Sarah McKee (she/her)
Entered the Program: 2017
Hometown: Austin, TX
Current Program: PhD with a specialization in Health, Wellbeing, and Prevention
Previous Education:
- MA, Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, 2019
- BA, Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas, 2010
Research Interests:
- School wellness policies
- Role of the school context in developing healthy eating behaviors
- Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model
Advising Committee:
- Major advisor: Dr. Marlene Schwartz
- Associate advisor: Dr. Maria LaRusso
- Associate advisor: Dr. Sandra Chafouleas
Teaching Experience:
- Instructor of Record: HDFS 3550 Comparative Family Policy, Fall 2021 — Present
- Advisor: Dr. Beth Russell
- Teaching Assistant: HDFS 1070 Individual and Family Development, Fall 2020 — Spring 2021
- Advisors: Dr. Eva Lefkowitz and Dr. Shannon Weaver
Assistantship Experience:
- Research assistant: UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Fall 2017 — present
- Graduate assistant: HDFS Undergraduate Honors Program, Spring 2018 — Spring 2020
- Graduate assistant: HDFS College Career Pathways Program, Fall 2017
Publications:
- McKee, S.L., Thorne, T.A., Koslouski, J.B., Chafouleas, S.M., & Schwartz, M.B. (2022). Assessing district policy alignment with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model in Connecticut, 2019 to 2020. Journal of School Health, 92(6), 594-604. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13183
- McKee, S.L., Xu, R., & Schwartz, M.B. (2022). Assessing the effects of a statewide training initiative on local school wellness policies. Health Promotion Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399211070808
- McKee, S.L., Gurganus, E.A., Atoloye, A.T., Xu, R., Martin, K., & Schwartz, M.B. (2021). Pilot testing an intervention to educate and promote nutritious choices at food pantries. Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-021-01570-6
- Connolly, K., Babbin, M.I., McKee, S.L., McGinn, K., Cohen, J.F.W., Chafouleas, S.M., & Schwartz, M.B. (2021). Dedication, innovation, and collaboration: A mixed-methods analysis of school meals in Connecticut during COVID-19. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 10(2), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2021.102.020
- Koriakin, T.A., McKee, S.L., Schwartz, M.B. and Chafouleas, S.M. (2020). Development of a comprehensive tool for school health policy evaluation: The WellSAT WSCC. Journal of School Health, 90(12), 923-939. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12956
- McKee, S.L., Cooksey-Stowers, K., St. Louis, R., & Schwartz, M.B. (2019). Understanding the
process of implementing nutrition and physical activity policies in a large national child care
organization: A mixed-methods study. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 10(3), 801-811. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz045
Awards/scholarships/fellowships:
- Summer Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, The Graduate School, Summer 2022
- Outstanding Student Abstract, American Public Health Association-School Health Education and Services section, 2019
- Doctoral Student Travel Fellowship, The Graduate School, Fall 2019

sarah.mckee@uconn.edu | |
File | McKee CV 6-10-2022 |