Kristin L. Schneider

Kristin L. Schneider, PhD is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Psychology at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS), where she also serves as the Associate Dean of Research for the College of Health Professions. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in health psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, completed a clinical health psychology internship at the University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics, and a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical School with Dr. Sherry Pagoto. Since joining RFUMS in 2012, she has established herself as a leading researcher in physical activity interventions and health behavior change.

Dr. Schneider's research focuses on novel interventions to increase physical activity, the use of technology and online social networks to promote health behavior change, obesity, type 2 diabetes and depression, and the relationships between physical activity, eating, and mood. Her work spans multiple methodologies including randomized controlled trials, qualitative studies, and implementation science approaches. A consistent theme throughout her research is the development and testing of innovative approaches to improve health behaviors across diverse populations.

Her recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on understanding eating disorders in relation to food insecurity, the development of pediatric obesity interventions, and the intersection of chronic health conditions with mental health symptoms in underserved populations. Her research often employs interdisciplinary approaches, collaborating with medical professionals, public health experts, and technology specialists to address complex health challenges.

• Exploring drivers of binge eating in individuals with food insecurity
• Pediatric primary care-based obesity interventions
• Chronic health conditions and mental health symptoms in low-income patients
• Sexual orientation and weight bias relationships
• Fear-of-falling in lower limb prosthesis users

Dr. Schneider has mentored numerous doctoral and master's students who have gone on to prestigious fellowships and positions. Her laboratory has produced significant work on physical activity measurement, technology-based interventions, and the psychological aspects of chronic disease management. She is actively involved in professional organizations and has contributed substantially to the field through her advocacy for behavioral medicine approaches to public health challenges.