Stephanie Jilcott Pitts

Stephanie Jilcott Pitts is a Professor in the Department of Public Health at East Carolina University. She earned her BS in Biology and PhD in Nutrition (with a minor in Epidemiology) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After working in Uganda with World Harvest Mission to address child malnutrition, she joined ECU in 2008. Her research focuses on policy and environmental interventions to improve diet and physical activity, particularly in underserved populations.

• BS, Biology – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• PhD, Nutrition (Epidemiology minor) – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Her work includes validation of the Veggie Meter® for assessing fruit and vegetable intake, rural food access studies, and evaluations of nutrition programs like SNAP-Ed and WIC. She teaches courses in mixed methods research, public health project management, and applied practicum experiences. Recent publications explore skin carotenoids as biomarkers, small retailer nutrition interventions, and food insecurity mitigation strategies.

Key research trends include: development of non-invasive dietary assessment tools, rural health disparity interventions, and mixed-methods analysis of food systems. Though no specific scientific awards are documented in the provided text, her extensive publication record demonstrates significant contributions to public health nutrition and community-based research.