Sarah L McKune

Sarah L McKune, MPH, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Interim Chair at the University of Florida in the Department of Environmental and Global Health. She holds a joint appointment with the Center for African Studies and affiliate faculty status at the School for Natural Resources and the Environment. Her research focuses on global health nutrition, food security, and climate change in low-income settings across West Africa, Nepal, and Ethiopia.

• Education: Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology (2012), MPH in Global Health (2002), BA in French and Sociology (1999)

McKune’s research applies mixed-methods approaches to analyze system dynamics affecting child nutrition, including livestock systems, gender, and environmental hygiene. Her recent publications examine zoonotic pathogen transmission, animal-source foods, and climate resilience in vulnerable populations.

Key awards include:

• Graduate Education Diversity Champion Award (2021-2022)
• International Educator of the Year (2020)

She oversees a multi-institutional research lab with 15-20 trainees, collaborating with organizations in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Chad. Major grants include funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, and the DOD Minerva Program.