
Biography
Yolanda Michelle Adwoa is a researcher at Cornell University's Odoms-Young Nutrition Liberation, Food Sovereignty, and Justice Lab and a PhD candidate in Psychology with a specialization in Health Psychology at Capella University. Her research interests encompass Food Psychology, Nutritional Psychology, and health disparities among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) populations, particularly examining how food and health behaviors influence psychological well-being and overall health outcomes.
Yolanda is dedicated to promoting holistic health psychology, particularly for maternal health, children, and adolescents, emphasizing improving psychological, emotional, and nutritional well-being. She aims to bridge research and practice by translating her research findings into community-based health education initiatives that equip families with the tools and knowledge to achieve sustainable wellness and seeks to advance research and educational initiatives that promote sustainable wellness in families and underserved communities.
Yolanda’s dissertation, "Examining Obesity, Weight Perceptions & Psychological Well-Being in Black Mothers: The Role of Social-Ecological Factors," explores how food attitudes & behaviors, and other social & environmental factors influence weight perceptions and mental health among Black mothers. Her broader research interests include exploring the psychological and behavioral processes underlying well-being, the effects of physical diseases, and health disparities related to food environments. She also examines how dietary behaviors influence mental health and body image, including eating disorders. Yolanda’s research further explores the influence of socio-economic and cultural contexts on wellness, particularly among underserved populations, including those with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
In her role at the Odoms-Young Lab, Yolanda serves as the project lead for two research studies under the direction of Dr. Odoms-Young: the Nutrition & Disability Scoping Review and a study examining parental perceptions of mealtime behaviors in African American children.