Dr. LaToya O'Neal
Associate Professor and Extension State Specialist, Health and Wellness, Rural Health, Community Engaged Research
Biography
Dr. LaToya J. O’Neal is a medical sociologist whose work sits at the intersection of families, communities, and population health, focusing on how social, cultural, and environmental contexts shape health behaviors and chronic disease outcomes in rural and diverse communities. Her Extension work focuses on strengthening the capacity of communities, organizations, and professionals to promote health and well‑being through evidence‑informed programs, applied behavioral science, and collaborative partnerships. She also has extensive experience in evaluation as Co‑Lead of Planning and Evaluation for a National Cancer Institute–funded health center. Dr. O’Neal contributes to student development through research opportunities and mentoring that engage both undergraduate and graduate students in examining multilevel influences on individual, family, and community health.
Contact Information
latoya.oneal@ufl.edu
(352) 273-3501
Office:
3038-C McCarty Hall D
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Education
- Ph.D. Medical Sociology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- M.A. Counseling Psychology, Assumption University
- B.A. Psychology, Tougaloo College
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Professional Experience
- 2024- Present, Associate Professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, UF/IFAS
- 2022-Present, State Program Leader for Health Extension, UF/IFAS Extension
- 2016-2024, Assistant Professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS)
- 2015-2016, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
- 2014-2015, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Media and Information, Michigan State University
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Research
Departmental Research Areas:
- Advanced Research Methods and Evaluation
- Community Development and Resilience
- Health and Wellness
Research Focus:
- Community‑Engaged Approaches to Health Promotion
- Partnering with local organizations, Extension professionals, and multisector stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate community‑based programs.
- Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
- Investigating behavioral, interpersonal, and environmental factors influencing chronic disease risk and outcomes, with emphasis on rural and under‑resourced communities.
- Telehealth and Rural Health Systems
- Examining the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of telehealth delivery through community‑based infrastructures, including county Extension offices.
- Applied Program Development
- Developing and testing interventions that translate research into scalable programs responsive to the lived experiences of families and communities.
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Extension
Departmental Extension Areas:
- Healthy Eating, Food Access, and Lifestyle Behaviors
- Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Cardiometabolic Health, State Program Leader for Health Extension
Extension Focus:
- Community‑Based Health Promotion
- Designing and supporting programs centered on cardiometabolic health, including initiatives focused on nutrition, physical activity, diabetes prevention, and chronic disease management.
- Training and Professional Development
- Providing guidance, tools, and applied learning opportunities to support Extension professionals and students in developing skills related to program planning, implementation, and applied research.
- Health Extension Leadership
- Providing statewide leadership to coordinate, develop, and support health-related programming through collaboration with county faculty, state specialists, and community partners.
Programs and Resources:
- Healthy Eating, Food Access, and Lifestyle Behaviors
- Publications
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Awards and Honors
- 2025-2027, National Institutes of Health (NIMHD) Loan Repayment Program Award
- 2024-2026, Gulf Research Program Fellowship, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
- 2023, Outstanding Specialist, Florida Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
- 2019, Outstanding Service on Behalf of Graduate and Professional Students, University of Florida Graduate Students’ Council
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Other Professional Activities
- 2022-Present, Associate Editor, Preventing Chronic Disease
- 2021-Present, Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science (IAPHS)
- 2020-Present, National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences
- 2018-Present, National Rural Health Association
- 2008-Present, Southern Sociological Society