Professor Dr. Bronwen Powell

Biography

Bronwen Powell is an associate professor at Penn State, specializing in Geography, African Studies, and Anthropology. She holds a PhD in Human Nutrition from McGill University and an MSc in Ethnobiology from the University of Kent, England. Her research broadly examines the social, cultural, and environmental drivers of human nutrition and dietary patterns. Specifically, she focuses on the relationship between biodiversity and human nutrition, particularly how people utilize wild and agricultural resources to improve dietary diversity and food security. Dr. Powell's recent work investigates the role of forests and wild foods in contributing to human diets and nutrition. She is interested in the concept of healthy food environments, exploring it in both urban developed contexts and rural African settings. Dr. Powell uses a range of qualitative and quantitative methods, including ethnographic and participatory approaches, to study the socio-cultural factors that mediate people's use of environments to meet their livelihood needs. Her policy-oriented research aims to inform national and international practices for improved nutrition and sustainable development. She is currently seeking graduate students interested in these topics.

Research Interests

Experience