Virginia Gray

Dr. Virginia Gray serves as Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at California State University, Long Beach's College of Health & Human Services. Her leadership spans academic administration, research, and community engagement with a focus on nutrition equity and policy.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Nutrition, Mississippi State University
• M.S. in Nutrition with Minor in Sociology, Mississippi State University
• B.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition with Minor in Spanish, University of Florida

Dr. Gray's research examines community nutrition through policy analysis, school-based interventions, and global food systems. She investigates social determinants of dietary behavior, particularly among vulnerable populations including college students, children, and SNAP participants. Her work integrates cultural competency into nutrition education frameworks and develops curricula addressing food insecurity in educational settings.

Recent publications reveal consistent focus on food security among college populations and CalFresh Healthy Living program implementation. Her scholarship bridges sports nutrition (especially adolescent female athletes) and community interventions, with strong emphasis on qualitative evaluation methods and policy translation. Key trends include interdisciplinary collaboration across health professions and institutional support systems for basic needs.

Awards:

• CSULB President’s Award for Team Achievement, Basic Needs Team (2023)
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award, Society of Nutrition Education (2022)

As Department Chair, Dr. Gray directs research teams addressing campus food insecurity through CSULB's Basic Needs Initiative. She mentors faculty in grant development for USDA-funded nutrition programs and collaborates with the Center for Latino Community Health on culturally tailored interventions. Her leadership secured institutional support for student food pantries and SNAP outreach services.

Dr. Gray co-leads the Basic Needs Team and partners with the Center for Successful Aging on nutrition programs for older adults. She directs the department's CalFresh Healthy Living implementation across university sites and advises the College of Health & Human Services on community-engaged research frameworks.