Office of Food and Nutrition Security
Transforming lives, communities, and the world through education & training, discovery & innovation, and community engagement.
Mission & Vision
The Office of Food and Nutrition Security at The University of Mississippi transforms lives, communities, and the world through food and nutrition security-related:
- Undergraduate and graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, and community member education and training;
- Discovery and innovation; and
- Community engagement
Our vision is to be the recognized leader in providing innovative solutions for food and nutrition insecurity in Mississippi, the United States, and the world.
About the Director
Dr. David H. Holben, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND, is a Professor of Nutrition and Gillespie Distinguished Scholar at the University of Mississippi. A Fulbright Scholar and former U.S. Army Dietitian, David has extensive experience supporting food security in underserved rural areas. He directs LEARN Science, an NIH-funded program enhancing K–2 science learning through storytelling, and co-led FoodMASTER, an NIH-recognized nutrition education initiative. Dr. Holben has over $4 million in funding for STEM and food insecurity research and was honored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics with their Medallion Award in 2020.
David H. Holben
Professor of Nutrition & Hospitality Management
About the Postdoctoral Fellow
Abednego Kofi Bansah, PhD, MS, MA, BSc, is the Postdoctoral Fellow in the Office of Food and Nutrition Security for LEARN Science. Dr. Bansah was Senior Lecturer at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He has published in peer-reviewed articles related to public health nutrition, social determinants of health, and the application of educational technologies for curriculum development for face-to-face, online, and hospitality education.
Abednego Kofi Bansah
Postdoctoral Research Associate
About the Graduate Research Associate
Priscilla M. Maamah is the graduate research associate in the Office of Food and Nutrition Security for LEARN Science. She is a PhD student in the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, specializing in Nutrition Policy. Her research focuses on Food and Nutrition Security. Ms. Maamah holds a Bachelor of Education degree in Food and Nutrition from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Before starting her PhD program, she taught nutrition to middle school students, sharing her passion for food and health in the classroom and inspiring young learners and promote a strong foundation in science and nutrition.
Priscilla Morkor Maamah
Postdoctoral Research Associate