معرفی
Dr. Julie Gast is a Professor and Interim Department Head in the Kinesiology and Health Science department at Utah State University's Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. She also serves as the director of the Health Education and Promotion Master of Public Health degree program and faculty advisor for the pre-occupational therapy club. Dr. Gast is actively involved in community health initiatives as a member of the Community Health Improvement Planning committee for the Bear River Health District and the American Public Health Association.
- PhD in Health Education, Southern Illinois University, 1994
- MA in Sociology, Southern Illinois University, 1991
- BA in Sociology, Southern Illinois University, 1989
Dr. Gast's research focuses on intuitive eating, weight bias and disordered eating; gender, ethnicity, and health; men's health; marriage, relationships, and health; and service learning. Her work often examines how relationship dynamics influence health behaviors, particularly in the context of nutrition and eating patterns. She has conducted extensive research on intuitive eating scales and their application across diverse populations including college students from different cultural backgrounds and sexual minority couples.
Analysis of Dr. Gast's recent publications reveals a strong focus on LGBTQ+ health, particularly examining sexual health education needs among LGBQ+ youth and relationship dynamics among gay male couples. Her work increasingly incorporates dyadic analysis approaches to understand how partners influence each other's health behaviors, especially regarding nutrition, physical activity, and eating patterns. There's also a consistent thread examining cultural and demographic factors that impact health behaviors across diverse populations.
- Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services Teacher of the Year (2013)
- Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Teacher of the Year (2013)
- Catherine Summerhays Distinguished Service Award (2013)
- Chair-elect for School Health and Services section, American Public Health Association (2013)
- Teaching Academy Faculty Mentor, Utah State University (2008)
Dr. Gast has mentored over 40 graduate students throughout her career at Utah State University, supervising research on diverse health topics. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on qualitative methods in public health, foundations of community health, health and wellness, and drugs and human behavior. She has received multiple teaching awards recognizing her excellence in the classroom and dedication to student development.
Dr. Gast's research has been supported through various grants focusing on community health initiatives, including work with food pantries, farmers' market incentives for low-income populations, and the Gray Matters multidomain lifestyle intervention study aimed at improving brain health to reduce Alzheimer's disease risk.
