Faculty
Graduate Program Faculty
The faculty listed below are those who hold permanent positions at Virginia Tech. They have demonstrated a high level of expertise and scholarly achievement in their respective fields, making them excellent potential advisors for graduate students seeking mentorship and guidance throughout their academic journey in our program. These faculty are categorized in three tracks: Behavioral and Community Science, Clinical Physiology and Metabolism, and Molecular and Cellular Science. Graduate students applying to our program will need to identify the track they wish to pursue on their application.
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Julia Basso, PhD, CYT , bioAssistant Professor: The effects of mind-body-movement practices on brain function and physiology; at the intersection of art and science
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Siobhan Craige, PhD , bioAssistant Professor: Exercise metabolism; redox signaling in health and disease; vascular influence on diet and exercise
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Brenda M. Davy, PhD, RDN , bioProfessor: Obesity and body weight regulation; behavioral and metabolic aspects; diet and cardiovascular diseases; dietary intake assessment; water and beverage intake and health
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Kevin P. Davy, PhD , bioProfessor: Etiology, prevention, and treatment of cardiometabolic dysfunction in aging and obesity
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Alexandra DiFeliceantonio, PhD , bioAssistant Professor: Food choice and food reward; neuroscience and metabolism
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Joshua C. Drake, PhD , bioAssistant Professor: How molecular mechanisms responsible for monitoring cellular energetics change with age and their relationship to the development of age-related disease
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Deborah J. Good, PhD , bioAssociate Professor: Molecular regulation of body weight, exercise, fertility, and puberty; prader-willi syndrome; phylogenetic analysis; nutraceutical functional foods; Pedagogy research
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Robert W. Grange, MS, PhD , bioProfessor, Assistant Department Head, and Director of the Virginia Tech Metabolism Core: Role of exercise in the treatment of neuromuscular disease
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Samantha Harden, PhD, 500 RYT , bioAssociate Professor: Yoga as an affordable, accessible public health practice; dissemination and implementation science; group dynamics for long-term health behaviors
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Valisa E. Hedrick, PhD, RDN , bioAssociate Professor and Director of the Dietary Assessment Laboratory: Dietary intake and health; dietary assessment methodology; non-nutritive sweeteners; evaluation of nutrition intervention programs
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Young H. Ju, PhD , bioAssociate Professor: Effects of functional food and supplements on chronic disease; effects of integrative health on health
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Vivica I. Kraak, MS, PhD, RDN , bioAssociate Professor: U.S. and global food and nutrition policy; public health; governance for sustainable diets and food systems; food and beverage marketing
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Enette Larson-Meyer, PhD, RD, CSSD, FACSM , bioProfessor, Director of the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (MSND) Program, and Director of the Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (NEM) Lab: How nutrition and exercise influence health and physical performance; special interest in energy, vitamin D and iodine metabolism
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Sarah Lessard , bioAssociate Professor: Molecular mechanisms behind the powerful clinical benefits of physical exercise in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease.
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Dongmin Liu, PhD , bioProfessor: Identification of bioactive compounds for preventing obesity and diabetes and promoting metabolic health; discovery of phytochemicals to delay aging
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Sumita Mishra, PhD , bioAssistant Professor: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; Interorgan cross-talk, Cardiometabolic links; focuses on mitochondrial, cGMP-protein kinase G signaling
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Sarah Misyak, PhD, MPH , bioResearch Assistant Professor and Assistant Director and Program Manager for Research and Evaluation for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Program (EFNEP and SNAP-Ed): Food Access; food and nutrition security; public health nutrition; program evaluation
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Charles Najt, PhD , bioAssistant Professor: Lipid metabolism with a focus on the relationship between lipid metabolism and disease development and how these diseases impact healthspan
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Carlin Rafie, PhD, MS, RD , bioAssistant Professor and Senior Extension Specialist: Community based participatory methods for evaluation of community health knowledge, resources, and needs; development, dissemination and implementation of lifestyle management programs
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Eva Schmelz, MS, PhD , bioProfessor and Principal Scientist of Integrated Life Sciences Building: Ovarian cancer prevention; mitochondrial plasticity of ovarian cancer aggregates during metastasis; obesity and cancer
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Elena Serrano, MS, PhD , bioProfessor, Extension Specialist, and Director of the Virginia Family Nutrition Program: Effectiveness of food and nutrition programs and initiatives to promote nutrition security; examination of contributors to food and nutrition security
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Sora Shin, PhD , bioAssistant Professor: How stressful situations induce maladaptive behaviors and brain circuit dysfunctions
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Jeff Stein, PhD , bioAssistant Professor: Type 2 diabetes management; obesity; health behavior; tobacco use; decision-making; behavioral economics
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Stella L. Volpe, PhD, RDN, ACSM-CEP, FACSM , bioDepartment Head and Professor: Nutrition and exercise in the prevention of obesity and diabetes; sports nutrition
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Junco Warren, PhD , bioAssistant Professor: Energy metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics in the healthy and diseased hearts (i.e., heart failure and Type 2 diabetes); metabolomics-based identification of biomarker for heart failure therapy
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Jay Williams, PhD , bioProfessor: Muscle physiology and biochemistry; human performance; athlete monitoring; sports science
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Zhen Yan, PhD , bioProfessor: Exploring the role of exercise in preventing cardiovascular, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer
Collegiate Faculty
Collegiate faculty are those who teach and support undergraduate and graduate students' academic growth at Virginia Tech. They play a crucial role in delivering courses, facilitating discussions, and providing valuable practical insights to students in various disciplines. Collegiate faculty can also serve on graduate committees and are integral to mentoring students in the Online Master of Agricultural and Life Sciences (OMALS) Program. Their research tends to focus on pedagogical practices with nutrition and exercise.
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Angela Anderson, PhD , bioCollegiate Associate Professor: Human physiology, specifically in regards to metabolism and exercise; pedagogical practices to increase student perceived motivation for learning
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Rodney Gaines, MS, PhD, ACSM EP-C, NSCA CSCS , bioCollegiate Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director: Body composition; obesity; and health/wellness
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Molly K. Parker, PhD, RDN , bioCollegiate Assistant Professor: Dietary assessment methodology; sustainable food systems; social determinants of health
Program and Instructional Faculty
Program and instructional faculty are those who focus on curriculum development, instructional design, and teaching methodologies at Virginia Tech. They are essential in shaping the overall academic experience for students, ensuring effective learning outcomes, and maintaining the quality of educational programs.
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Kristen Chang, MS, RDN, CSSD , bioInstructor and Assistant Director of the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (MSND) Program: Nutrition counseling for behavior change; sports nutrition; management and leadership in nutrition and dietetics
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Heather K. Cox, MS, RDN , bioSenior Instructor and Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics: Management and communications in nutrition and dietetics; training future registered dietitian nutritionists
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Renee Eaton, MS, MS, ATC , bioSenior Instructor and Undergraduate Program Director: Undergraduate education in health sciences; injury prevention and treatment; connections between human, animal, and environmental health
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Nicolin Girmes-Grieco, MS , bioSenior Instructor and Director of the HNFE Foods Teaching Laboratories: Nutrition across the life span; food selection and preparation to promote human health and planetary sustainability; food cultures and dietary behaviors
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Amy LaFalce, MS, RDN , bioInstructor and Program Director of the Virginia Tech Internship in Nutrition and Dietetics: Dietetics education, medical nutrition therapy, leadership in dietetics
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Emily Myers, PhD, RDN , bioInstructor and Assistant Director of the Internship in Nutrition and Dietetics: Education of future dietitians; nutrition counseling
Administrative and Professional Faculty
Administrative and professional faculty are those who support various administrative functions and provide specialized expertise in non-teaching roles at Virginia Tech.
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Ginger Dempsey, MA , bioAcademic Advisor: Advising; Recruitment; Admissions
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Elizabeth Engel, MEd , bioAcademic Advisor: Provides academic advising to HNFE undergraduate students pursuing the Exercise & Health Science major
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Stephanie Nelson, MS , bioUndergraduate Advising Director: Undergraduate academic advising for course selection and degree focus, internships, study abroad, career opportunities, and support services offered through the university
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Charlie Stylianos , bioIT Manager and Research Engineer: HNFE IT support; development and maintenance of physical activity subcore laboratory equipment in ILSB; operator and engineer of whole room calorimeters FBRI at VTC
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Kevin Wogenrich, MS, RYT 200 , bioDirector of Meraki, the Well-Being Living Learning Community: Student health and well-being, leadership development, and college transition
Adjunct and Affiliate Faculty
Adjunct faculty are part-time instructors hired by Virginia Tech to teach specific courses or fill temporary teaching needs. They often bring real-world expertise into the classroom and complement the core faculty, providing students with assorted perspectives and practical insights. Affiliate faculty are individuals who collaborate with Virginia Tech, but may not hold full-time positions within the institution. They often bring external expertise, research collaborations, or industry insights to the academic community. Affiliate faculty also may participate in teaching, advising, or research activities on a part-time or temporary basis.
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Austin Brooks, MS, RDN, CPT , bioAdjunct Professor and Project Coordinator of Physical Activity Access and Opportunities: Physical activity promotion; policy, systems, and environmental supports for physical activity; active transportation and the built environment
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Dennis Cladis , bioAssistant Professor: Phytochemistry and Functional Foods
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George Davis, PhD , bioAffiliate Professor: Food demand, health outcomes, econometrics, and methodology
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Ashleigh P. Dunn, MS, DO , bioAdjunct Instructor: Teaching, motivating and mentoring the next generation of preprofessional students
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Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN , bioAdjunct Instructor: Sports nutrition
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Ashley Foster, MPH, RD, CHES , bioAdjunct Professor: Culinary nutrition and risk management
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Michael W. Goforth, MS, ATC , bioAdjunct Professor and Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine for Virginia Tech Athletics: Athletic training; sports medicine; coaching youth sports
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Bailey Houghtaling, PhD, MS, RDN , bioAffiliate Faculty and Senior Research Scientist at Center for Nutrition and Health Impact: Policy, systems, and environmental change; dissemination and implementation science; health parity; built environment
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Aubrey L. Knight, MD , bioSenior Dean for Student Affairs and Professor of Medicine and Family & Community Medicine at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine: Memory disorders; caregiver issues; effects of lifestyle on chronic illnesses in seniors
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Michelle Rockwell, PhD, RD , bioAdjunct Instructor
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Gary R. Snyder, EdD , bioAdjunct Instructor and OMALS Course Instructor: Leadership, specifically in the area of school designs and problem solving
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Sara M. Stanford, MS, RD , bioInstructor and Associate Director of Sports Nutrition: Sports nutrition; performance nutrition
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Abby Steketee, MPH, PhD , bioAdjunct Instructor: Qualitative research approaches including ethnography and phenomenology; participatory research approaches; dissemination and implementation science; health behaviors for human flourishing; coaching; yoga
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Jennifer S. Zabinsky, MAEd, RD , bioAdjunct Instructor: Performance nutrition and eating disorders
Retired/Emeriti Faculty
Retired/emeriti faculty are former professors who have concluded their full-time teaching and administrative duties at Virginia Tech. Although no longer actively employed by Virginia Tech, some retired faculty may continue to contribute through part-time teaching, mentoring, or engaging in scholarly pursuits. Some retired faculty are conferred the title of emerita or emeritus for giving exemplary service to the university. Emerita and emeritus faculty are specifically recommended to the Board of Visitors for approval by the president.
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William Barbeau , bioAssociate Professor
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Jo Anne Barton , bioAssociate Professor Emerita
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Frank Conforti , bioAssociate Professor Emeritus
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Ruby H. Cox , bioProfessor Emerita and Extension Specialist
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William Herbert , bioProfessor Emeritus
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Susan Hutson , bioProfessor and Department Head (2008-2013)
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Janet Johnson , bioHNFE Professor and Dean Emerita of College of Human Resources and Education
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Mary McFerren , bioProject Director of Family Nutrition Program
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Janet Rankin , bioProfessor Emerita and Associate Department Head
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S. Jewel Ritchey , bioProfessor and Dean Emeritus of College of Human Resources and HNFE Department Head (1965-1973)
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Eleanor Schlenker , bioProfessor Emerita and Department Head (1988-98)
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Forrest Thye , bioAssociate Professor Emeritus