Avanelle Kirksey Lecture Series
Dr. Avanelle Kirksey (HDR’97), a valued faculty member of the Department of Nutrition Science from 1961 to 1994, left a legacy at Purdue University. Her dynamic, productive and imaginative research program bridged the gap from basic mechanistic science, to a better understanding of the relation of diet, to human behavior and cognition. In addition to her commemorable research program, Dr. Kirksey served as an inspiring role model for students.
In 1985, Dr. Kirksey became only the second female at Purdue to named “Distinguished Professor,” and the university awarded her with an Honorary Doctorate in 1997. Each spring, the Department of Nutrition Sciences recognizes Dr. Kirksey’s groundbreaking research, valued teaching and community outreach via the Kirksey Lecture Series.
2024 Avanelle Kirksey Lecture
"Double-Duty Nutrition Actions: Reshaping Programs and Policies to Address Malnutrition in all its Forms"
Marie Ruel, PhD
Senior Research Fellow
International Food Policy Research Institute
Thursday, December 5, 2024
10:30 AM- 11:20 AM
Stanley Coulter Hall, Room 239
640 Oval Drive, West Lafayette IN 47907
This is an in-person event. If you are unable to attend in-person, please contact Ana Slatouski (
aslatous@purdue.edu) to request a Zoom link.
A luncheon will follow this event. Please contact Ana Slatouski if you are interested in attending the luncheon.
| Year |
Title |
Presented By |
| 2024 |
Double-Duty Nutrition Actions: Reshaping Programs and Policies to Address Malnutrition in all its Forms |
Marie Ruel, PhD |
| 2023 |
Determinants and Prevention of Infant and Toddler Obesity: A 20 Year Perspective |
Margaret "Peggy" Bentley, PhD, MA |
| Fall 2022 |
Reducing Breastfeeding Ethnic/Racial Inequities in the USA: Three Decades of Mixed Methods Research |
Rafael Perez-Escamilla, PhD |
| 2022 |
Putting Women’s Nutrition at the Center of the First 1000 Days |
Parul Christian, DrPH |
| 2021 |
Looking into the Black Box: Applying Non-Invasive Approaches and Systems Biology to Study Host-Microbe Interactions in Human Infants |
Sharon Donovan, Ph.D., R.D. |
| 2020 |
Child Eating Behaviors and Energy Intake: Findings from the Growing Up in Singapore to Healthier Outcomes Cohort (GUSTO) |
Ciaran G. Forde, PhD |
| 2019 |
Assessment and Control of Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies in Low-Income Countries: Achieving Greater Coherence in Nutrition Intervention Programs |
Kenneth H. Brown, MD |
| 2018 |
The Nutritional Quality of Human Milk: New Research on an Old Problem |
Lindsay Allen, PhD |
| 2017 |
Micronutrient Deficiencies We Rarely See: Frontiers in Preventing Hidden Hunger |
Keith P. West, Jr., Dr.P.H., R.D. |
| 2016 |
Future of Dietary Guidance - Conception to Chronic Disease Prevention |
Dennis M. Bier, PhD |
| 2015 |
Premature Infant Nutrition: Work in Progress |
Ekhard Ziegler, MD |
| 2014 |
Dietary-induced zinc deficiency in low-income countries: Challenges and solutions |
Rosalind Gibson, PhD |
| 2013 |
Complementary Feeding Strategies for Breastfed Infants: What's the Evidence that it Matters? |
Nancy F. Krebs, MD, MS |
| 2012 |
Impact of Maternal Obesity and Diet on Fetal Development |
Janet C. King, PhD |
| 2011 |
Improving the Assessment of Diet in the National Children's Study: The Battle Between Technological Advancement and Old Habits |
Anna Maria Siega-Riz, PhD, MS |
| 2010 |
Early Determinants of Chronic Disease: Pregnancy Through Early Childhood |
Stephanie Atkinson, PhD |
| 2009 |
The World is Fat -- The Trends, Policies, and Products that are Fattening the Human Race |
Barry M. Popkin, PhD |
| 2008 |
What are the "Problem Nutrients" for Breastfed Infants? |
Kathryn Dewey, PhD |
| 2007 |
Insulin and Amino Acids are Critical Regulators of Neonatal Muscle Growth |
Teresa A. Davis, PhD |
| 2006 |
Childhood Malnutrition Kills: Scientific Demonstration, Persuasion, and Evolution of Policy |
Jean-Pierre Habicht, MD, MPS, PhD |
| 2005 |
Nutrition, Physical Activity, Bone Development and Forearm Fractures in Children |
Heidi J. Kalkwarf, PhD, RD |
| 2004 |
Maternal/Fetal Nutrient Partitioning During Pregnancy: Whose Needs Predominate? |
Kimberly O'Brien, PhD |
| 2003 |
Reference Infant and Child Models of Body Composition: A Contemporary Update |
Kenneth Ellis, PhD |
| 2002 |
Micronutrient Deficiencies and Child Development |
Maureen Black, PhD |
| 2001 |
Are Activity and Diet Really Important for Children's Bones? |
Bonny Specker, PhD |
| 2000 |
The Public Health Importance of Maternal Zinc Deficiency: Lessons Learned From Peru |
Laura E. Caulfield, PhD |
| 1999 |
Prenatal Vitamin B-6 Deficiency and Poverty -- Is There a Link? |
Robert D. Reynolds, PhD |
| 1998 |
Folate Nutrition and Reproductive Health |
Mary Frances Picciano |
| 1997 |
Developmental and Behavioral Effects of Iron Deficiency in Infants |
Betsy Lozoff |
| 1996 |
Early Flavor Experiences: When Do They Start? |
Julie Mennella, PhD |
