Directory
Assistant Professor
PhD: Kinesiology, Louisiana State University
Master's Degree: Masters of Public Health, Baylor University
Bachelor's Degree: English Literature & Creative Writing, Kansas State University
2201 Huey P. Long Field House
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
O: (225) 578-7378
Dr. Stroope is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology at Louisiana State University. 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. 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.
Stroope, J., Wende, M.E., Anderson III, R.E., Balis, L.E., Valentine Goins, K., Bridges Hamilton, C.N., & Umstattd Meyer, M.R. (2026). Relationship Between Food Security and Walking for Transportation: Findings by Region and Rurality. The Journal of Rural Health. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.70181
Wende ME, Stroope J, Aytur SA, Valentine Goins K, Umstattd Meyer MR. (2026). A National, Ecological Study on the Impact of Extreme Precipitation on Walking and Cycling to Work, 2005-2018. Sustainability.doi.org/10.3390/su18041874
Umstattd Meyer M. R., Wende M. E., Stroope J., Kellstedt D. K., Johnson A. M., Gamble A., Edwards M. B., Beck A. M., Moore J. B., Abshire D. A., Anderson III R. E., Aytur S. A., Balis L. E., Davis K., Gabbert K. D., Gustat J., John D., Jones D. L., King K. A., Needham B. D., Orzech K. M., Pickett A. C., Rhoades R. R., Riveron, N., Slater S., Smock C. R., Villwock-Witte N. M., Wilson K., Baskin M. L., Perry C. K., & Abildso C. G. (2025). Rural Active Living a Call to Action 2.0: 10-year review and recommendations to advance the field. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. doi:10.1097/PHH.0000000000002281
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
