A passion for prevention and a desire to create healthier food systems have guided Tessa Lasswell’s journey from registered dietitian to USDA nutritionist and now doctoral student. Beginning this fall, Tessa joins the Department of Health Behavior at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Global Food Research Program (GFRP), where she will be co-advised by Drs. Marissa Hall and Shu Wen Ng as she pursues research at the intersection of nutrition, health behavior, and food policy.
Originally from the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minnesota, Tessa developed an interest in nutrition as an undergraduate after recognizing its role in advancing a more prevention-focused approach to health care.
“I was drawn to nutrition because it offered an opportunity to improve health through prevention and lifestyle change, not just treatment,” said Lasswell. “I’ve always been interested in the upstream factors that shape health, such as the environments and systems around us, before someone ever enters a clinic seeking help.”
That perspective has guided a career spanning academic research and federal nutrition policy. Tessa earned her Master of Public Health and completed the registered dietitian nutritionist requirements through the coordinated program at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. After graduation, she remained at the University of Minnesota as a study coordinator, where she evaluated how alternative approaches to delivering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits influenced food purchasing patterns, diet quality, and health outcomes.
She later joined the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), first supporting the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as a nutritionist in the Northeast Regional Office before moving to USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. There, she supported the development and implementation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
At UNC, Tessa is eager to deepen her understanding of health behavior theory and further develop her epidemiological skills to advance evidence-based research in nutrition and food policy. She was especially drawn to the opportunity to work with both Dr. Hall and Dr. Ng, whose complementary expertise closely aligns with her research interests.
“I’m fortunate to learn from two advisors whose backgrounds bring such a valuable range of perspectives,” said Lasswell. “Dr. Hall’s work in health behavior and food labeling, paired with Dr. Ng’s research on the economics of food policy, creates an ideal environment for the questions I hope to examine.”
She was equally drawn to GFRP’s emphasis on policy, systems, and environmental approaches to improving nutrition on a global scale.
Looking ahead, Tessa hopes her research will contribute to a healthier, more equitable food system while helping reduce health disparities. She is particularly passionate about ensuring that food policies intended to improve nutrition also foster dignity and equity, avoiding unintended consequences such as increased weight stigma.
Outside of research, Tessa enjoys spending time outdoors through hiking, running, biking, and traveling. This summer, Tessa spent two and a half months hiking 1,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail across California, Oregon, and Washington. She also maintains a regular yoga practice, enjoys gardening, cooking, and baking, and values opportunities to build meaningful connections with others.
Earlier this summer, Tessa made the move to North Carolina with her partner, Matt, and their lovable, sensitive greyhound, Bucky. Excited to call Durham home, she looks forward to exploring the Research Triangle and experiencing everything North Carolina has to offer.