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Heather K. Cox, MS, RDN

Senior Instructor
  • Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics
  • Focus area(s): Management and communications in nutrition and dietetics; training future registered dietitian nutritionists

Education

M.S., Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2008

Dietetics Supervised Practice Program, Aramark Corporation, Philadelphia, 1998

B.S., Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1997

Experience

August 2019 – present: Senior Instructor and Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

August 2012 – August 2019: Advanced Instructor and Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

December 2007 – August 2012: Instructor and Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

March 2001 – June 2006: Mid-Atlantic Corporate Dietitian, Kroger, Roanoke, VA

September 1999 – February 2001: Director of Nutritional Services, Warm Hearth Village, Blacksburg, VA

June 1998 – September 1999: Clinical Dietitian, Lewis-Gale Medical Center, Salem, VA

Selected Major Awards

  • 2017 – Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • 2012 – Distinguished Dietitian Award, Virginia Dietetic Association
  • 2012 – Outstanding Alumni Leadership Award, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech
  • 2002  – Young Dietitian of the Year Award, American Dietetic Association, Virginia

Program Focus

Partnering with the Family Nutrition Program (FNP)of Virginia Cooperative Extension through the courses I teach enables real world application of course content for learners. Annually, Students use federal food and nutrition policy and publications for development of media and resources in class projects that are then distributed and used by FNP program assistants and participants.  These collaborative projects enables students to produce products that meet the needs of the FNP, will be applied in community settings, and go “beyond” the classroom environment.

Program Focus

As an educator and program director, I am passionate about the future of our nutrition and dietetic profession. I have committed my professional service time to being a leader in the Nutrition and Dietetics Educators and Preceptors organization as the Chair of the Application Committee (2018-2023).  In this role I led the effort to create the new Centralized Application Service platform to be used by the profession.  I have also served as a member of the national Dietetics Supervised Practice Program Applications Task Force (2022) and the national ACEND Dietetics Application Process Task (2023) in efforts to vision and plan for the future educational pathways in the profession. 

Reviewed Journals

  • Anderson A, Cox H, Eaton R, Girmes-Grieco N, Rockwell, M, Good D. Lessons Learned during the Transition to Online Learning in a University Nutrition and Exercise Department. Higher Education - Reflections From the Field - Volume 1. March 2023. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.110380
  • Howes, E., Harden, S. M., Cox, H. K., & Hedrick, V. E. (2021). Communicating About Weight in Dietetics Practice: Recommendations for Reduction of Weight Bias and Stigma.. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 121(9). doi:10.1016/j.jand.2021.01.016

Oral Presentations

  • Cox, H., Bayliss, A. (2023) Crash Course: Collision Master's Requirement and RDN Staffing Shortage. Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo.  Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Denver, CO.
  • Cox, H. (2022) Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Service Student Session. Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo.  Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Orlando, FL.
  • Cox, H. (2021) Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Service Sneak Peak. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Nutrition and Dietetics Educators and Preceptors. National Webinar.
  • Cox, H, Massi E, Smith, K. (2021) Healthy Habits: Busting Myths and Creating Balance. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Organization. Virginia Tech. Regional Webinar. 

Poster Presentations

  • Jaskowak, D., Barker, K., Anderson, A., & Cox, H. (2021). Summer GRAs improve pedagogical practices: A case study.. Poster session presented at the meeting of  Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy. Zoom.
  • Anderson, A., Cox, H., Eaton, R., Rockwell, M., Girmes-Grieco, N., Jaskowak, D., & Good, D. (2021). Lessons Learned during the Transition to Online Learning. Poster session presented at the meeting of  Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy. Online.