Jessica Stroope 

Dr. Jessica Stroope is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology at Louisiana State University (LSU). Dr. Stroope's research includes three overlapping areas: co-benefits of active transportation, public health approaches to increasing rural physical activity, and access to nature, with an overarching interest in how physical activity contributes to community thriving. Dr. Stroope is on the leadership team for the Physical Activity Policy, Research, and Evaluation Network (PAPREN) Rural Hub, and serves on the Dissemination and Translation Board for the U Mass Prevention Research Center. Before joining the LSU School of Kinesiology, she spent ten years working for Cooperative Extension, with most of those years serving as the LSU AgCenter's physical activity specialist. In that role, she partnered with Extension agents, small towns, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, rural librarians, schools, and other community partners to increase access to physical activity, with a particular focus on helping communities pursue funding for active transportation infrastructure.

Selected Publications:

Stroope, J., Ballis, L. E., Seals, K., Garn, A. C., Holston, D. (In press). Rural Physical Activity in the Mississippi Delta: the moderating influence of stray dogs. Journal of Healthy Eating & Active Living.

Stroope, J., Umstattd Meyer, M.R., Gabbert, K., John, D.H., Orzech, K., Wende, M.E., and Kellstedt, D. (2025). Physical Activity Policy, Systems, and Environment Change through Extension SNAP-Ed: A Multi-State Perspective. Health Promotion Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399231221779

Stroope, J., Jones, M., Nunes, B., & Holston, D. (2024). Improving Access to the Transportation Alternatives Program for Rural Communities. Journal of Healthy Eating & Active Living. https://doi.org/10.51250/jheal.v4i3.94

Stroope, J., Garn, A.C., & Morin, A. (2024). Active Transportation and Community Participation: Results from the WHO Survey of Global Ageing and Adult Health. Health & Place. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103285

Stroope J. and Garn, A.C. (2024). Perception of Place, Active Transportation, and Community Participation: A Mediation Analysis.  Journal of Transport & Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2024.101812

Stroope, J., Garn, A., and Cadmus-Bertram, L. (2022). Active transportation and self-reported change in physical activity. Journal of Transport & Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2022.101528

Seals, K., Stroope, J., Freightman, J., Moles, A., Ainsworth, L, and Holston, D. (2022). Empty houses, loose dogs, and engaged citizens: Lessons learned from community participatory data collection in rural areas. Health Promotion Practice.https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399221111181

Stroope, J. (2021). Active transportation and social capital: The association between walking or biking for transportation and community participation. Preventive Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106666