Biography and education
Cassandra M. Johnson, PhD, MSPH, serves as an Associate Professor in the Nutrition and Foods Program at Texas State University. Dr. Johnson’s research interests center around policies, systems, and environmental changes for nutrition and health, with a focus on food (in)security intervention and measurement. Dr. Johnson has been recognized with awards or honors including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activities, Texas State University (2024) and being named to Delta Omega, the honorary society in public health (2010). To date, Dr. Johnson has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in journals and presented her research at many national and international conferences.
Education
2017 - PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Nutrition (track: Intervention and Policy, minor: Epidemiology)
2010 - MSPH, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, Social and Behavioral Health
2005 - BS, Texas A&M University, Industrial Engineering (minor: Mathematics)
Education
2017 - PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Nutrition (track: Intervention and Policy, minor: Epidemiology)
2010 - MSPH, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, Social and Behavioral Health
2005 - BS, Texas A&M University, Industrial Engineering (minor: Mathematics)
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Lamkin, K., Xu, L., Wang, K., Liu, Y., Yang, K., Wu, H., … Zhu, J. (2024). Choline and Betaine Intakes during Pregnancy in Relation to Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among Chinese Women. British Journal of Nutrition.
- Hwang, S. S., Johnson, C. M., Charles, J. S. J., & Biediger-Friedman, L. M. (2024). Food Delivery Apps and Their Potential to Address Food Insecurity in Older Adults: A Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21, 1197. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091197
- Zhu, J., Shen, X., Liu, Y., Yang, K., Wu, H., Lingpeng Lu, L., … Zhu, J. (2025). Associations of serum choline, betaine and trimethylamine N-oxide with gestational diabetes mellitus among Chinese pregnant women. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention, & Health, 8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2024-001111
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Excellence Award for Excellence In Scholarly/Creative Activity, Texas State University. September 1, 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence In Scholarly/Creative Activity, Texas State University. September 1, 2023
- Award / Honor Recipient: Impact Award, Graduate Education Advancement Board, UNC-Chapel Hill. April 2018
- Award / Honor Recipient: Inductee, Delta Omega (Honorary Society in Public Health). May 2010
- Award / Honor Recipient: Teaching Award of Honor 2020, Texas State University. May 2020

Featured service activities
- Member
Nutrition and Obesity Policy and Research Evaluation Network (NOPREN)
- Other
Translational Health Research Center, TXST
- Other
International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA)
- Chair
Faculty Search Committee, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, TXST
- Reviewer / Referee
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
- Member
Faculty Search Committee, School of Family and Consumer Sciences