Sarah Misyak, PhD, MPH

Program Focus

Sarah is the Assistant Director and Program Manager for Research and Evaluation for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Program, which is the Virginia implementing agency for two United States Department of Agriculture-funded programs: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Through SNAP-Ed and EFNEP, employees across the state of Virginia deliver nutrition education to individuals and families with low income and implement policy, systems and environmental changes initiatives to support healthy food environments. Sarah manages research and evaluation efforts for the Family Nutrition Program. 

Program Focus

Sarah’s work focuses on food access, food and nutrition security, and health disparities. Specific projects include the use of nutrition incentives in the food retail environments and exploring the relationship between food insecurity and mental health for caregivers and their children. Sarah also partners with the Virginia Department of Education to evaluate their efforts to promote healthy school food environments through training and technical assistance for school nutrition directors. Some of her efforts are also focused on program evaluation, especially Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed), including using an asset-based frame when reporting on program outcomes and impacts and promoting health equity through evaluation. 

Reviewed Journals

• Young, G.C., Misyak, S., Ledlie Johnson, M., Martin, N.E., Serrano, E. (2023). Assessing the SNAP Consumer Environment at Farmers Markets. Journal of Extension, 61(1), 10.34068/joe.61.01.20.
• Houghtaling B, Misyak, S., Serrano E, Dombrowski, R.D., Holston, D., Singleton CR, & Harden, S.M. (2023). Using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainability (EPIS) framework to advance the science and practice of healthy food retail. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2022.10.002.
• R. A. Liebe, L. M. Adams, V. E. Hedrick, E. L. Serrano, K. J. Porter, N. E. Cook, Misyak, S.A. (2023). Developing a conceptual framework for the relationship between food security status and mental health among low-income mothers. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6. DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.1078811
• Schonberger, H. L., Yang, L. L., Chase, M., Drape, T., Misyak, S., & Boyer, R. (2022). Cooperative Extension’s Capacity to Address Food Insecurity by Supporting Food Recovery Organizations. The Journal of Extension, 60(3). https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.60.03.15
• DeNunzio, M., Miller, M., Chase, M., Kraak, V., Serrano, E., & Misyak, S. (2022). A Scoping Review of the Community Health Worker Model Used for Food Systems Interventions Within the United States. American Journal of Health Promotion. https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171221125451
• Houghtaling, B., Englund, T., Chen, S., Bryant, D., Pradhananga, N., Kraak, V.I., Serrano, E., Harden, S.M., Davis, G.C., & Misyak, S. (2022). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-authorized retailers received a low score using the Business Impact Assessment–Obesity and Population Nutrition (BIA-Obesity) Tool to assess commitments to healthy food environments. BMC Public Health. 22(1):1225. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13624-9.
• Hedrick, V.E., Farris, A.R., Houghtaling, B., Mann, G.R., & Misyak, S.A. (2022). The Validity of a Market Basket Assessment Tool (MBAT) for Use in SNAP-Ed Healthy Retail Initiatives. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 54(8):776-783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2022.02.018
• Misyak, S.A., Parker, M.K., Ledlie Johnson, M., Hedges, S., Borst, E., McNamara Best, M., & Hedrick, V.E. (2022). "A Preliminary Evaluation of Virginia Fresh Match: Impacts and Demographic Considerations for Future Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Programs" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (7): 4367. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074367
• Liebe, R.A., Adams, L.M., Hedrick, V., Serrano, E.L., Porter, K.J., Cook, N.E., & Misyak, S.A. (2022). Understanding the Relationship Between Food Security and Mental Health for Food-Insecure Mothers in Virginia. Nutrients, 14(7):1491. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14071491.
• Nelson, R.A., Porter, K.J., Shomo, K., Curwood, S., & Misyak, S. (2021). A Content Analysis of Implementation Strategies Chosen by Virginia School Nutrition Directors. Health Behavior and Policy Review, 8(6), 585-595. https://doi.org/10.14485/HBPR.8.6.9.

Oral Presentations

• Earnesty, D., Keller, K., Misyak, S., Foerster, S., & Scott, M. (2023). New SNAP-Ed Tools and Strategies to Help Communities Reach 2030 White House Conference Targets. Oral presentation delivered at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Annual Conference, Washington, DC, July 20.
• Serrano, E., & Misyak, S. (2023). Developing Guiding Principles and a Language Guide for Use within SNAP-Ed Trainings, Programs, and Social Marketing. Oral presentation delivered at ASNNA. Arlington, VA, February 6-9, 2023.
• Misyak, S., Rose, C., Keller, K., Bruno, P., Younginer, N., Lim, S.S., Balestracci, K., Draper, C., & Markworth, A. Asset Framing to Promote Equity and Inclusion through SNAP-Ed Evaluation. Oral presentation delivered at ASNNA. Arlington, VA, February 6-9, 2023.
• Sherman, S., Misyak, S., LeBlanc, H., Keller, K., Puma, J., Whetstone, L., Younginer, N., Kim, H., Draper, C., & Bruno, P. Centering Equity in SNAP-Ed Evaluations. Plenary presentation at ASNNA. Arlington, VA, February 6-9, 2023.
• Misyak, S., Beardslee, M., & Cook, N.E. (2022). Leveraging Evaluation to Advance Equity in Cooperative Extension. Oral Presentation at the American Evaluation Association 2022 Conference. New Orleans, LA November 9-12, 2022.
• Young, G., Misyak, S., Brooks, A., & Serrano, E. (2022). Perceived Access to Physical Activity Opportunities Predicted Physical Activity Frequency among Virginia SNAP-Ed Participants. Oral Presentation at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November 7-11, 2022.
• Liebe, R., Adams, L., Hedrick, V., Serrano, E., Porter, K., Cook, N., & Misyak, S. (2022). Understanding the Relationship Between Child Food Insecurity and Maternal Mental Health Among Virginia Mothers with Food-Insecure Children. Oral Presentation at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November 7-11, 2022.
• Foerster S., Bruno, P., Puma, J., Misyak, S., Younginer, N., Sherman, S., Cunningham, K., Whetstone, L., & Austin, S. Keeping the SNAP-Ed Framework on the Leading Edge – How ASNNA Practitioners Can Influence Excellence in SNAP-Ed Planning. Plenary presentation delivered at ASNNA. Virtual meeting, February 10, 2022. 

Poster Presentations

• Harrigan, P., Serrano, E.L., Hedrick, V.E., & Misyak, S. (2023). Evaluation of Virginia SNAP-Ed Eating Smart, Being Active Participant Changes in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption by Race. Poster presentation delivered at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Annual Conference, Washington, DC, July 22.
• DeNunzio M., Gardezi M., & Misyak S. (2023). Identification of Overlap of Broadband Connection and Pickup Locations for Online SNAP-Authorized Retailers within Virginia. Poster presentation delivered at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Annual Conference, Washington, DC, July 22.
• Misyak, S., DeNunzio, M., Hamilton, K., Leibe, R., & Ritchie, L. (2023). Using a Social Vulnerability Lens for Exploring Food Insecurity and Negative Mental Health Outcomes for Low Income Mothers of Young Children. Poster presentation delivered at CAIA Big Event at Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, VA, March 16, 2023.
• Nelson, R.A., Cook, N.E., & Misyak, S.A. (2022). Differences in Physical and Mental Health Outcomes by Race for Food-Insecure Mothers in Virginia. Poster Presentation at the Virginia Public Health Association Conference, March 26, 2022.
• Misyak, S.A., Nelson, R., Hedrick, V., Cook, N.E., & Serrano, E. (2022). The Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Mental Health Among Low Income, Virginia Mothers. Poster Presentation at the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture Big Event, March 28, 2022.