Sheri Lokken Worthy

Dr. Sheri Lokken Worthy serves as Professor and Director at Mississippi State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, where her work bridges financial behavior, health and wellness, and poverty dynamics within Family and Consumer Sciences. Her interdisciplinary research addresses critical socioeconomic challenges through empirical analysis and community engagement.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Consumer Economics and Environmental Design from Texas Tech University
• MBA in Business Administration from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Her research centers on financial decision-making across diverse populations, poverty simulation methodologies, and health-behavior intersections. Recent work examines fintech adoption, pandemic impacts on wellness, and generational resource management patterns, emphasizing practical applications for policy and education. She employs mixed-methods approaches to explore how socioeconomic factors shape consumer vulnerabilities and resilience.

Analysis of her 2020-2024 publications reveals strong interdisciplinary trends merging public health, behavioral economics, and community development. Key themes include technology's role in financial inclusion, experiential poverty education, and health disparities linked to economic status, with consistent focus on marginalized populations and evidence-based interventions.

Scientific Awards:

• Best Paper in Foods and Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal
• Excellence in Teamwork 1st Place for the South Region, SRDC Research Team
• NACDEP Legacy of Excellence Award
• Financial Planning recognition from University of Georgia

Dr. Worthy leads significant research initiatives including the Turning the Tide on Poverty project, mentoring undergraduate researchers through hands-on projects like poverty simulations and grant-writing programs. Her extension work connects academic research with community practice, particularly through Cooperative Extension Service partnerships addressing rural economic distress.