Dr. Casanova earned a BA in International Studies from the University of Alabama, MS in Rural Sociology and PhD in Forestry from Auburn University with postgraduate training in the fields of labor studies and public health. She joined the faculty of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler in 2013 and devotes her time to teaching, research, and service for the School of Community and Rural Health (Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences). Dr. Casanova is the director of the NIOSH-funded Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention and Education. She previously served as the Applied Research Manager. The SW Ag Center has an established record of conducting comprehensive research that addresses the needs of workers in agriculture, commercial fishing, and forestry across Public Health Region 6. Dr. Casanova is the co-investigator in the Pilot/Feasibility Studies Core for the Center. In this role she recruits, reviews, and administers short-term agricultural health and safety research projects. She also serves as research mentor to junior faculty and students new to the field. She is currently the chair of the Curriculum, Instruction, & Technology Committee for the School. She is the chair of the institution’s faculty senate and serves as co-chair of the Governance Committee to the System-wide Faculty Advisory Council. Dr. Casanova was recently awarded the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award.
VANESSA CASANOVA

Contact Us

William "Bill" Cahalin is the multimedia webmaster for Auburn's College of Ag Comm-Marketing & Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. An alumnus of Belmont University in Nashville, his work spans the music industry, publishing, aerospace, and enjoys lavish cocktail garnishes.
Recent News
Related Articles

Parasite examined for its link to poor diet, obesity
With the obesity rate sitting at 36 percent and climbing, researchers are investigating factors contributing to the notoriously poor diet quality in the United States. One possibility might be a common parasite that causes impulsive decisions and changes risk...

Research examines results of competing policies on healthy food choices
An Auburn University research project attempts to determine which approach best improves access to healthy food choices for food assistance recipients in the United States — more government benefits or more grocery stores. The study — authored by Joel Cuffey,...

“Agrivoltaic” research combines solar energy, food production
Auburn University researchers in the College of Agriculture’s Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department are participating in a new USDA project to optimize design for “agrivoltaic” systems — fields with both crops and solar panels — that will maintain crop...