Texas Tech University

Mary Oyewole-Asowata

Graduate Student
Nutritional Sciences

Mary Oyewole-Asowata is doctoral student from Nigeria. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics from Obafemi Awolowo University and a master's degree in human nutrition from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her master's thesis was focused on the “Assessment of food literacy status among Civil servant Mothers in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria” which is published an article and presented findings at Federation of African Nutrition Societies Conference in 2019.  Prior to joining Texas Tech, she worked as a research associate in the department of human nutrition and dietetics, University of Ibadan where she was involved in a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded research project on the implementation of a community-based nutrition intervention to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among low and middle-income households in Akinyele LGA for two years. Also, she is the founder of a nonprofits in Nigeria, “Partners for Good Health Initiative” that is focus on nutrition advocacy and community engagement programs to increase awareness on healthy eating and empowering reproductive women involving collaboration with health centers for complementary food demonstration for pregnant and lactating mothers and nutrition education for young adults on how to achieve their nutrition needs.

Currently, Mary is pursuing her doctoral degree under the mentorship of Dr. Wilna Oldewage to gain more competencies and expertise in designing and implementing community nutrition interventions focused addressing food and nutrition security. Her dissertation research is on the “Investigation of Food Assistance Programs and Policy on Food Insecurity and Dietary Behavior among Texas Tech Students: A Case Study of Raider Red's Food Pantry.”

Oyewole-Asowata

Research Interests: College Food and Nutrition Security, Nutrition Education, Maternal and Child Nutrition, Social Determinants of Health.

Previous Research Projects

  1. Incidence of infection or re-infection in Healthy Adults with or without prior SARS-CoV-2 Infection, United States started October 2021-Jan 2022 
  2. Increasing fruit and vegetable intake of urban population in Nigeria through food system innovations, FRUGGIES Project) Increasing fruit and vegetable intake of urban population in Nigeria through food system innovations, FRUGGIES Project) Started Mar 2019 - Dec 2020 
  3. SYNERGOS Nutrition Capacity Assessment of Extension Services in Nigeria, SYNERGOS Dec 2019 - Dec 2019 
  4. Assessment of Food Literacy Status among Civil servant Mothers in Ibadan Metropolis Assessment of Food Literacy Status among Civil servant Mothers in Ibadan Metropolis Jun 2018 - Jul 2019. 
  5. Healthcare Utilization Survey in Nigeria for typhoid fever vaccine by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Healthcare Utilization Survey in Nigeria for typhoid fever vaccine by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Feb 2018 - Dec 2018 
  6. Nourish Mothers in Ibadan Apr 2018 - Nov 2018 
  7. Iron Bioavailability Study among Reproductive Age women in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, Nigeria Dec 2015 - Apr 2017. 
  8. Qualitative Research-End Project Evaluation of Salt Iodization in Nigeria Jan 2016 - Oct 2016 
  9. Assessment of Convenience Foods Consumption Among Undergraduates in Ile-Ife, August 2014 - May 2015 

 Publications 

  1. Analysis of Non-Communicable Disease Policies and Implementation in Nigeria, 22nd IUNS-International Congress of Nutrition 2022 Proceedings Issued Dec 8, 2022  https://confit.atlas.jp/guide/event/icn2022/sessions/category/PAB?page=1
  2. O05 Assessment of Food Literacy Among Civil Servant Mothers in Ibadan, Nigeria. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Published August 2022 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2022.04.012  
  3. Sign Language-based Nutrition Education Improves Knowledge and Attitude of Hearing-Impaired Students in Ibadan, Journal of Nutritional Science Proceedings published Sep 17, 2018 
  4. End Project Evaluation of Salt Iodization in Nigeria Report, sponsored by Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) published Oct 12, 2016.
  5. Assessment of Convenience Foods Consumption among Undergraduates of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Journal of Nutritional Sciences Proceedings, published Sep 16, 2015 

 Scholarships & Awards 

  1. TTU Graduate School Travel Fellowship Issued by Texas Tech University, August 2022 
  2. IUNS- ICN Conference 2022 Early Career Travel Grant Issued by International Congress of Nutrition, June 2022 
  3. Margaret Chan Carter Scholarship 2022-2023 Issued by College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University · March 2022 
  4. P. Yang Scholarship 2022-2023 Issued by College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University · March 2022 
  5. College Volunteer of Year 2021 in Lubbock City, Issued by Volunteer Center of Lubbock · November 2021 
  6. College of Human Sciences Doctoral Fellowship, 2020-2023 Issued by Texas Tech University · October 2020 
  7. Nutrition Society, UK Travel Grant 2019, Issued by Nutrition Society, UK · June 2019 
  8. Postgraduate International Conference Grant, Issued by University of Ibadan · October 2018 
  9. Young Researchers Best Presentation by Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Issued by Nutrition Society of Nigeria · September 2018 
  10. Nutrition Ambassador for The Mentorship Project, Issued by Nutrition Society of Nigeria · August 2018 
  11. Alli Idowu Prize for Best Faculty Graduating Student, Issued by Obafemi Awolowo University · December 2015 
  12. Best Graduating Student in Faculty of Agriculture, Issued by Obafemi Awolowo University · December 2015.
  13. Best Graduating Student in the Department of Family, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture 2014-2015 Class of 2015, December 2015
  14. Most Influential Student in Class of 2015, Department of Family, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, August 2015.

 

Volunteer Positions

  • Webinar Coordinator, Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) Student Division from April 2023 till date
  • Treasurer, Nigerian Student Association, March 2023 till date
  • Judge, TTU Graduate School 3-Minute Thesis Competition October 6th, 2022
  • Mentor, Mentorship Tech Program, June 2022 till date
  • Judge, TTU Graduate School 2022 Graduate Research Poster Competition March 3rd, 2022
  • Youth Leader: The Message Church, Lubbock Texas March 2022 till date
  • Treasurer, Graduate Nutrition Organization May2021 -January 2022
  • Student Volunteer, Raider Red's Food Pantry June-August 2021
  • Teenage Church Teacher: CAC. Agbala Idande Headquarters, Ojodu Berger September 2010- 2019 ·

Invited Talks

  1. NMHI High School Experience, Food Security Presentation, Tuesday, July 18, 2023
  2. NMHI High School Experience, Food Security Presentation, Thursday, June 15, 2023
  3. Graduate School Staff Presentation, Raider Red's Food Pantry, November 15, 2022
  4. Residence Hall Presentation on Food Security and Homelessness, November 12, 2022
  5. Twitter Conversations on Global Nutrition Students in November or December 3, 2022
  6. Medical School Visit, Food Pantry/Food Security Presentation October 17, 2022
  7. Emerald Food and Nutrition Intl., Healthy Eating Webinar, June 15, 2022

Media Appearance

Nutritional Sciences

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