Dr. Joann Lianekhammy is a Senior Extension Specialist in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension at the University of Kentucky.  Dr. Lianekhammy’s work focuses on improving the health and well-being of individuals and families. She served as the director of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center (RCPNC) from 2015-2019.  The Center was established through a $2.5 million dollar USDA Food and Nutrition Service grant awarded to the School of Human Environmental Sciences. The RCPNC engaged in multi-state efforts to increase coordination among nutrition assistance programs and reduce child food insecurity in persistently poor, rural counties in the US. Dr. Lianekhammy currently serves as the project manager of the CDC-1809 High Obesity Program grant which promotes healthy eating and active living in Martin County, Kentucky to reduce the prevalence of rural obesity.

Dr. Lianekhammy’s research interests covers a wide range of subject matter that affect family well-being. She has co-authored publications and book chapters on topics that include couple’s communication, video game effects on electrical brain activity, mental health promotion in adolescence, and kinship care issues in Kentucky.

Research Emphasis

• Kinship Care
• Self-care
• Video Game Effects

Extension Emphasis

• Special Projects
• Grant Project Management