Her research focused on such topics as the levels of protein requirements in adults, the proper feeding of black infants, and the importance of preschool enrichment experiences for children.

[1] Her professors at Hampton, particularly Thomas Wyatt Turner, encouraged her to continue her studies of science and home economics in graduate school.

Her reports on "hidden hunger", a type of malnutrition in people with full stomachs, led to many changes in the agricultural practices of Liberia and other countries.

[6] She later traveled to India, Japan, Uganda, Kenya, the Congo, South Africa, Mozambique, Rhodesia, Thailand, Zaire, Angola, Australia, New Zealand, Burma, Bangladesh and Russia.

Kittrell used these research trips to compile the American Home Economics Association cookbook, Favorite Recipes from the United Nations.

While the FBI was tracking her, she travelled the world under the sponsorship of the United Nations, the Methodist Church, the American Home Economics Association, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the US government Point Four Program, and the Ford Foundation, among others.

She used both public and private funds to hold seminars on the latest nutritional research, to encourage women to seek advanced degrees, and to help other schools develop quality programs.

[5] During her career, Kittrell improved the quality of life for thousands of people and focused worldwide attention on problems involving malnutrition and child development.

The Cornell Graduate School created the Turner Kittrell Medal of Honor for alumni who have made significant national or international contributions to the advancement of diversity, inclusion and equity in academia, industry or the public sector.