-
Health and Human Development
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
-
About
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
-
COVID-19 Response
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
-
Return to Research
Explore
-
Return to Teaching
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
- Creative Approaches to Teaching: Where to Start
- Adapting to Mixed-Mode, Remote, or Web-Based Teaching and Learning
- Assessments and Academic Integrity
- Policy and Safety Updates
- Technology and Library Resources
- Resources to Assist Faculty and Staff Support Student Welfare
- Remote Teaching and Learning
- Contact tracing in the classroom
- Supporting students in quarantine and isolation
-
Additional Resources and References
Explore
- Acknowledgement of Risk
- Travel Guidelines
-
Return to Research
- Environmental Health
- Overview of the College
- Meet the Dean
-
News and Events
Explore
-
Events
Explore
-
Profiles
Explore
-
Diversity and Inclusion
Explore
-
Awards
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
-
College Awards
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
-
Carol Clark Ford Staff Achievement Award
Explore
-
HHD Faculty Sustainability Award
Explore
-
Joyce Hopson-King Diversity Achievement Award
Explore
-
Ann C. Crouter Early Career Faculty Award
Explore
-
Evelyn R. Saubel Faculty Award
Explore
-
HHD Alumni Society Excellence in Teaching Award
Explore
-
Leadership in Outreach Award
Explore
-
Evan G. and Helen G. Pattishall Outstanding Research Achievement Award
Explore
-
Pauline Schmitt Russell Distinguished Research Career Award
Explore
-
Carol Clark Ford Staff Achievement Award
-
HHD Alumni Society Awards
Explore
-
College Awards
-
Commencement
Explore
- Employers and Industry
- Our Valued Partners
- History
-
Strategic Plans 2014-19
Explore
-
Strategic Plan 2021-25
Explore
- Subscribe, Listen, Learn: College Podcasts
- Donate
- Contact
-
COVID-19 Response
-
Undergraduate
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
-
Getting Started
Explore
-
Majors and Minors
Explore
-
Honors Program
Explore
-
Advising
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
-
Academic Integrity
Explore
- Academic Progress
- Advising Resources
-
Change of Campus
Explore
- Declaring a Major/Minor
-
Enforcement of Recommended Preparation
Explore
- Learning Support
- Petitions to University Policies and Procedures
-
Policies and Procedures
Explore
- Schedule an Appointment with Your Adviser
-
Undergraduate Adviser and Student Handbook
Explore
-
Contact
Explore
- Dean's List
-
Academic Integrity
- Student Organizations
-
Student Profiles
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
-
Biobehavioral Health
Explore
-
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Explore
-
Health Policy and Administration
Explore
-
Hospitality Management
Explore
-
Human Development and Family Studies
Explore
-
Kinesiology
Explore
-
Nutritional Sciences
Explore
-
Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management
Explore
-
Student Research
Explore
-
Biobehavioral Health
-
Study Abroad
Explore
- Take a Professor to Lunch
-
Financial Aid and College Scholarships
Explore
-
Leadership Initiative
Explore
-
Summer Session
Explore
- Dean's Welcome Meeting
- Parents and Family Association
-
Visit and Apply
Explore
-
Contact
Explore
-
Discover HHD
Explore
-
Career and Professional Development
Explore
-
HHD Instagram Ambassadors
Explore
- Undergraduate Research Grants
- Undergraduate Activities and Events
-
Getting Started
-
Graduate
Explore
-
Alumni
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
-
Events
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
-
Alumni Virtual Events
Explore
-
Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
- 2021 - Derrick Campana
- 2019 - Ariel Clatty
- 2018 - James Fitzgerald
- 2018 - Susan Robinson
- 2017 - Janet Rosenzweig
- 2015 - Scott M. Smith
- 2014 - Mark McCamish
- 2013 - Patricia Hillkirk
- 2012 - Jill Jayne
- 2011 - Robert E. Hillman
- 2010 - Joanne Finegan
- 2009 - Mario Lafortune
- 2008 - Mary Ellen Clark
- 2007 - Wendy A. Owen
-
Alumni Virtual Events
-
Biobehavioral Health
Explore
-
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Explore
-
News
Explore
-
Get Involved
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
- Alumni Awards
-
Mentor a Student
Explore
-
Join an Affiliate Program Group
ExploreUp a level (this gets replaced in JS)
-
Biobehavioral Health APG
Explore
-
Communication Sciences and Disorders APG
Explore
-
Health Policy and Administration APG
Explore
-
Human Development and Family Studies APG
Explore
-
Kinesiology APG
Explore
-
Nutrition and Dietetics Alumni Society (NDAS)
Explore
-
Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society (PSHRS)
Explore
-
Recreation Park and Tourism Management APG
Explore
- Get Involved with an Affiliate Program Group
-
Professional Golf Management APG
Explore
-
Biobehavioral Health APG
-
HHD Alumni Society
Explore
-
Health Policy and Administration
Explore
-
Awards
Explore
-
Hospitality Management
Explore
- Kinesiology
-
Alumni Profiles
Explore
- Nutritional Sciences
- Alumni Magazine
- Career Resources for Alumni
- Update Your Contact Information
- Volunteer Leaders
- Donate
- Contact
-
Events
-
Research
Explore
-
Contact
Explore
-
Departments
Explore
-
Outreach
Explore
-
About
- Archived Newsletters
- Scholarship Opportunities
Student Research Spotlight - Madison Galascio


Undergraduate Student Researcher
Madison Galascio noticed a discrepancy when she came to college: college students seemed to have the proper knowledge and education about healthy foods, but weren’t actually eating healthy.
As someone who’s always been passionate about nutrition, she wondered why.
Over the years as a child and teen athlete, Galascio began to understand how much of an impact the food we eat has on our performance – physically in sports, mentally in school, and countless other ways. She didn’t understand why knowledge of healthy eating among her peers didn’t match their eating behaviors.
Thanks to countless research opportunities and support available at Penn State, Galascio got the chance to turn her question into a research project.
Working with Melissa Bopp, associate professor of kinesiology, Galascio, a senior Nutritional Sciences major who is minoring in Kinesiology, created a nutrition survey for students participating in fitness assessments at the Center for Fitness and Wellness.
Located in the Intramural Building on the University Park campus, the Center for Fitness and Wellness provides health and fitness assessment and education for students, faculty, and staff at Penn State. The center is supported by partnerships between the Department of Kinesiology, the College of Health and Human Development and the Office of Student Affairs, among others.
The survey, which Galascio began distributing to students last semester, aims to find the barriers to healthy eating among college students by asking them questions about their nutrition knowledge and habits. Some of these barriers might include cooking skill level, access to healthy foods, peer influences, alcohol and perceived time use – the amount of time it takes to cook a healthy meal.
Galascio hopes the research project will give her more insight into nutrition among college students, that she can apply in the classroom, in her extra-curricular activities, and as she pursues a career after college. She also hopes the findings help those in the medical field.
“I hope the results are influential for college students,” Galascio said. “Additionally, I hope that finding an answer to this problem would be helpful to health professionals so they can intervene when necessary, and help students make positive changes with their health.”
At the end of the fall 2018 semester, the survey had around 40 responses. Galascio is continuing her research this semester in hopes of getting more responses. In February she plans to analyze the results and then present her research at the Undergraduate Research Exhibition this spring.
Galascio said this experience has introduced her to research side of nutrition and expanded her view of the different ways she can apply her knowledge in the nutrition field.
Before she created the survey, Galascio worked with Bopp over the summer to first research what other experts have said might be barriers to healthy eating among college students, as well as other previous work on the subject.
“My professor and I consulted with experts and examined the current evidence to find the best approaches,” Galascio said. “I wanted to go into this project with the proper knowledge of the subject.”
She said before starting her project, she never would have imagined she would be able to do research, but the support of Bopp and others in the department made her see what she is capable of.
“This project has allowed me to put my own ideas and thoughts into a project,” Galascio said.
“Melissa Bopp overseeing my project has been very helpful, especially since this is my first time conducting research,” she continued. “In addition to learning about the research side of things, participation in this project has enhanced my skills in working with, and communicating with others.”
Galascio’s involvement in the project was made possible by the Smith Endowment in the College of Health and Human Development. She said the support provided her with the tools to really develop and perfect her project, hopefully setting it up for accuracy and success.
“Receiving research support has been very helpful, when recruiting participants for my survey, and many other areas,” she said. “The support will also be beneficial when it comes time to analyze the data, as I’ll have up-to-date software at my fingertips.”
Outside of this research project, Galasciocarries out her passion nutrition in other ways, too. She is involved with the Student Nutrition Association, a student club, and HealthWorks, a peer outreach and education program on campus.
Galascio said this experience has been both inspiring and educational, and she encourages other undergraduate students to get involved with research.
“Because of the guidance, and facilities and materials available to students, anyone can do research at Penn State,” she said. “For other students interested in research, pick something you’re passionate about. That’s made a difference for me, since this project is based off my own question, and is a problem I’m personally invested in solving. I’m grateful for this opportunity here at Penn State.”