Dr. Carol Connell, MS, Ph.D., is the Interim Extension Specialist in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the Auburn University College of Human Sciences. She received her Ph.D. in Nutrition and Food Systems from the University of Southern Mississippi. Her research focuses on working with multi-disciplinary teams to assess nutrition and health concerns among rural and/or low-income populations and then develop and test theory-based, community nutrition and physical activity programs for efficacy and effectiveness using mixed methods research. Dr. Connell's other research interests include food insecurity, food access, and the intersection of these with health and health disparities both in children and adults.

Dr. Laura Downey is the Associate Dean for Extension in the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University and the Assistant Director for Human Sciences Extension Programs with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. She received her doctorate from the University of Kentucky and her M.S. and B.A. from Auburn University. Since returning to Auburn University in 2022, she has provided overall leadership for Human Sciences Extension programs. Before taking her current position, Dr. Downey was a professor and Extension specialist in the School of Human Sciences at Mississippi State University, where she led Extension program planning and evaluation efforts. Central to her work is a collaborative approach that engages Extension professionals, university students and faculty, community members, informal and formal leaders, and other community-based professionals as co-learners. Dr. Downey  specializes in program development and evaluation with specialization in the development and evaluation of health education programs. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four children or reading a good book.