Dr. Jasmin Smith serves as the Community Nutrition and Health Advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension, supporting San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced Counties. With a strong foundation in psychology and health research, Jasmin is passionate about addressing health disparities through community-driven research and programming.

 

She earned her PhD in Human Sciences with a specialization in Child Development from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. While there, her work focused on early childhood education (ECE) research and childhood obesity prevention, with an emphasis on responsive feeding practices, the mealtime environment in both home and childcare settings, and the development of the Mealtime Emotional Climate in Childcare Observational Scale (MECCOS). She also collaborated on the creation of online resources to support families and home visitors in promoting positive mealtimes.

Jasmin conducted research in multiple areas of nutrition and health science. Her work explored the role of the gut microbiome, sugar additives, and genetics in obesity risk, as well as adolescent body image and mealtime behaviors. She also worked in nutrition research labs at the University of Illinois and North Carolina A&T, and earned a Transdisciplinary Certificate in Obesity Prevention.

Jasmin’s current interests include early childhood health, family wellness, culturally responsive nutrition, rural health equity, mental health promotion, financial literacy, and the intersection of nutrition and emotional well-being. In her role, she supports CalFresh Healthy Living and EFNEP programs and leads regional needs assessments to inform inclusive, evidence-based nutrition and physical activity strategies.