Dr. Angela Odoms-Young

Dr. Angela Odoms-Young is an Assistant Professor in Kinesiology and Nutrition in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Prior to her current position, she served on the faculty at Northern Illinois University in Public Health and Health Education. Dr. Odoms-Young’s research is focused on understanding social, cultural, and environmental determinants of dietary behaviors and diet-related diseases (cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease) in low-income, African-American, and Latino families. Her current projects include studies to evaluate the impact of the new WIC food package on dietary intake, weight status, and chronic disease risk in 2-3 year old low-income children; assess the effectiveness of a community-based weight loss intervention for African-American women; and understand the influence of marketing on food consumption in African American children. Dr. Odoms-Young enjoys teaching and mentoring students. She teaches courses in community nutrition, advanced public health nutrition, and health inequity.

Dr. Odoms-Young earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign (UIUC). Her Masters of Science and Doctorate degrees were awarded from Cornell University in Human Nutrition and Community Nutrition, respectively. Dr. Odoms-Young completed a Family Research Consortium Postdoctoral Fellowship examining family processes in diverse populations at Pennsylvania State University/UIUC and a Community Health Scholars Fellowship in community-based participatory research at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Dr. Odoms-Young is an active member of her community serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Blacks in Green (BIG) and is a member of the American Public Health Association Food and Nutrition Section, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Theta Omega Chapter, Immabasi Health and Wellness Ministry at Trinity United Church of Christ, and the AIM for Healthy Living Committee Chair, Windy City Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

Dr. Odoms-Young is not only a maverick in her field of work, but has conscientiously chosen to be a mentor and leader for other African Americans interested in public health nutrition and racial and ethnic disparities in health. She has taken countless students under her wing as a mentor and her selflessness as a person has been a source of inspiration to not only her students but also her peers and colleagues.