Faculty

As a critical care- and case management-trained registered nurse, military veteran and dependent, and food pantry volunteer, Jennifer Crook had the opportunity to work in multiple states in the U.S., where she identified not only the existence of widespread food and nutritional insecurity, but a potentially overlooked connection between nutrition, chronic inflammation and chronic disease. Crook’s area of research uses epidemiological, immunological and epigenetic studies to understand the nutritional influence on inflammation in cancer diagnoses, with a goal of developing and implementing high-quality, culturally appropriate nutritional assessments and interventions and eventual nutritional policy reform. Most recently, Crook worked at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in efforts to reduce cancer disparities among marginalized and minoritized populations. Her passion is to create a world where nutrition status is prioritized in the prevention and treatment of cancer and other chronic disease diagnoses.

Education

• PhD in Nursing Sciences, University of Florida
• BSN, Texas Tech University Health Science Center
• ADN, Alvin Community College

Selected Editorial Activities

• Reviewer, Nutrition Research
• Reviewer, BMJ Open ScholarOne manuscripts

Selected Awards & Honors

• Patient Advocacy Award in Research, American Association for Cancer Research, 2023
• Best Paper Award Candidate, Nutrients journal, 2023
• 2021 Best Ph.D. Thesis Award Candidate, Nutrients journal, 2022
• Invited Participant: Footsteps to Funding Grant Writing Workshop Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Programs (GMaP) Region 2, funded by the National Cancer Institute, 2022
• Rising Star in Nursing Research award, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, 20`18

Selected Professional Activities

• American Association for Cancer Research
• African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer
• Sigma Honor Society of Nursing