C. Henley

Dr. Shauna C. Henley is a Senior Agent and Affiliate Agent in the Department of Nutrition & Food Science at the University of Maryland, affiliated with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She specializes in food safety education, nutrition, and consumer behavior research, with a focus on improving safe food handling practices across the supply chain.

Dr. Henley earned her B.S. in Biology from Muhlenberg College, an M.S. in Nutrition & Food Science from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in Biology with a concentration in Human Nutrition from Drexel University. Her research spans food safety education, behavioral interventions, and community-based extension programs, including workshops on boiling-water-bath canning and FSMA compliance for farmers and food entrepreneurs.

Her 15 most recent publications (2017-2025) address critical food safety issues, including home canning practices, Salmonella prevention, and consumer education strategies. She has received recognition such as the University of Maryland Extension Excellence Award (2025) and the Best in Class award from the Association for Communication Excellence (2025) for ProduceTRAINer.org.

Dr. Henley has secured multiple grants, including a USDA-FSOP grant for food safety training and a McCormick Science Institute grant for herb and spice safety research. She leads initiatives like the Food Safety Action Team and contributes to national food safety campaigns, such as the widely recognized 'Don't Wash Your Chicken!' project.