Ruby Cox, Ph.D.
Professor
Extension Specialist, EFNEP and SCNEP
102 Wallace Annex
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone: (540) 231-7156
Fax: (540) 231-3916
Email: rubycox@vt.edu

Research Interests: Prevention of Cancer, Cardiovascular and Other Diet-Related Diseases Among Low-Income Individuals; Effective Nutrition Education Methods and Assessment of Behavioral Change Among Low-Income Families and Individuals

EDUCATION

1985, University of N.C., Greensboro, N.C., PhD in Foods & Nutrition; minor in Education
1969, University of N.C., Greensboro, N.C., MS in Foods & Nutrition
1967, University of N.C., Greensboro, N.C., BS in Home Economics Education
1978 to Present: Registered Dietitian (RD) with the American Dietetics Association

EMPLOYMENT AND WORK EXPERIENCE

Cooperative Extension Employment (28+ years):

April 2004 to Present: Professor and State 1EFNEP/3SCNEP Coordinator, Extension Nutrition Specialist, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech

1996 to 2004: Associate Professor and State 1EFNEP/3SCNEP Coordinator, Extension Nutrition Specialist, Department of
Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech

1989-1996: Assist. Professor, State EFNEP Coordinator and Extension Nutrition Specialist, Virginia Tech.

1985-1988: Assist. Professor, Exten. Prog. Coordinator-EFNEP & Nutrition Specialist, Clemson Univ.

1971-75 & 1979-1985: Area Home Economics Extension Agent, N. C. Cooperative Extension Service.

Other Employment:

1969-1971: Home Economist with the R.J. Reynolds Foods Company, Winston-Salem, N.C.

1975-1979: Health Dept. Nutritionist, Supervisor, and Director of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Surry County Health Dept. N.C.

1988-89: Research Dietitian, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem,N.C.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Research and Educational Programming Grants Received:

During the past 14 years, have been a PI or Co-PI on 14 grant proposals that have been funded for a total of $21,233,229.

Journal Publications:

Cason KL, Cox RH, Wenrich TR, Poole KP, Burney JL. Food stamp and non-food stamp program participants show similarly positive change with nutrition education. Topics In Clinical Nutrition 2004; 19 (2):136-147.

Cox RH, Carpenter JP, Bruce FA, Poole KP, Gaylord CK. Characteristics of low-income African American and Caucasian adults that are important in self-management of type 2 diabetes. Journal of Community Health 2004; 29(2):155-170.

Cox RH, White AH, Gaylord CK. A video lesson series is effective in changing the dietary intake and food-related behaviors of low-income homemakers. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2003; 103(11):1488-1493.

Cox RH, Stimpson TS, Poole, KP, Lambur MT. Physical activity characteristics of potential participants in nutrition and fitness programs based on stages of change, self-efficacy, and decisional balance. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal 2003; 31(4):361-377.

Cason, K, Cox RH, Burney JL. Do food stamps without education improve the nutrient intake and food-related behaviors of recipients? Topics in Clinical Nutrition 2002; 17(4): 74-82.

Rajgopal R, Cox RH, and Lambur MT, Lewis E. Cost-benefit Analysis Indicates Positive Economic Benefits of EFNEP Related to Chronic Disease Prevention. Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior 2002; 34:26-37.

Shawver GW, Cox RH. Need for Physician Referral of Low-Income Chronic Disease Patients to Community Nutrition Education Programs. Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly 2000; 20(1):17-33.

Stewart PL, Brochetti D, Cox RH, Clark MP. Low-income elderly adults' needs and preferences for nutrition education. Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly 1998; 18:1-20.

Cox RH, Gonzales-Vigilar MCR, Novascone MA, Silva-Barbeau I. Impact of a cancer intervention on diet-related risks for cardiovascular disease of White and African-American EFNEP clients. Journal of Nutrition Education 1996; 28:209-218.

Cox RH, Parker GG, Watson AC, Robinson SH, Simonson CJ, Elledge JC, Diggs S, Smith E. Dietary cancer risks of low-income women and change with intervention. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1995; 95:1031-1034.

Bass FB, Cox RH. Nutrient intake of cancer patients and need for dietary counseling. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1995; 95:1319-1321.

Bowens J, Cox RH, Pratt C, Gaylord C. Development, validation, and field testing of a food behavior checklist for use in EFNEP. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences 1995; 87:35-42.

Cox RH. Dietary cancer risks of low-income African-American and white women. Family and Community Health 1994; 17(3):49-59.

PowerPoint Presentations on the VCE Intranet

Cox RH (1998). Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. In Nutrition and Wellness Web Site of Virginia Cooperative Extension Intranet. Available at: ttp://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/fcs/nw/slides/index.html.

Cox RH (1998). Stress: Overview; Nutrition & Stress; Stress & Physical Activity. In Nutrition and Wellness Web Site of Virginia Cooperative Extension Intranet: Available at: http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/fcs/nw/slides/index.html.

McFerren M, Cox RH, Elledge JC, Moore R. VCE Nutrition Education Programs for Limited Resource Families and Youth. In Nutrition and Wellness Web Site of Virginia Cooperative Extension Intranet. Available at: http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/fcs/nw/slides/index.html.

Cox RH (2001) Nutrition Update from the Experts. Available at: http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/fcs/nw/slides/index.html.

Cox RH (2001). Apples, Broccoli and Whole Grains Too - What's In It For You?. In Nutrition and Wellness Web Site of Virginia Cooperative Extension Intranet. Available at: http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/fcs/nw/slides/index.html

Published Agency Reports (Reviewed by Peers in Several Universities)

Lambur M, Rajgopal R, Lewis E, Cox RH, Ellerbrock M. Applying Cost Benefit Analysis to Nutrition Education Programs: Focus on the Virginia Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program -Final Report. Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Coop. Extension, March, 1999.

Cason KL, Cox RH, Burney JL. Do Food Stamps Without Education Improve the Nutrient Intake and Food-Related Behaviors of Recipients? (Number 4). Mississippi State, MS: Southern Rural Development Center, March 2002.

Selected Numbered Extension Publications

Cox RH. Calories and Your Weight (2002) VPI&SU, Blacksburg, VA (VCE Pub 348586).

Cox RH, Elledge JC, Stadler K, Nichols-Richardson S, Midkiff J., et al. Healthy Futures Curriculum, including 10 lesson guides, 10 sets of reference materials, 104 visuals, and 52 participant handouts (VCE Pubs 348071, 348095; 348191-348200; and 348704-348756)

Cox RH, Hampton A. Smart Choices Nutrition Education Program: An Introduction (Rev. 2002). VPI&SU, Blacksburg, VA (VCE Pub 360097).

Cox RH. Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program: An Introduction (1999). VPI&SU, Blacksburg, VA (VCE Pub 360098).

Cox RH and Stadler K. Food Guide Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines (2002). VPI&SU, Blacksburg, VA (VCE Pub 348710).
Jones D and Cox RH. Physical Activity and Health IQ Quiz (2002). VPI&SU, Blacksburg, VA (VCE Pub 348704).

Papers Presented at Professional Meetings

Cox RH, Cason KL, Poole KP, Wenrich TR, Burney JL. Food Stamp and Non-Food Stamp Recipients Show Similarly Positive Behavior Change in Two Federally-funded Nutrition Education Programs (EFNEP and FSNEP). Oral presentation at the Society for Nutrition Education 36th Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, July 26-30, 2003.

Cox RH, Carpenter JC*. Characteristics of Caucasians and African-Americans Influencing Diabetes Management. Presented at the Society for Nutrition Education 36th Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, July 26-30, 2003.

Cason KL, Cox RH. Do Food Stamps without Education Improve the Nutrient Intake of Recipients? 130th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, Philadelphia, PA, November 11, 2002.

Willis W, Cox RH, Anliker JA (2001). The EFNEP Evaluation/Reporting System and the ERS Checklist: Validity and Reliability. Part of a plenary session titled "Evaluation: Different Branches on the Same Tree" that was offered as part of a national EFNEP/FSNEP meeting in Dallas, Texas, September 11-14, 2001.

Lambur MT, Cox RH, Rajgopal R*. (1999). Cost-benefit Analysis (CBA) in Nutrition Education Programs: Using EFNEP as a Model. At the Annual Meeting of the Society of Nutrition Education, Baltimore, Maryland, July 24-28, 1999 (abstract published in conference proceedings).

Cox RH. (1999). Need for Physician Referral of Low-income, Chronic Disease Patients to Community Nutrition Education Programs. At the Annual Meeting of the Society of Nutrition Education, Baltimore, Maryland, July 24-28, 1999 (abstract in conference proceedings).

Hogbin AL, Cox RH, Southard D, Gaylord C. (1998). Video Lessons Are Effective in Changing Food-Related Behaviors and Intake of Low-income Homemakers. At the Annual Meeting and Exhibition of the American Dietetic Association, Kansas City, Missouri, Oct. 19-22, 1998 (abstract published in supplement to Journal of the American Dietetic Association).

Cox RH (1995) Cancer Risks of Low-Income Women and Change with Intervention. At the Annual Meeting of the Virginia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Virginia Beach, Virginia, August 1-3, 1995.

Cox RH (1994) Improvement in Dietary Cancer Risk Factors of Low-income Female, Homemakers as the Result of an Intervention Program. At the Annual Meeting of the American Dietetic Association, Orlando, Florida, October 17-20, 1994. (Abstract published Supplement to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association)

Cox RH, Lambur MT, Rajgopal R, Lewis E. (February 2000) Procedures for Conducting A Cost-Benefit Study in EFNEP. EFNEP leaders and graduate students in 37 states participated.

Professional Membership

American Dietetic Association, Virginia Dietetic Association, Society of Nutrition Education, and Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP).

Recent Honors and Awards

2002 Excellence in Outreach Award from the College of Human Resources & Education, VPI&SU.
2001 Epsilon Sigma Phi, State Distinguished Service Award in Extension
1999 Excellence in Program Evaluation Award from the American Evaluation Association for a team. Team Members: Dr. Michael Lambur (leader), Dr. Ruby Cox, Dr. Mike Ellerbrock, Dr. Radhika Rajgopal, and Mr. Edwin Lewis.