Recent Kean Alumna Presents at National Conference

Recent Kean alumna Lovely Randle presented a research project co-authored with Kean professor Armine Lulejian, Ph.D., at the 68th annual Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) conference.

Lovely is the first Kean MPA student to present at a national conference. Her presentation, Too Close? Are Childhood Obesity Rates in Elizabeth, NJ Correlated with the Close Proximity of Fast Food Retail Establishments to Schools in Areas of Low Socioeconomic Status, examined the correlation between childhood obesity, the prevalence, quantity, and proximity of fast food establishments, median household income, and the poverty rate in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

The study utilized GIS mapping to assess proximity and quantity of fast food retail establishments within 0.5-mile radius of every public middle school and high school in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Randle and Lulejian’s findings have far reaching implications and the potential to influence local lawmakers on issues of food policy and civic planning.

The SOPHE conference, held March 30 – April 1 in Denver, examined the theme Scaling to new heights: Health for All. SOPHE is a professional association with diverse membership of nearly 4,000 health education professionals and students in the United States and 25 other countries.