Pamela Bruno, M.P.H.
Senior Research Associate
Evaluator, Maine SNAP-Ed
Location
Pamela Bruno, MPH, is a Senior Research Associate contributing to statewide evaluation efforts at the Center for Excellence in Public Health. Pamela has worked as lead evaluator for Maine Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) for the past ten years, tracking and measuring outcomes related to direct nutrition education as well as evaluating interventions designed to change community policies, systems, and environments to increase nutrition security and healthy, active living for all Mainers. She has also participated in a team evaluation of Maine CDC's federally-funded chronic disease program and health equity interventions, leading the diabetes prevention and management component.
Prior to coming to UNE, Pamela was the principal of her public health consulting business for 12 years, providing evaluation and strategic planning consultation for numerous public health agencies. From 2005-2015, Pamela provided evaluation consultation for the Healthy Maine Partnerships Initiative, using and advancing research and analysis skills while leading evaluation efforts related to obesity prevention and school health and providing consultation on tobacco evaluation activities. She also provided consultation for several Maine public health programs, including the former Maine Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Healthy Weight Program, where she lead evaluation efforts for the Maine SNAP-Ed Healthy Weight Awareness Campaign. Additional experience includes evaluating implementation of the public health initiatives Starting Young, Take Time!, the Rural Active Living Assessment, the Healthy Maine Walks website, and Maine's Coordinated School Health Program.
Prior to working as an independent consultant, Pamela worked for the Idaho State Health Department, coordinating primary health care and rural health care programs.
Pamela is a graduate of Tufts University and the Boston University School of Public Health.
Credentials
Education
Research
Current research
School Wellness Policies - Policy Strength and Association with Health and Academic Outcomes
Selected publications
Jini Puma, PhD, Jennie Quinlan, MPH, Pamela Bruno, MPH, Kimberly J.M. Keller, PhD, Karen Franck, PhD, Sue Ling Lim, MS, Carrie Draper, MSW, Emily Bergling, DrPH, Susan B. Foerster, MPH, RD, First Analysis of Nationwide Trends in Use of the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework, December 2022, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Examining Barriers to Diabetes Prevention and Management in Maine – A three-phase, multi-year study to inform equitable solutions, Lead Author, Poster Presentation, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November 2022.
Jini Puma, PhD, Max Young, MPH, RD, Susan B. Foerster, MPH, RD, Kimberly J.M. Keller, PhD, Pamela Bruno, MPH, Karen Franck, PhD, Andy Naja-Riese, MSPH The SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework: Nationwide Uptake and Implications for Nutrition Education Practice, December 2020, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Andy Naja-Riese, MSPH, Kimberly J.M. Keller, PhD, Pamela Bruno, MPH, Susan B. Foerster, MPH, Jini Puma, PhD, et al. The SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework: Demonstrating the Impact of a National Framework for Obesity Prevention in Low-Income Populations, Special Issue, “Food Access Among Low-Income Populations: Understanding the Potential Intersect of Diet, Obesity, Food Insecurity, and Hunger,” Volume 9, Issue 5, October 2019, Translational Behavioral Medicine.
Michael W. Long, SD, Michele Polacsek, PhD, Pamela Bruno, MPH, Catherine M. Giles, MPH, Zachary J. Ward, MPH, Angie L. Cradock, ScD, Steven L. Gortmaker, PhD Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Stakeholder Evaluation of 2 Obesity Prevention Policies in Maine, US. Volume 51, Issue 10, November 2019, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Morrill, A., Bruno, P., Dufresne, R., Sears, M., et al, "A Comprehensive Approach to Evaluating School Policies." Poster presentation, American Evaluation Association (AEA) Annual Meeting, October 2014.
O’Brien L, Polacsek M, MacDonald PB, et al. Impact of a School Health Coordinator Intervention on Health-Related School Policies and Student Behavior. Volume 80, Number 4, April 2010, Journal of School Health, American School Health Association.
Martin, SL, Maines D, Martin MW, MacDonald PB, Polacsek M, Wigand D, et al. Healthy Maine Partnerships: Policy and Environmental Changes. 6(2):A63 2009, Preventing Chronic Disease, CDC.
Invited plenary presentation
Evaluation of the Healthy Maine Partnerships Initiative - A Systems-Level Approach. Round table presentation, American Evaluation Association (AEA) Annual Meeting, October 2009.
Research interests
Nutrition Security, Equitable Evaluation