Major Jennifer Carpenter is a second-year PhD student focusing on Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science
Combining Military Leadership with Cutting-Edge Research to Address Food Insecurity
Jennifer Carpenter, a dedicated officer in the United States Army and a second-year PhD student in the Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science program* at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, has been promoted to the rank of Major, marking a significant milestone in her military career. This promotion elevates her to the distinguished ranks of field grade officers, where she will oversee more complex systems and contribute to high-level strategic operations.
Throughout her career, Jennifer has shown unwavering commitment to leadership and championing solutions, particularly in addressing food insecurity, an issue that affects junior Soldiers. Now, as a Major, she is well-positioned to leverage her military role and academic expertise to affect meaningful changes in the realm of military nutrition. Looking forward, Jennifer plans to develop data-driven solutions that enhance the health, readiness, and well-being of Soldiers, ensuring they have the support and resources needed to excel in their service.
Jennifer’s research is grounded in her passion for understanding the intersection of food insecurity and the military community. Her primary focus is on the impact of food insecurity on military veterans. By leveraging large, publicly available datasets, she aims to better understand the scope of this pressing issue, analyze trends over time, and create a comprehensive picture of how food insecurity affects veterans. One of her key challenges involves harmonizing data from multiple sources, a task she is determined to tackle in order to develop robust policy recommendations that can effectively address the needs of the most vulnerable veterans.
I am deeply motivated by the experiences of Soldiers I’ve served alongside, some of whom have shared their struggles with affording and accessing adequate food and nutrition.
In addition to her work with veterans, Jennifer is involved in the MIRRER-WIC project, which examines coverage gaps in Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program at the county level across select states. Drawing on this work, Jennifer’s research will explore WIC coverage specifically among military and veteran families. Her aim is to identify opportunities for improving program participation and develop tailored policies to better support these communities, addressing gaps in services where they exist.
As an Army dietitian, Jennifer’s dedication to research and advancing practical solutions is deeply personal. She has served alongside Soldiers who have struggled with affording or accessing adequate food, which has further fueled her dedication to advance research that promotes food access. Jennifer envisions a future where no service member or veteran must worry about food insecurity, and where all have access to healthy food that supports their physical and mental well-being.
Jennifer’s unique combination of military leadership, academic expertise, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Soldiers and veterans makes her a force for change within the Army and beyond. Through her research and dedication to impactful initiatives, she is working to create sustainable, evidence-based solutions that will enhance the health, well-being, and readiness of military personnel for years to come.
The views and information presented are those of the authors and do not represent the official position of the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, or the Departments of Army, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.
*Our programs are evolving! Related specializations for our M.S. programs are now Data Analytics and AI in Nutrition, and Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health Nutrition. We engage every student in creating their own journey through the school by helping you customize your degree with unique combinations of specializations! Reach out to nutritionadmissions@tufts.edu to get started.