Urshila Sriram, PhD, MSPH, RD focuses her research on designing and evaluating community-based programs to ensure equitable access to nutrition and health services. Dr. Sriram is also passionate about using her training in research and dietetics practice to mentor and teach students within the fields of health promotion, nutrition, and dietetics.
Before joining Simmons faculty, Dr. Sriram worked as an evaluation consultant for Project Bread (in Boston) and a postdoctoral scholar for Texas A&M AgriLife Research. Her projects included creating evaluation plans for local community food programs and developing curriculum materials and survey measures for NIH-funded community-based health interventions.
Dr. Sriram's teaching philosophy is to support, motivate, and inspire growth in her students through learner-centered, experiential learning. That means providing opportunities for hands-on experiences and critical reflection, creating space for different learning styles, and valuing students' experiences and prior knowledge.
Dr. Sriram's primary teaching goals are to engage students in:
- Understanding the links between nutrition and health at the individual and community levels
- Critically evaluating and applying scientific evidence to nutrition recommendations and interventions
- Reflecting on the structural inequities that shape nutrition knowledge and practice
- Developing a commitment to self-reflection and continued learning in their future careers
Dr. Sriram views teaching as a collaborative process and looks forward to learning from and alongside her students. She is committed to seeking out new teaching methods and approaches to support student education and well-being. Ultimately, Dr. Sriram hopes to create a learning environment where all students feel valued and have the necessary supports to succeed.
Education
- Dietetic Internship, Cornell University
- PhD, Nutritional Sciences, from Cornell University
- MSPH, Human Nutrition, from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
- BS, Honors in Biochemistry, from McGill University
License/Certifications
- RD, LDN
Area of Expertise
Program implementation and evaluation, nutrition and health equity, community-based health interventions, food security, cultural humility in dietetics practice.
Courses
- BOS 101 Food is Love: An Exploration of Food, Culture, and Identity
- NUTR 112-LC Nutrition for the Health Professions
- LCIS 201 Integrative Seminar: Health Promotion and Nutrition
- NUTR 237 The Practice of Community Nutrition
- NUTR 331L The Practice of Clinical Dietetics
- NUTR 452 Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
- NUTR 489 Nutrition Proposal Development
- NUTR 490 Nutrition Research Project
Community Engagement
- Member of Diversify Dietetics Mentorship Program
- Research Task Force Co-Chair for Food Is Medicine Massachusetts (FIMMA)
- Co-Advisor for Simmons Nutrition Diversity Mentorship Program
- Faculty Advisor for Simmons Nutrition Liaison
Publications/Presentations
Sriram U, Graham ML, Folta S, Paul L, Seguin-Fowler RA. Integrating civic engagement into a lifestyle intervention for rural women – a mixed methods process evaluation. American Journal of Health Promotion. (2023)
Johnson DH, Henebury MJE, Arentsen CM, Sriram U, Metallinos-Katsaras E. Facilitators, barriers, and best practices for in-person and telehealth lactation support during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nursing for Women’s Health. (2022)
Seguin-Fowler RA, Grocke M, Graham ML, Tarabochia D, Sriram U, Eldridge GD. Effects of StrongPeople Strong Bodies on functional fitness: a community-based randomized trial. (2021)
Sriram U. Implementation and evaluation of community-based strategies to promote rural health. Marion Mason Seminar. (2020)
Seguin-Fowler R, Graham M, Sriram U, Eldridge G, Kim J, Tom M. Web-based dissemination of a civic engagement curriculum to promote healthy eating and active living in rural towns: the eHEART study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. (2020)
Morgan EH, Schoonees A, Sriram U, Faure M, Seguin-Fowler RA. Caregiver involvement in interventions for improving children’s dietary intake and physical activity behaviors. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. (2019)
Sriram U, Sandreuter K, Graham M, Folta S, Pullyblank K, Paul L, Seguin R. Process evaluation of Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities: a rural community-based cardiovascular disease prevention program. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. (2019)
Sriram U, Graham M, Folta S, Seguin R. Integrating civic engagement into a lifestyle intervention for rural women: a mixed-methods evaluation. New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Meeting & Expo, Syracuse, NY. (2019).
Sriram U, Seguin R. Civic engagement and action to promote health equity. Cornell Tri-Campus Health Equity Symposium, New York City, NY. (2018)
Seguin R, Sriram U, Connor L, Silver A, Niu B, Bartholomew A. A civic engagement approach to encourage healthy eating and active living in rural towns: the HEART Club pilot project. American Journal of Health Promotion. (2018)
Sriram U, Graham ML, Seguin RA. Civic engagement capacity and health behaviors among rural women. Annual Meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Victoria, BC. (2017)
Sriram U, Morgan E, Graham M, Folta S, Seguin R. Support and sabotage: a qualitative study of social influences on health behaviors among rural adults. Journal of Rural Health. (2017)
Sriram U, Garner J. Community-based approaches for improving rural health and food access. Food Access Roundtable, Geneva, NY (2017)
Sriram U. Perspectives on graduate education in public health. NS 2060 (Engaged Learning in Global and Public Health), Ithaca, NY. (2017)
Sriram U. Campus initiatives to reduce food waste and improve food access. Panel Speaker. DSOC 4700 (Development Sociology Senior Capstone Course), Ithaca, NY. (2017)
Sriram U, Gaines A. Food insecurity on college campuses. Guest Lecture. AEM 4940 (Social Entrepreneurship Practicum), Ithaca, NY. (2017)
Sriram U, Tarasuk V. Economic Predictors of Household Food Insecurity in Canadian Metropolitan Areas. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition. (2016)
Sriram U, Tarasuk V. Changes in household food insecurity rates in Canadian metropolitan areas from 2007 to 2012. Canadian Journal of Public Health. (2015)
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- American Public Health Association
- American Society for Nutrition