Nutrition and physical activity are central to quality of life, disease prevention, and healthy aging. CoHRR affiliate and Associate Professor of Food and Nutrition Science Dr. Kathleen Woolf focuses on integrating these factors to support lifelong health.
Her research addresses pressing health and nutrition challenges in New York, across the United States, and globally. She also leads collaborative, community-based, cross-institutional projects designed to translate research into real-world impact. Two of these initiatives are highlighted below.
IMODEL
The Inclusive Model for Developing Future Nutrition, Food, and Culinary Leaders (IMODEL) program provides mentored, hands-on, community-based learning opportunities for undergraduate students in nutrition, food studies, and culinary programs.
IMODEL is a collaboration among New York University, LaGuardia Community College, and the University of Rhode Island. The program prepares students to become effective leaders by combining academic training with practical, real-world experience.
Program participants engage in 13 weekly professional development workshops during the spring semester. In the summer, students spend 20 hours each weekly in internship positions and reflection workshops with other IMODEL students. Each participant receives a $4,000 stipend to support their internship experience. The program concludes with a fall virtual presentation, where fellows share their work with peers and faculty across partner institutions.
Student Experiences
The 2025 cohort included 21 students, including nine from NYU. Internships span both community-based and research-focused settings. Take a look at some examples from NYU Nutrition and Food Studies undergraduates IMODEL alumni:
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Rachel Chen spent her internship working with the Food Box Project, a program that provides doorstep delivery of medically tailored fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable food.
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Catalina Suarez worked for the Starting Early Program at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, which educates pregnant women on prenatal nutrition.
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Janeil Powell was involved in the Early Head Start program where she assisted in lesson planning, family education, and creating individualized nutrition care plans for children from low-income families.
Additional placements included research assistantships in various labs and programs at NYU Pediatric Dentistry, NYU Langone Health, and Montefiore Hospital. To learn more about the 2025 IMODEL cohort, read their bios at this link.
Funding and Leadership
The IMODEL program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and led by Dr. Ingrid Lofgren (University of Rhode Island) and co-directed by Dr. Kathleen Woolf (NYU) and Dr. Niccolle Fernandes (LaGuardia Community College).
StrengthenHER
StrengthenHER is a virtual exercise and nutrition program designed to help women over 50 maintain independence and improve health by reducing the risk of sarcopenia – the age-related loss of muscle mass.
Why sarcopenia matters
Sarcopenia can be accelerated by physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and can result in weakness, fatigue, and increased risk for falls and fractures. Women in particular are vulnerable to the negative effects of sarcopenia due to lower peak muscle mass across the lifetime.
Program Approach
StrengthenHER addresses these challenges through a flexible, home-based program tailored to middle-aged and older women. Participants have access to on-demand exercise videos, along with weekly lessons on nutrition and physical activity.
By combining strength training with increased protein intake, the program provides practical, evidence-based strategies to help older women maintain muscle health and functional independence.
Funding and Leadership
The program is funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and is led by Dr. Sarah L. Francis (Iowa State University) in collaboration with researchers across Iowa, South Dakota, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Arkansas and New York, including NYU’s Dr. Kathleen Woolf.