Stephanie Grutzmacher, PhD

Associate Professor | School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness
Associate Specialist for Nutritional Sciences | Family, Consumer, and Health Sciences Cooperative Extension
Stephanie_Grutzmacher

Shantz 613

520-626-0056
sgrutzmacher@arizona.edu

EDUCATION:

  • PhD, Family Studies, University of Maryland, 2007
  • MS, Family Studies, University of Maryland, 2004
  • BS, Communication & Rhetoric, Syracuse University, 2002
  • BS, Psychology, Syracuse University, 2002

BIO
Stephanie Grutzmacher is a community-engaged scholar seeking to eliminate structural, social, and economic barriers and ensure equitable access to healthy food locally and globally. Her applied research explores the unique experiences of food insecurity among underserved populations to identify best practices for food assistance and food access programs. She engages community collaborators and Extension Family & Consumer Health Sciences agents and staff to develop, implement, and evaluate programmatic strategies in family, school, retail, worksite, service agency, and community settings to improve food access and nutrition security. 

As a part of her ten-year collaboration with Maryland SNAP-Ed, she worked with multi-stakeholder teams to develop and evaluate Text2BHealthy and Project Refresh, two innovative interventions included in the USDA SNAP-Ed Toolkit. In addition to her work to improve SNAP, school meals, Double Up Food Bucks, and other food access programs, she has also facilitated a community development and capacity-building partnership with public health and agriculture faculty at two universities in Ethiopia since 2014. She has also worked on capacity building for nutrition security in Afghanistan, Malawi, and Timor Leste. She is committed to using equity-driven, inclusive, and high-impact teaching and mentoring practices to cultivate the next generation of community leaders in health equity. 

Prior to joining UA, she was an Assistant/Associate Professor of global health and nutrition at Oregon State University’s College of Health (2015-2024) and Extension Specialist and Research Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health (2008-2015). 

RESEARCH AND OUTREACH PROJECTS
Stephanie’s work aims to 1) improve the sufficiency and effectiveness of community food access, nutrition education, and food safety net programs and 2) understand unique experiences of food and nutrition insecurity among low-income populations. The overarching goal of her scholarship and practice is to improve the quality and equitable distribution of the social determinants of health that shape well-being.

Current projects include: 

  • The Western Region Nutrition Security Collaborative (with Utah State University and New Mexico State University) to strengthen cultural responsiveness of food access programs through training, curriculum development, and outreach
  • A statewide, mixed-methods evaluation of the Oregon Double Up Food Bucks nutrition incentive program, including stakeholder, ambassador, and participant perceptions of the program’s benefits and drawbacks; food insecurity and fruit and vegetable consumption; stigma; barriers to and facilitators of participation; farmers markets as third places; and the impact of the SNAP Emergency Allotment termination
  • A qualitative study of farmworker and farmer food safety net utilization
  • A mixed-methods study of older adults’ SNAP participation and social service workers’ experiences serving older adults experiencing food insecurity during the COVID pandemic
  • A study of college and university responses to student food and housing insecurity before and during the COVID pandemic
  • A validation study for measuring food insecurity among college students

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

  • Kilgrow*, J., Gamble*, E., Meier*, A., Lyman*, K., Barney*, A., Karchner*, C., Martinez*, P., Lee*, K., Mathusek*, C., Ang*, K., Green*, B., Banna, J., Eggett, D., Grutzmacher, S., Jackson, J., OoNorasak. K., Stokes, N., & Richards, R. (2025) Development, validation, and reliability testing of the College Perspectives Around Food Insecurity survey. PLOS ONE, 20(1), e0317444. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317444. 
  • Garcia, J., Vaughn, A., Arredondo Abreu*, C., Blodgett*, J., Carrillo*, E., Contreras**, R., Endinjok*, F., Grutzmacher, S., Gunter, K., Harvey, M., Kothari, B., Mojica, C.M., Rothwell, D., & MacTavish, K. (2024) Developing a strategic “container” to support boundary spanning and belonging amongst collaborators at a land-grant university. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 28(3), 97. 
  • Rockler*, B., Grutzmacher†, S., Garcia, J., Smit, E., & Braverman, M. (2024). Psychosocial factors play a central role in determining SNAP participation on the farm. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1402142. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1402142.
  • Munger, A., Speirs, K., Grutzmacher†, S., & Edwards†, M. (2023). Social service providers’ perceptions of older adults’ food access during COVID-19. Journal of Aging and Social Policy. DOI: 10.1080/08959420.2023.2205770.
  • Rockler*, B., Grutzmacher†, S., Garcia, J., Smit, E., & Braverman, M. (2023). Something to eat: Experiences of food insecurity on the farm. Agriculture and Human Values. DOI: 10.1007/s10460-023-10448-0.
  • Speirs, K.E., Grutzmacher, S., Munger, A., & Ottusch, T. (2023). How do U.S. colleges and universities help students address basic needs? A national inventory of resources for food and housing insecurity. Educational Researcher, 52(1), 16-28. DOI: 10.3102/0013189X221139292. 
  • Munger, A., Grutzmacher†, S., & Rockler*, B. (2022). Vulnerability to food insecurity: Interconnected risks and assets for coping among low-income men. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 13(4), 637-875. DOI: 10.1086/713477.
  • Rockler*, B., Grutzmacher†, S., Garcia, J., & Smit, E. (2022). The role of SNAP and WIC participation and racialized legal status in U.S. farmworker health. PLOS ONE, 17(8), e0272911. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272911.
  • Giordono, L., Rothwell, D., Grutzmacher†, S., & Edwards†, M. (2022). Understanding SNAP use patterns among older adults. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 44(2), 609-634. DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13228.
  • Alonso Street*, E.M., Smit, E., Grutzmacher, S., & Branscum, A. (2021). Self-perceived health and chronic conditions among users of supplements with and without botanical ingredients: Findings from the 2009-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 19(6), 689-703. DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2021.1924336. 
  • Yimer, N.B., Mohammed***, M.A., Solomon, K., Tadese, M., Grutzmacher, S., Meikena, H., Alemnew, B., Sharew***, N.T., Habtewold, T.D. (2021). Predictors of cervical cancer screening uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health, 195, 105-111. DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.014.
  • Crespo-Bellido*, M., Takata, Y., Jackson, J., Grutzmacher, S., & Smit, E. (2021). Dietary quality and caloric contribution of the alternative food acquisitions of U.S. low-income households: Results from the National Food Acquisition and Purchasing Survey (FoodAPS). Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 17(5), 722-741. DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2021.1901170.
  • Crespo-Bellido*, M., Grutzmacher, S., Takata, Y., & Smit, E. (2020). The association between food away from home consumption and higher body mass index varies by food security status in U.S. adults. Journal of Nutrition, 151(2), 387-394. DOI:10.1093/jn/nxaa364.
  • Crespo-Bellido*, M., Grutzmacher, S., & Smit, E. (2020). Food security and alternative food sources among U.S. low-income households: Results from the National Food Acquisition and Purchasing Survey (FoodAPS). Public Health Nutrition, 24(5), 787-795. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980020003791. 
  • Rockler*, B., Grutzmacher, S., Smit, E., & Notarianni**†, M. (2020). Participant perceptions of the Double Up Food Bucks Program at Oregon Farmers Markets. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 52(11), 1043-1051. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2020.02.016.
  • Craddock*, H., Maring, E., & Grutzmacher, S. (2020). Foodborne illness and childhood diarrhea in Debre Berhan, Ethiopia: Preliminary efforts to assess risk in the home environment. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Development, 20(1), 15194-15204. DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.89.17810.
  • Grutzmacher†, S., Munger, A, Messina, L., & Downes, K. (2020). Screening for health literacy among SNAP-eligible adults: Implications for Nutrition Facts Label policy and education. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 15(3), 339-352. DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2019.1590277. 
  • Grutzmacher†, S., Munger, A., Speirs, K., Hilberg*, E.M., Vafai*, Y., Worthington**, L., Braunscheidel Duru**, E., & Lachenmayr**†, L. (2019). Predictors of retention in a text-based nutrition education program: A survival analysis of Text2BHealthy. Journal of Medical Internet Research mHealth and uHealth, 7(1), e9967. DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.9967.
  • Akibu***, M., Tekelab, T., Amano, A., Besho, M., Grutzmacher, S., Tadese, M., & Habtewold, T. (2018). Adherence to prenatal iron-folic acid supplementation in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC): A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic Reviews, 7, 107. DOI: 10.1186/s13643-018-0774-x.
  • Grutzmacher†, S., Braunscheidel Duru**, E., Speirs, K., Worthington**, L., Munger, A., & Lachenmayr**†, L. (2018). Using text messages to engage low-income parents in school-based nutrition education. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 13(3), 335-339. DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2017.1364196.
  • Grutzmacher†, S., Munger, A., Speirs, K., Richard, K., Zemier**, L., & Worthington**, L. (2017). Feasibility of bidirectional text messages in evaluating a text-based nutrition education program for low-income parents: Results from the Text2BHealthy program. Evaluation and Program Planning, 64, 90-94. DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2017.04.001.
  • Song, H.J., Grutzmacher†, S., & Munger*, A. (2016). Project ReFresh: Testing the efficacy of a school-based nutrition intervention to improve fruit and vegetable consumption in elementary school children. Journal of School Health, 86(7), 543-551. DOI: 10.1111/josh.12404.
  • Davis*, B., Grutzmacher†, S., & Munger*, A. (2016). Utilization of social support among food insecure individuals: A qualitative examination of network strategies and appraisals. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 11(2), 162-179. DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2015.1066731. 
  • Munger*, A., Hofferth, S., & Grutzmacher, S. (2016). The role of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the relationship between food insecurity and probability of maternal depression. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 11(2), 147-161. DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2015.1045672. 
  • Speirs, K., Grutzmacher†, S., Munger*, A., & Messina*, L. (2016). Recruitment and retention in an SMS-based health education program: Lessons learned from Text2Bhealthy. Health Informatics Journal, 22(3), 651-658. DOI: 10.1177/1460458215577995. 
  • Munger*, A., Stevenson*, T., Speirs, K., Riera, K., & Grutzmacher†, S. (2015). More than just not enough: Experiences of food insecurity for Latino immigrants. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 17(5), 1548-56. DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-0124-6. 
  • Wilcox**, C.S., Grutzmacher, S., Ramsing**, R., Balch**, C., Rockler**, A., Safi***, M., & Hanson†, J. (2015). From the field: Empowering women to improve family food security in Afghanistan. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 30(1), 15-21. DOI: 10.1017/S1742170514000209. 
  • Song, H.J., Grutzmacher†, S., & Kostenko**, J. (2014). Personal weight status classification and health literacy among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants. Journal of Community Health, 39(3), 446-453. DOI: 10.1007/s10900-013-9796-4.
  • Speirs, K., Munger*, A., Messina*, L., & Grutzmacher†, S. (2012). Health literacy and nutrition behaviors among low-income adults. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 23(3), 1082-1091. DOI: 10.1353/jhpu.2012.0113.
  • Grutzmacher, S., & Gross, S. (2011). Household food security and fruit and vegetable intake among low-income 4th graders. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 43(6), 455-463. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2010.10.004.
  • Grutzmacher, S. & Braun, B. (2008). Food security status and food resource management skills over time among rural, low-income mothers. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 2(2-3), 81-92. DOI: 10.1080/19320240801891487.
*Denotes student collaborator **Denotes community collaborator, Extension educator, or Extension staff ***Denotes international partner †Denotes PI/PD, Dual PI/PD, or person otherwise responsible for obtaining funding for the work