1111 Franklin Street
11th Floor
Oakland, CA 94607
dorta@ucdavis.edu
Also in:
Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI)
Biography
Dania Orta-Aleman earned her PhD in Human Nutrition from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where her dissertation focused on the factors associated with red and processed meat consumption among low-income households in the US. Dania also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA in Political Science from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM).
Research Interests and Expertise
Dania's research is centered on evaluating federal food assistance programs, social determinants of health inequities, maternal and child health, food policies, and food systems. Her methodological expertise includes methods for causal inference, impact program evaluation, quasi-experimental methodologies, systems science, nutrition epidemiology, and qualitative data analysis.
Professional Experience
Currently, Dania serves as an Assistant Project Scientist at the Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI), University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. In this role, she leads and collaborates on research projects evaluating the impact of Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) policies. Her work involves designing and executing quantitative and qualitative impact evaluations, developing research protocols and data collection instruments, and disseminating findings through reports, policy briefs, and peer-reviewed publications.
Her previous work includes conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses for the World Health Organization. She contributed to the Hopkins/USDA Participant Research Innovation Laboratory for Enhancing WIC Services and the impact evaluation of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative on breastfeeding practices among WIC participants. Collaborating with the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, she worked on diverse research projects, including evaluating Food Policy Councils in the US and the Baltimore Food Policy Initiative. Additionally, she has conducted systematic literature reviews to inform the strategic planning for California's SNAP-Ed program. Dania's international expertise is highlighted by her coordination of data collection and analysis for the Older Adults Health and Nutrition Survey in Mexico City and the evaluation of a nutritional component of the Prospera/Oportunidades conditional cash transfer program in Mexico.
Education
Discipline
NutritionSpecialty
Epidemiology/ Program Evaluation/ Nutrition PolicyBibliography
Peer Reviewed
Tomori, C., O’Connor, D. L., Ververs, M., Orta-Aleman, D., Paone, K., Budhathoki, C., & Pérez-Escamilla, R. (2024). Critical research gaps in treating growth faltering in infants under 6 months: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Global Public Health, 4(1) doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001860
Zuercher, M. D., Cohen, J. F.W., Hecht, C. E., Hecht, K., Orta-Aleman, D., Olarte, D.A., Chapman, L.E., Read, M., Ritchie, L. D., & Gosliner, W. (2024). Household food insecurity is associated with parent and other caregiver perceptions and with student participation in school meals. Nutrients, 16(19), 3375. doi.org/10.3390/nu16193375
Zuercher, M.D., Cohen, J.F.W., Ohri-Vachaspati, P., Hecht, C.A., Hecht, K., Polacsek, M., Olarte, D.A., Read, M., Patel, A.I., Schwartz, M.B., Orta-Aleman, D., Ritchie, L. D., & Gosliner, W. (2024). Parent perceptions of school meals and how perceptions differ by race and ethnicity. Health Affairs Scholar, 2(1) doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxad092
Zuercher, M.D., Cohen, J.F.W., Hecht, C.A., Hecht, K., Orta-Aleman, D., Patel, A., Olarte, D.A., Chapman, L.E., Read, M., Schwartz, M.B., Ritchie, L.D. & Gosliner, W. (2024). Parent Perceptions of School Meals Influence Student Participation in School Meal Programs. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 56(4), pp.230-241. doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.01.003
Cohen, J. F.W., Chapman, L.E., Olarte, D.A., Hecht, C. A., Hecht, K., Minc, L., Ohri-Vachaspati, P., Orta-Aleman, D., Patel, A.I., Polacsek, M., Ritchie, L. D., Zuercher, M. D., & Gosliner, W. (2024) Perceived impact of a state-level universal free school meal policy on households with varying income levels. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 10.1016/j.jand.2024.10.001
Orta-Aleman, D., Thorne-Lyman, A., Neff, R., Wolfson, J., & Caulfield, L. (2024). Reduced Red and Processed Meat Consumption is Associated with Lower Diet Costs in US Households: A National Analysis of Protein Substitutions. Public Health Nutrition, 27(1). doi.org/10.1017/S1368980024001897
Orta-Aleman, D., & Laraia, B.A. (2024). Sleep Duration, Overweight Status, and the Modifying Role of Food Insecurity in a Sample of 10- to 14-Year-Old Mexican Early Adolescents. Sleep Health, 10(5), 583-589 doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2024.06.005
Orta-Aleman, D., Zuercher, M., Bacon, K., Chelius, C., Hecht, C., Hecht, K., Ritchie, L. D., Cohen, J.F.W., & Gosliner, W. (2024). Students’ Perspectives on the Benefits and Challenges of Universal School Meals Related to Food Accessibility, Stigma, Participation, and Waste. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 56(9):599-610.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2024.04.011
Zuercher, M. D., Orta-Aleman, D., Cohen, J.F.W., Hecht, C. A., Hecht, K., Polacsek, M., Patel, A.I., Ritchie, L. D., & Gosliner, W. (2024). The Benefits and Challenges of Providing School Meals during the First Year of California’s Universal School Meal Policy as Reported by School Foodservice Professionals. Nutrients. doi.org/10.3390/nu16121812
Augustyn, M., Haskins, D., Gross, S., Resnik, A.K., Ducharme-Smith, K., Orta-Aleman, D., Silbert-Flagg, J., Rosenblum, N. & Caulfield, L.E. (2023). Maternity Care Experiences and Breastfeeding at Discharge Among Maryland WIC Participants: A qualitative analysis. Birth, 50(4), 1009-1017 doi 10.1111/birt.12758
Gross, S.M., Orta-Aleman, D., Resnik, A.K., Ducharme-Smith, K., Augustyn, M., Silbert-Flagg, J., Rosenblum, N. & Caulfield, L.E., (2022). Baby Friendly Hospital Designation and Breastfeeding Outcomes Among Maryland WIC Participants. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 26(5), pp.1153-1159. doi 10.1007/s10995-022-03410-9
Vilar-Compte, M., Pérez-Escamilla, R., Orta-Aleman, D., Cruz-Villalba, V., Segura-Pérez, S., Nyhan, K., & Richter, L. M. (2022). Impact of Baby Behavior on Caregiver’s Infant Feeding Decisions during the First 6 Months of Life: A Systematic Review. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 18, e13345. doi: 10.1111/mcn.13345
Ducharme-Smith, K., Gross, S.M., Resnik, A., Rosenblum, N., Dillaway, C., Orta Aleman, D., Augustyn, M., Silbert-Flagg, J. & Caulfield, L.E. (2021). Exposure to baby-friendly hospital practices and breastfeeding outcomes of WIC participants in Maryland. Journal of Human Lactation, 38(1), 78-88 doi 10.1177/0890334421993771
Liu, Y., Gittelsohn, J., Thorne-Lyman, A. L., Song, S., Orta-Aleman, D., Ma, Y., & Wen, D. (2020). Caregiver perceptions of the neighborhood food environment and their relationship with the home food environment and childhood obesity in Northeast China. Appetite, 104447. doi 10.1016/j.appet.2019.104447
Martínez-Martínez, O. A., Coronado-García, M., & Orta-Aleman, D. (2020). The effect of cash transfers from the PROSPERA programme (formerly Oportunidades) on poverty in urban households in Northeast Mexico. Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy, 36(2), 142-158. doi 10.1080/21699763.2019.1641133
Vilar-Compte, M., Martínez-Martínez, O., Orta-Aleman, D., & Perez-Escamilla, R. (2016). Functional Limitations, Depression, and Cash Assistance are Associated with Food Insecurity among Older Urban Adults in Mexico City. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 27(3), 1537-1554. doi 10.1353/hpu.2016.0130
Vilar-Compte, M., Bernal-Stuart, A., Orta-Alemán, D., Ochoa-Rivera, T., & Pérez-Escamilla, R. (2014) Is the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale and appropriate instrument for Mexican urban older adults. The Journal of Frailty and Aging. 3(3), 173-179. doi 10.14283/jfa.2014.20
Non-Peer Reviewed
Orta-Aleman, D; C., Hecht, et al. (2024). Research Brief: School Meals for All in California – Strongly supported by parents of all income levels. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/395529.pdf
Zuercher, M.; Orta-Aleman, D., et al. (2024). Research Brief: School Meals for All in California: Government investments are associated with better meal operations, labor practices, and local food sourcing. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/397262.pdf
Orta-Aleman, Dania; Chelius, Carolyn, et al. (2023). Research Brief: School Meals for All: Farm Fresh Food. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. June. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/385523.pdf
Zuercher M., Chelius C., Bacon K., Orta-Aleman, D., Hecht C., Hecht K., Ritchie L., & Gosliner W. (2023) Research Brief: School Meals for All in California: Perceptions of Time to Eat from Food Service Directors, Parents and Students. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Orta-Aleman, Dania; Thorne-Lyman, Andrew, et al. (2023). The Cost of Substituting Red Meat or Processed Meat for Other High-Protein Food Sources. Current Developments in Nutrition. July. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299123255390?via%3Dihub
Blondin, K., Orta-Aleman, D., Woodward-Lopez, G. (2017). Early Care and Education Interventions for Promoting Nutrition and Physical Activity & Preventing Obesity. A Systematic Review of the Evidence. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/304182.pdf
Blondin, K., Crawford, P., Orta-Aleman, D., Randel-Schreiber, H., Strochlic, R., Webb, K., & Woodward-Lopez, G. (2017). School-based interventions for promoting nutrition and physical activity & preventing obesity: overview of studies and findings. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. https://ucanr.edu/sites/NewNutritionPolicyInstitute/files/317758.pdf
Blondin, K., Orta-Aleman, D., Woodward-Lopez, G., Gosliner, W., & Crawford, P. (2016) Health Promotion Strategies for Retail Food Shopping Venues. A Systematic Review of the Evidence. Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Technical Report.