Virginia C. Stage

Dr. Virginia C. Stage is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agriculture and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University, specializing in Nutrition Education and Behavior. She holds a PhD in Nutrition Science from NC State, an MS in Clinical Nutrition and BS in Nutrition & Dietetics from East Carolina University, and a Certificate in Public Health Leadership from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Her research focuses on improving dietary quality in young children through early education, with a particular emphasis on food-based learning in preschool settings. She leads initiatives such as the Food-based Early Education Lab (THEFEEDLAB) and More PEAS Please!, which integrate STEM principles into nutrition education. Dr. Stage collaborates with Head Start programs nationwide, developing curricula and evaluating teacher training methods to enhance classroom nutrition environments.

Her work spans policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes in early childhood education, including BMI measurement protocols and culturally responsive nutrition interventions. Notable professional roles include Editor-in-Chief Search Committee leadership for the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior and co-chair of the Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network’s Early Childhood Working Group.

• Grants:
  • More PEAS Please! ($1.3M from NIGMS/NIH, 2019–2025)
  • Bilingualtek: Multimedia Assisted Language-based Science Learning ($1.6M from NSF, 2021–2026)
• Awards:
  • 2023 Goodnight Early Career Innovator
  • 2022 North Carolina Outstanding Young Alumna
  • 2018 Society for Nutrition Education & Behavior Early Career Award
• Labs/Initiatives:
  • THEFEEDLAB (The Food-based Early Education Lab)
  • More PEAS Please! Program