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Dawn Richards

Dawn Richards, Associate Professor, DPD Director, Associate School Director

Dr. Null is a Registered Dietitian and Health Educator with over 25 years of experience working in the field and in college health. Her eclectic background includes food distribution and menu and recipe development; health promotion program development, implementation, and evaluation; and directing and maintaining an accredited dietetics program. Dr. Null’s primary research areas include food insecurity, environmental nutrition, and brown-water mariner health. Dr. Null is the Continuing Education Advisor for Registered Dietitians and Nutritionists for the American College Health Association.

SIU Food and Nutrition Dawn Richards

Quigley Hall, 213D
618-453-2462
dawnnull@siu.edu

Classes

  • HND 101 Personal Nutrition
  • HND 320 Foundations of Nutrition
  • HND 356 Experimental Foods
  • HND 410 Nutrition Education and Wellness
  • FN 530 Advanced Nutrition Assessment and Education
  • FN 540 Public Health Nutrition
  • FN 581 Seminar

Education

  • Ph.D. [2012], Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
  • M.S. [1995], Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
  • B.S. [1992], Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Recent Publications and Awards

  • Whittington K, Null DC. (2024). Evaluation of Nutritional Literacy among undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice [Accepted 3/2024]
  • Null DC, Hurst K, Duram L. (2023) Beyond the classroom: Influence of a Sustainability Intervention on University Students’ Environmental and Climate Knowledge and Behaviors. Journal of Environmental Education. [Accepted 12/23]
  • Null DB, Wright TK, Moss A. (2023) Shopping Lists Increase Nutrition Quality of Foods Donated Through Food Drives. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition. [Accepted 11/9/23]
  • Rose DM, Donahoo S, McDaniel JT, Null D, McLernon M, Kruse-Diehr A. (2023) Perceptions of the Double Value Coupon Program in Southern Illinois. Frontiers in Public Health. [Accepted 5/12/23] Doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1125069
  • Null DC, Asirvatham J. (2022) College Students are Pro-Environment but Lack Sustainability Knowledge: A Study at a Mid-size Midwestern US University.  International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. Vol 24, issue 3, pp. 660-677 [Accepted 8/23/2022]. Doi: 10.1108/IJSHE-02-2022-0046
  • Cervantes C, Smith S, Null DC. (2022) Malt Beverage Formulation and Labeling: Brewers' Perceptions and Need for Resources. International Journal of Hospitality Beverage Management. Vol 3. doi: https://doi.org/10.52713/ijhbm.v3.12
  • Null DC, Wright TK, Fink GD, McLernon M. (2021) Nutrition Quality of Food Drive Donations is Mediocre. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition. [Accepted 10/12/2021]. doi: 10.1080/19320248.2021.1994507
  • Null DB, Feeser K, Kurtzhals G. (2021) An Assessment of Environmental Literacy, Behaviors, Attitudes and Lifestyle Factors of College Students. Journal of American College Health. [Accepted 9/21]. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1975720
  • Alshehri M, Kruse-Diehr A, McDaniel J, Partridge J, Null DB. (2021) Impact of social support on the dietary behaviors of international college students in the United States. Journal of American College Health. [Published online 8/27/21]. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1970565.
  • Alshehri M, Kruse-Diehr A, McDaniel J, Partridge J, Null D. (2021) Impact of Social Support on the Physical Activity Behaviors of International College Students in the United States. International Journal of Exercise Science.14(5) 1305-1319. Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijes/vol14/iss5/6
  • Albright DL, McDaniel JT, Null DB, McIntosh S. (2021) Behavioral Health Outcomes in Veterans Compared to Non-veterans by Rural and Urban Areas in Alabama, 2015-2018 (HSCC-OA-20-0504) Health & Social Care in the Community. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13392.
  • Lefkowitz RY, Null D. (2020) Mariner Mental Health Research. Proceedings: The Coast Guard Journal of Safety & Security at Sea. 77(2) Fall 2020 (Invited manuscript)
  • McDaniel JT, Albright DL, Null DB, McIntosh S. (2020) Alcohol use in Tobacco 21 (T21) states from 2016-2018: Differences by military service status. Journal of Military, Veteran, and Family Health. doi: 10.3138/jmvfh-2020-0013.
  • Lefkowitz R, Null DC, Slade M, Redlich C. (2020) Injury, Illness, and Mental Health Risk in United States Domestic Mariners. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 62(10):839-841. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001968.
  • McDaniel JT, Jenkins WD, Albright DL, Null D, McIntosh S, & McDaniel MR. (2020) Illicit drug use and self-reported vision loss among military service members or veterans. BMJ Military Health. bmjmilitary-2020-001518. doi: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001518. Online ahead of print.
  • Smith S, Null D, Zimmerman K. (2018) Food access and school gardens in rural food desserts: Teacher awareness. North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Journal, 63(2).
  • Null DB, Hasin A, Partridge J, Welshimer K. (2018) Determinants of physical activity in a constrictive work environment: A study on brown-water mariners. American Journal of Health Education, 50(1), 14-24. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19325037.2018.1548313
  • Morris, L., Smith,S., Davis, J., Null, D. (2016). The Prevalence of Food Security and Insecurity among Illinois University Student. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 48(6), 376-382.
  • Null, D. (2014). Towboat Cooks: The Nutritional Gatekeepers on the River. The Waterways Journal Weekly, 127(48), 5, 34-35.
  • Moss, A., Smith, S., Null, D., & Tragoudas, U. (2013). Farm to Farm-to-School and Nutrition Education: Positively Affecting Elementary School-Aged Children's Nutrition Knowledge and Consumption Behavior. Childhood Obesity, 9(1), 51-56.​
  • Null, D. (2013). Towboat Crews Face Unique Challenges To Stay Healthy On The Tow. The Waterways Journal Weekly, 126(47), 5, 36-38.
  • Donald N. Boydston Graduate Scholarship (2012), SIU Department of Health Education and Recreation
  • Null, D. (2011). A Preliminary Study of Living and Working on the Towboat: What are the Health Implications? The Health Education Monograph Series, 28(3), 48-55.
  • Peterson, S., Duncan, D., Null, D., Roth, S., & Gill, L. (2010). Positive Changes in Perceptions and Selections of Healthful Foods by College Students After a Short-Term Point-of-Selection Intervention at a Dining Hall. Journal of American College Health, 58(5), 425-431.
  • Bliss, K., Lodyga, M., Bochantin, S., Null, D. (2010). Accuracy of Health and Wellness Messages provided by Cha Cha, the Mobile Answers Text Message Service. International Electronic Journal of Health Education, 2010; 13:49-58.
  • Outstanding Term Faculty Teacher Award for College of Agricultural Sciences (2010), Southern Illinois University Carbondale
  • New Professional of the Year (2014), Mid-America College Health Association region, presented at the American College Health Association Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX