Kate Yerxa
Extension Professor, EFNEP Coordinator
Degree: M.S., RD 2003, University of Maine
Phone: 207.581.3109
Email: kate.yerxa@maine.edu
Location: York Complex #1
Professional Interests: Community nutrition; implementation of educational programs designed for limited-income and food-insecure populations
Teaching: FSN 301 Life Cycle Nutrition,FSN 230 Nutritional and Medical Terminology
Research: Evaluation of educational programs designed for limited-income and food-insecure populations and policy, systems, and environmental change interventions to support healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.
Recent Publications:
Sullivan A, Watras E, Kubinsky B, Yerxa K, Gayer K, Hufnagel E, Savoie KA, McNamara J.
Evaluating a Smoothie-Based Nutrition Education Program to Improve Nutrition Security in
Rural Adolescents. Nutrients. 2026;18(2):305. doi:10.3390/nu18020305
Sullivan A, Yerxa K, Daley A, McNamara J. The role of food security status, financial literacy, and
nutrition literacy on the diet quality of college students. J Am Coll Health. Published online
December 30, 2025. doi:10.1080/07448481.2025.2597901
Yerxa K, Lobley J, Parsons K. Virtual Teaching During COVID-19: Attitudes, Abilities, and
Educational Needs of Cooperative Extension Staff. Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence.
2025;9(2); Article 5. https://doi.org/10.59620/2644-2132.1181
Watras E, Sullivan A, Harrington E, Therrien-Genest M, Yerxa K, Barr-Porter M, McNamara J.
College Student Perceptions of a Pilot Cooking and Nutrition Education Workshop Through the
Lens of the Social Cognitive Theory: A Qualitative Study. Am J Lifestyle Med.
doi:10.1177/15598276251377716
Sullivan A, Parsons K, Therrien-Genest M, Yerxa K. Cooking up Knowledge: Empowering High
School Students Through a Food Literacy Boot Camp. Am J Lifestyle Med.
doi:10.1177/15598276251319254
Parsons K, Strout K, Winn C, Therrien-Genest M, Yerxa K, McNamara J. Development of Master
Chef: A Curriculum to Promote Nutrition and Mindful Eating among College Students. Int J
Environ Res Public Health. 2024; 21(4):487. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040487
Parsons K, Yerxa K, Therrien M, Byrd-Bredbenner C, McNamara J. The influence of diet quality
on health-related quality of life in undergraduates. J Am Coll Health. 2025;73(6):2617-2623.
doi:10.1080/07448481.2024.2319206
Belarmino EH, Malacarne J, McCarthy AC, Bliss S, Laurent J, Merrill SC, Niles MT, Nowak S,
Schattman RE, Yerxa K. Suboptimal Diets Identified Among Adults in Two Rural States During
the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Hunger Environ Nutr. 2024; 19(6):1366–1381.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2024.2313524
Neptune L, Yerxa K, Therrien M, Byrd-Bredbenner C, McNamara J. Sexual minority college
undergraduate students have worse health-related quality of life, diet quality, and weight
dissatisfaction than their heterosexual peers. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2023;55(9):651-658.
doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2023.05.256
Barale K, Aragón MC, Yerxa K, Auld G, Hess A. Development of Reliable and Valid Questions to
Assess Food Resource Management Behaviors in Adults with Limited Income. J Nutr Educ
Behav. 2022;54(4):346-358. doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2021.11.004
Cutting K, Savoie KA, Camire ME, Yerxa K. Exploration of high-risk food coping strategies of
Maine food pantry clients. Journal of the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer
Sciences. 2020:15. https://neafcs.memberclicks.net/assets/documents/journal/2020-
jneafcs/2020-JNEAFCS-FINAL-Compressed.pdf
Research Briefs:
Mitchell RC, Anderzén J, Bertmann F, Belarmino EH, Bliss S, Laurent JS, Malacarne J, McCarthy
AC, Merrill S, Nowak S, Schattman RE, Yerxa K, Niles MT. Experiences and Ongoing Challenges
of Food-Insecure Households in Vermont and Maine. 2025. College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences Faculty Publications. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/items/8685a61b-d199-4be7-b1ff-
d72b2d920b30
Laurent J, Bertmann F, Alpaugh M, Belarmino EH, Bliss S, Malacarne J, McCarthy AC, Merrill SC,
Schattman RE, Yerxa K, Niles MT. Change in Food Security and Health Outcomes Since the
COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern New England. College of Nursing and Health Sciences Faculty
Publications. 4. 2022. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/cnhsfac/4/
McCarthy AC, Bertmann F, Belarmino EH, Bliss S, Laurent J, Malacarne J, Merrill S, Schattman
RE, Yerxa K, and Niles MT. A 2022 Assessment of Food Security and Health Outcomes during
the COVID-19 Pandemic. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Publications. 192.
2022. https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/calsfac/192
Niles MT, Alpaugh M, Bertmann F, Belarmino EH, Bliss S, Laurent J, Malacarne J, McCarthy A,
Merrill S, Schattman RE, Yerxa K. Home Food Production and Food Security Since the COVID-19
Pandemic. 2021. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Publications. 189.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/calsfac/189
Schattman RE, Yerxa K. Food Insecurity and Use of Food-Assistance Programs and Food Pantries
of Maine Adults as a Result of COVID-19. 2021. Food Science and Human Nutrition Faculty
Scholarship. 5. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/fsn_facpub/5
Schattman RE, Yerxa K. Shopping, Eating, and Dietary Behaviors of Maine Adults as a Result of
COVID-19: A Focus on Older Adults. 2021. Food Science and Human Nutrition Faculty
Scholarship. 4. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/fsn_facpub/4
Whiton T, Yerxa K, Schattman RE. COVID-19 Affects Coping Strategies and Food Access for
Maine Adults. 2021. Food Science and Human Nutrition Faculty Scholarship. 1.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/fsn_facpub/1
