Dr. Holben is Professor of Nutrition and interested in finding solutions for food and nutrition insecurity, including nutrition-based STEM education.
Research Interests
Building upon a clinical nutrition and basic science background, Dr. Holben’s research focuses on food and nutrition insecurity and nutrition-based STEM education.
- Exploring the relationship of dietary patterns and chronic disease to food and nutrition security across the lifespan.
- Optimizing solutions for food and nutrition security to promote health and wellness among vulnerable groups.
- Using nutrition-based STEM education to improve science achievement among youth.
Biography
David H. Holben, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND, is Professor of Nutrition, Gillespie Distinguished Scholar, and Director of the Office of Food and Nutrition Security at University of Mississippi. As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Fulbright Scholar, and former US Army Dietitian, Dr. Holben has extensive experience working with disadvantaged individuals and households in rural communities, including Appalachia, the Southern United States, and Canada. He has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters related to nutrition science, public health nutrition, and social determinants of health.
Currently, Dr. Holben is Program Director and Principal Investigator for LEARN Science, an NIH SEPA-funded, kindergarten through grade 2 life science and reading program in public libraries to improve science achievement through storytelling. LEARN Science grew out of his involvement in FoodMASTER (Co-investigator, NIH SEPA-funded grant), which was recognized in 2024 by the White House as the Challenge Winner for Open Science to Advance Education (Office of Science and Technology Policy).
He has had over $4.0 million in Federal (NIH, USDA), State, and industry funding for his work in nutrition-based STEM education for youth and food insecurity. Dr. Holben’s career accomplishments were recognized in 2020 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics with their Medallion Award.
Publications
Education
M.S. Human Nutrition and Food Management, Ohio State University Main Campus (1995)
Ph.D. Human Nutrition and Food Management, Ohio State University Main Campus (1996)