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Monica Daniela Zuercher

Assistant Project Scientist
Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI)
1111 Franklin Street
11th Floor
Oakland, CA 94607
mdrobles@ucanr.edu Create VCard

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Biography

Monica Zuercher is an Assistant Project Scientist at the Nutrition Policy Institute. She has experience in research, data analysis, development of data collection tools, project management, scientific communication, program evaluation, and teaching. Her research interests are focused on improving population health and nutrition, preventing chronic diseases, and reducing health disparities.

Education

Ph.D. Epidemiology, University of California Davis, California, USA. 2021
M.S. Nutritional Epidemiology, Research Center for Food and Development, Sonora, MEX. 2016
B.S. Nutritional Sciences, University of Sonora, Sonora, MEX.. 2014

Awards

  • SPOT Award
    Presented by UC ANR,  2023

Discipline

Epidemiology

Specialty

Nutrition, epidemiology and statistics

Areas of Expertise (click to see all ANR academics with this expertise)

Bibliography

Peer Reviewed

  • Zuercher MD, Cohen JFW, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Polacsek M, Olarte DA, Read M, Patel AI, Schwartz MB, Chapman LE, Orta-Aleman D, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. Parent perceptions of school meals and how perceptions differ by race and ethnicity. Health Affairs Scholar, Volume 2, Issue 1, 10 January 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxad092.

  • Zuercher M.D., Cohen J.F.W., Hecht C.A., Hecht K., Orta-Aleman D., Patel A.I., Olarte D.A., Chapman L.E., Read M., Schwartz M.B., Ritchie L.D., Gosliner W. Parent Perceptions of School Meals Influence Student Participation in School Meal Programs. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2024;56(4):230-241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.01.003 (Editor’s choice).

  • Orta-Aleman D, Zuercher MD, Bacon KA, Chelius C, Hecht CA, ? Hecht K, Ritchie LD, Cohen JFW, Gosliner W. Students’ Perspectives on the Benefits and Challenges of Universal School Meals Related to Food Accessibility, Stigma, Participation, and Waste. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2024;56(9):599-610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.04.011.

  • Zuercher MD, Cohen JFW, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Orta-Aleman D, Olarte DA, Chapman LE, Read M, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. Household Food Insecurity Is Associated with Parental Perceptions of and Student Participation in School Meals. Nutrients. 2024; 16(19):3375. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193375.

  • Chapman LE, Gosliner W, Olarte DA, Ritchie LD, Schwartz MB, Polacsek M, Hecht CE, Hecht K, Turner L, Patel AI, Zuercher MD, Read M, Daly TP, Cohen JFW. Universal School Meals During the Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Parent Perceptions From California and Maine. J Acad Nutr Diet. May 11 2024; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.05.005. 

  • Zuercher MD, Orta-Aleman D, Cohen JFW, Hecht CA, Hecht K, Polacsek M, Patel AI, Ritchie LD, Gosliner W. The Benefits and Challenges of Providing School Meals during the First Year of California’s Universal School Meal Policy as Reported by School Foodservice Professionals. Nutrients. 2024;16(12):1812. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16121812.

  • Monica D. Zuercher, Danielle J. Harvey, Margarita Santiago-Torres, Lauren E. Au, Nitin Shivappa, Aladdin H. Shadyab, Matthew Allison, Linda Snetselaar, Buyun Liu, John Robbins, James R. Hébert, Lorena Garcia. (2023) Dietary Inflammatory Index and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Hispanic Women from the Women’s Health Initiative. Nutrition journal, 22, 5, PMID= 36631866, publisher= Nutr J. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12937-023-00838-9.

  • Monica D. Zuercher, Danielle J. Harvey, Lauren E. Au, Aladdin H. Shadyab, Margarita Santiago-Torres, Simin Liu, Nitin Shivappa, James R. Hebert, John A. Robbins, Lorena Garcia. Energy-Adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index and Diabetes Risk in Postmenopausal Hispanic Women. 2023. J Acad Nutr Diet 5:S2212-2672(23)01310-2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2023.08.002.

  • Zuercher M.D., Harvey D.J., Au L.E., Shadyab A.H., Nassir R., Robbins J.A., Seldin M.F., Garcia L. (2022). Genetic admixture and cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal Hispanic women. International Journal of Cardiology, 367, 99-104, PMID=35961613, publisher=Elsevier Ireland Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2022.08.020.

  • Juliana FW Cohen, Michele Polacsek, Christina E Hecht, Ken Hecht, Margaret Read, Deborah Olarte, Anisha I Patel, Marlene B. Schwartz, Lindsey Turner, Monica Zuercher, Wendi Gosliner, Lorrene Ritchie. (2022) Implementation of Universal School Meals during COVID-19 and beyond: Challenges and Benefits for School Meals Programs in Maine. Nutrients, 14, 4031, PMID= 36235683, publisher= Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/NU14194031.

  • Zuercher M.D., Cohen J.F.W., Hecht C.E., Hecht K., Ritchie L.D., Gosliner W. (2022). Providing School Meals to All Students Free of Charge during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Challenges and Benefits Reported by School Foodservice Professionals in California. Nutrients 2022, 14, 3855. https://doi.org/10.3390/NU14183855.

Non-Peer Reviewed

  • Orta-Aleman D, Hecht C, Zuercher M, Hecht K, Cohen JFW, Ritchie L and Gosliner W. Research Brief: School Meals for All in California: Strongly supported by parents of all income levels. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. March 2024. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/395529.pdf.

  • Zuercher M, Orta-Aleman D, Hecht C, Hecht K, Ritchie L, Gosliner W. Research Brief: School Meals for All in California: Government investments are associated with better meal operations, labor practices, and local food sourcing. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. April 2024. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/397262.pdf.

  • Esparza E, Zuercher M, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Ritchie L, Gosliner W. Research brief: Arizona Food Service Director Survey Findings: Experiences transitioning from meals free of charge for all students. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. August 2024. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/402331.pdf.

  • Zuercher, Monica; Gingerella, Benita (2024). Many parents say school meals can save them money but still view them as unhealthy, study reveals. Foodservice Director. January 28. https://www.foodservicedirector.com/foodservice-operations/many-parents-say-school-meals-can-save-them-money-but-still-view-them-as-unhealthy-study-reveals-
  • Zuercher, Monica (2024). Parent Perceptions of School Meals Influence Student Participation in School Meal Programs. Elsevier. April 15. https://www.elsevier.com/about/press-releases/parent-perceptions-of-school-meals-influence-student-participation-in-school
  • Zuercher, Monica (2024). Parent perceptions of school meals influence student participation in school meal programs. EurekAlert! April 15. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1041230
  • Zuercher, Monica (2024). Study says parent perceptions of school meals influence student participation in school meal programs. Phys.org. April 15. https://phys.org/news/2024-04-parent-perceptions-school-meals-student.html
  • Zuercher, Monica (2024). Thanks, COVID-19, for Giving Kids Free Lunch - Universal School Meals Help Students, Families, and Schools. Zócalo Public Square.S. Rothbard and E. Brown. November 18. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/covid-19-school-free-lunch-students/
  • J, Cohen; W, Gosliner, et al. (2023). Research Brief: Impact of Massachusetts’ Healthy School Meals for All Policy on Families. ChildNourishLab.org. June. https://www.childnourishlab.org/_files/ugd/383bcd_45ee5fed8e224ffd8639f0f498086e31.pdf
  • C, Hecht; K, Hecht, et al. (2023). Research Brief: School Meals for All in California: Parents Value School Meals for All and Offer Suggestions to Strengthen Meal Programs.D. University of California. 9 May. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/384115.pdf
  • C, Hecht; K, Bacon, et al. (2023). Research Brief: School Meals for All in California: Time to Eat Can Be a Barrier to Full Participation.D. University of California. 19 April. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/383408.pdf
  • D, Orta-Aleman; C, Chelius, et al. (2023). Research Brief: School Meals for All: Farm Fresh Food.D. University of California. 20 June. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/385523.pdf
  • Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California; Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, et al. (2023). Research Synopsis: The Many Benefits of School Meals for All. 29 August. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/387858.pdf
  • Zuercher, Monica (2023). What if Every Kid Got a Free Lunch? The New York Times (print only). January 19. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/384333.pdf
  • Zuercher, Monica; De la Vega, Norma (2022). Gran reto logístico implica los alimentos gratis en las escuelas. ¿Cómo resolverlo? Los Angeles Times. September 15. https://www.latimes.com/espanol/california/articulo/2022-09-15/gran-reto-logistico-implica-los-alimentos-gratis-en-las-escuelas-como-resolverlo
  • Hecht, C; Zuercher, M, et al. (2022). Research Brief: School Meals for All in California: Benefits and Challenges During COVID and Beyond as Reported by School Food Services.D. University of California. 23 August. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/371654.pdf

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