MMC Research Lab Team

Faculty Researchers

Annette Besnilian, EdD, MPH, RDN
Executive Director

Ed.D. Educational Leadership, California State University Northridge
M.P.H. Public Health Nutrition, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
B.S. Family and Consumer Sciences, California State University, Northridge

Karmen Ovsepyan, MS, RDN
Associate Director

M.S. FCS Nutrition & Dietetics, California State University, Northridge
B.S., FCS Nutrition & Dietetics, California State University, Northridge

Scott W. Plunkett, Ph.D - http://www.csun.edu/plunk/

Ph.D. Human Environmental Sciences with a specialization in Family Relations and Child Development, Oklahoma State University
M.Ed. Education, Oklahoma State University
B.A. Psychology and Speech & Drama, Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Main areas of research - http://www.csun.edu/plunk/alab/index.html

1. Investigating individual, family, peer, school, and neighborhood qualities related to adolescents’ and emerging adults’ mental health and academics
2. Assessing psychometric properties of scales in various cultural/ethnic groups and investigating instrument and procedural threats to validity
3. Evaluating university programs (e.g., peer/faculty mentoring, developing research infrastructure) and community programs (e.g., parenting education, sex education for individuals with developmental disabilities, book flood, youth volunteer).  

Current research at the MMC

1. Sodium Reduction
2. MyPlate Musical
3. Let’s Grow Healthy
4. Let’s Eat Healthy
5. Taste of Good Health

David Boyns, PhD

Ph.D. Sociology, University of California Riverside
M.A. Sociology, University of California Riverside
B.A. Anthropology, Psychology & Sociology, University of California Irvine

Main areas of research

Sociological Theory, Social Psychology, Sociology of Emotions, Sociology of Education, Community-Engaged Sociology, Sociology of Health & Wellbeing, Cultural Sociology, Media Studies, and Evaluation Research.

Current research at the MMC

1. Sodium Reduction Initiative
2. Champions for Change
3. Let’s Eat Healthy

Claudia Toledo-Corral, PhD, MPH

PhD. Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California
MPH, Keck School of Medicine at University State University
M.S. Biology, California State University, Northridge
B.S. Biology, University of California, Los Angeles

Main areas of research

Dr. Toledo-Corral has a long-standing research agenda in the field of obesity and associated disease risk in underserved populations. Her past work includes the study of the biological underpinnings of pediatric obesity and diabetes, assessing the efficacy of clinical diagnostic methods of diabetes, and examining the physiological role of stress on obesity and cardiometabolic risk. With USC colleagues, Dr. Toledo-Corral’s most recent projects include the exploration of psychosocial and environmental stressors as determinants of obesity risk in mother-infant dyads.

Current research at the MMC

1. Metabolic Stressors Assessment

Mirna Sawyer, PhD, MPH

PhD. Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles
MPH. Emory’s University’s Rollins School of Public Health
B.A. History, Stanford University

Main areas of research

Her research interests include family food decisions, food access, school lunch reform, and overweight and obesity in Latino and under-served communities. 

Current research at the MMC

1. Latino Food Decisions
2. Nutrigenomics Risk Among Latinos with pre-diabetes
3. School-based model of child and adolescent health

Nelida Duran, PhD, MS, RD

PhD. Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles
MS. Nutritional Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles
BS. Nutritional Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles

Main areas of research

Her research interests include arctic indigenous food systems, global environment change and its impact on food and nutrition security, the role of nutrition in eliminating health disparities, and the translation of nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, and epigenetics in clinical and public health nutrition.

Current research at the MMC

1. Latino Food Decisions
2. Nutrigenomics Risk Among Latinos with pre-diabetes
3. School-based model of child and adolescent health

Merav Efrat, Ed.D, MPH, IBCLC

Ed.D, University of Southern California
M.P.H, California State University Northridge
B.A., University of California Santa Cruz

Main areas of research

Research agenda focuses on developing and evaluating interventions that reduce childhood obesity particularly among disadvantaged communities through either the promotion of physical activity among elementary school-aged children or the promotion of breastfeeding.

Current projects with the MMC

1. USDA Pathway to Success for Hispanic students as RDs

Douglas Kaback, M.F.A.

M.F.A. Drama University of Southern CA
B.F.A. Drama University of California Santa Barbara

Main areas of research

Theatre of the Oppressed; Classical Theatre; Theatre for Youth; Theatre for Social Justi

Current projects with the MMC

1. Aqua- and Hydroponics
2. My Plate the Musical
3. Disordered Eating Theater
4. Champions for Change