I am an Evergreen Associate Professor in the Counseling Psychology and Prevention Science departments in the College of Education at the University of Oregon. I am also a member of the Health Promotion Initiative: https://blogs.uoregon.edu/hpop/.
I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Virginia and my doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University. I then completed a 3-year postdoctoral research fellowship in a joint position with the National Institutes of Health and the Uniformed Services University. My research interests are in eating behaviors, body image beliefs, weight stigma, and chronic disease risk. I have specific interests in cognitive and emotional mechanisms for eating behaviors associated with poor mental health and increased chronic disease risk. Our program of research utilizes a diverse array of research methods including experimental paradigms; test meals; dietary recalls; neuropsychological evaluations; ecological momentary assessments; eye-tracking; and actigraphy. Through our work, we aim to highlight the voices and experiences of those who have traditionally been understudied and underserved in eating, body image, and health related literature, including men, individuals in rural communities, and adults with diverse ethnic, racial, sexual orientation and gender identities. Ultimately, our program of research aims to inform the development and evaluation of culturally-informed theories and interventions for the equitable promotion of health and well-being.
Ongoing research initiatives in Professor Kelly’s lab include: 1) Theoretical investigations of young men’s disordered eating symptoms using ecological momentary assessment data; 2) Evaluating the effectiveness of a brief physical activity manipulation to improve the neurocognitive functioning and eating behaviors of rural children; 3) Evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a single session intervention designed to reduce disordered eating symptoms; 4) Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a brief body size discrimination workshop delivered in places of employment; and 5) Examining the links among physical activity, sleep, nature exposure, social media use, and mood in adolescents using objectively collected data.