My research in graduate school and through my post-doctoral fellowship broadly focused on the role of fatty acids in cognitive development across the lifespan. In graduate school, I trained in cognitive assessment, electrophysiology, and dietary intake assessment. I worked on projects examining the role of fatty acids in memory and/or executive function abilities of typically developing children from 6 months to 12 years old. I was also involved in a project on how the anthocyanins in blueberries may protect against cognitive decline with older adults 65 to 79 years old. As a post-doctoral fellow working with Sarah Keim, Ph.D., I expanded my training to working with children with developmental delays and disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to better understand the role fatty acids may be able to play in improving symptoms and cognitive function, particularly in protecting against common executive function deficits.

Refereed Articles

• Ingol, T. T., Li, R., Boone, K. M., Rausch, J., Klebanoff, M. A., Turner, A. N., Yeates, K. O., Nelin, M. A., Sheppard, K. W., and Keim, S. A. (in press). Docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid supplementation of toddlers born preterm does not affect short-term growth or adiposity. The Journal of Nutrition.
• Saleska, J. L., Sheppard, K. W., Turner, A. N., Boone, K. M., and Keim, S. A. (in press) Parental perceptions and behaviors regarding child weight status among toddlers born preterm. The American Journal of Perinatology.
• Keim, S.A., Gracious, B., Boone, K. M., Klebanoff, M. A., Rogers, L. K., Rausch, J., Coury, D. L., Sheppard, K. W., Husk, J., & Rhoda, D. A. (2018). Omega-3 and -6 fatty acid supplementation may reduce autism symptoms based on parent report in preterm toddlers. Journal of Nutrition, 148(2), 227-235.
• Livet, M., Yannayon, M., Sheppard, K.W., Kocher, K., Upright, J., & McMillen, J. (2017). Exploring provider use and role of a digital implementation system for school mental health: A pilot study. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-017-0829-7.
• Zvara, B. J., Sheppard, K.W., & Cox, M. (in press). Bidirectional effects between parenting sensitivity and child behavior: Cross-lagged analysis across middle childhood and adolescence. Journal of Family Psychology.
• Sheppard, K.W., Boone, K.M., Gracious, B., Klebanoff, M.A., Rogers, L.K., Rausch, J., Bartlett, C., Coury, D.L., & Keim, S.A. (2017). Effect of omega-3 and -6 supplementation on language in preterm toddlers exhibiting Autism Spectrum Disorder symptoms. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(11), 3358-3369. Doi: 10.1007/s10803-017-3249-3
• Sheppard, K.W. & Cheatham, C.L. (2017). Validating the electric maze task as a measure of planning. Journal of Cognition and Development, 18 (2), 309-322. doi: 10.1080/15248372.2016.1195387.