Stephanie Bianco

Stephanie Bianco is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at California State University, Chico, and Director of the Center for Healthy Communities. Her expertise lies in program management, food insecurity, nutrition education, food safety, and policy change. She previously worked in the foodservice industry for over 11 years, holding roles such as café manager and restaurant manager, before transitioning to academia. She holds a BS in Dietetics from UC Davis and an MS in Nutrition from Texas A&M University.

Dr. Bianco’s research focuses on food insecurity among college students, SNAP/CalFresh participation, and community health initiatives. She co-authored HACCP Fundamentals, a food safety text, and leads large-scale statewide programs like CalFresh Outreach and CalFresh Healthy Living, serving 49 campuses and 13 CSU institutions. Her work emphasizes collaboration with community partners to address food access and nutrition equity.

Her articles highlight interventions targeting food-insecure populations, barriers to SNAP participation, and innovative food safety solutions for farmers. She has overseen projects such as the EASY GAP program, designed to simplify on-farm food safety compliance, and evaluated the impact of school-based nutrition programs like Harvest of the Month.

Bianco’s career combines academic research with practical outreach, aiming to bridge gaps between policy, community needs, and nutritional health outcomes.