Jennifer Bean, PhD, RDN

Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Science in Medical Dietetics and Master of Science in Nutrition from the University of Missouri in Columbia and is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist licensed to practice in the State of Missouri. For nearly twenty years, she served the University of Missouri in several roles, including a clinician, research dietitian, associate teaching professor, and most recently, as the interim program director for the Master's Coordinated Program in Dietetics. She completed her PhD in nutrition and earned a certificate in Life Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship, also at the University of Missouri. Her research area explores how humans absorb vitamin D from dietary sources, with her dissertation focused on developing research methods to isolate dietary vitamin D to better describe its transport.

Policy engagement has been a consistent theme for Jennifer through some of her teaching responsibilities and by serving her campus and professional communities through advocacy at the campus, county, and state level. As a lifelong Missourian, Jennifer is deeply committed to the well-being of her home state. She is looking forward to applying her expertise and experience as a MOST policy fellow to support legislative activities.