Kennae Rawlings

In this role, Kennae leads efforts to assess barriers and facilitators to implementing healthy food guidelines within rural food pantries. This community-engaged work seeks to address the challenges and support systems needed to promote the adoption of nutrition policies within the charitable food system. Her research and professional work reflect a deep commitment to community collaboration, focusing on the intersections of food insecurity, nutrition access, and health promotion. Her role supports the enhancement of "pay-what-you-can" mobile produce markets and nutrition incentive programs across rural North Carolina. Kennae collaborates with community organizations, Extension professionals, and other stakeholders to expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Her research interests include understanding how community-based food access initiatives can be implemented, sustained, and scaled to advance nutrition equity and strengthen local food systems. Kennae is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education and Human Sciences, where she is exploring the implementation, evaluation, and feasibility of evidence-based strategies catering to families to improve healthy food access and health outcomes.