headshot of Kitty Oppliger

Kitty has a background in public health, ecology, sustainable food systems and faith-based health practices. She has worked on a variety of research projects investigating rural food access, sustainable diets, and healthy aging. As a Community Nutrition and Health Advisor in Northern California, she leads an applied research and extension program focused on nutrition security, science literacy, Indigenous food sovereignty, and the interaction of spiritual and emotional domains of health with nutrition.

Kitty is also a certified yoga instructor focusing on accessible movement practices for those with injuries and disabilities. She is a passionate gardener and forager, and most importantly a lifelong learner.

 
Current projects:
Principal Investigator, CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Central Sierra
Principal Investigator, CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Placer and Nevada Counties
Principal Investigator, Culturally Competent Curricula for Diverse Health and Food Systems
Principal Investigator, Assessing Barriers and Capacity in Charitable Food Distributions to Address Food Insecurity and Food Waste
Co-Investigator, Sacramento Farmer's Market Access Project
Co-Investigator, Needs Assessment of the Use of Generative AI in UC ANR

 

yellow sky with blazing sun and thermometer in the foreground
Article

Staying Healthy in the Heat

April 24, 2025
By Kitty Oppliger
Healthy in the Heat Summer is on the way and experts anticipate that we will continue to see rising temperatures and more extreme heat events. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that 2024 was the hottest year on record and that this year is likely to be even hotter. While…
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Image of Black Oak acorns with description and harvesting guidelines
Article

The Principles of Indigenous Food Sovereignty

February 5, 2025
By Kitty Oppliger
Indigenous Food Sovereignty: Opportunities and Importance in Extension work In 2007, the first global Forum on Food Sovereignty defined the concept as the right of peoples to healthy, culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define t...
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