Nicolin Girmes-Grieco, MS
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Personal teaching philosophy:
To teach with integrity and passion, with open-mindedness and innovation, because higher education pedagogy means having the unique opportunity to serve as mentors as we facilitate our students’ journey to become life-long, independent learners who are strong and compassionate, confident and resourceful, and who pursue every goal with conviction and tenacity.
Management of Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes through dietary therapy and complementary lifestyle changes
Metabolic, psychosocial, and behavioral factors that influence nutritional requirements at various stages of the human life cycle (particularly during adolescence and in older adults)
Modifying food preparation to enhance acceptability and nutritive value of foods for special dietary needs (e.g. gluten-free, reduced-sodium, high-fiber, low-glycemic)
Best practices in higher-education pedagogy to enhance student learning in large enrollment classes
Current:
HNFE 2014 / 2014H: Nutrition Across the Life Span
HNFE 2224: Food Selection and Preparation Labs
HNFE 3984 SS: Science of Food Preparation
HNFE 2974/4974: Independent Study
Past:
HNFE 3034 Methods of Human Nutritional Assessment
2014 Teacher of the Week, April 14, 2014 for "effective, engaged and dynamic teachers implementing learner-center pedagogy" by the Center for Instructional Development and Educational Research (CIDER)
2014 Housing & Residence Life Favorite Faculty
2013 College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Certificate of Teaching Excellence
2013 Housing & Residence Life Favorite Faculty
2012, "Favorite Teacher" among PanHellenic Delegates
2012, Departmental Award, "Outstanding HNFE Faculty in Teaching"
2011, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences's HNFE Outstanding Recent Alumna
Service to HNFE:
Member, Search Committee to fill the staff position of Academic Advisor (April – June 2012)
Co-host of three distinguished HNFE alumni who served as guest speakers at the HNFE graduate seminar on April 22, 2011 as an extension of HNFE's 50th Anniversary Celebration.
Helped to plan and execute the "Open House" on April 9, 2011 as part of the HNFE Department's 50th Anniversary Celebration by showcasing two student laboratories and a new HNFE classroom in Wallace Hall.
"Consult for the SFNE Option" in Virginia Tech's undergraduate catalog (May 2010 – May 2012)
Chair, HNFE GTA Guidelines Committee (April 2010 – November 2011)
Member, HNFE's Student Learning Assessment Committee (August 2008 – May 2013)
Member, HNFE's Undergraduate Academic Advising Committee (August 2010 – present)
Member, HNFE's Graduate Seminar Committee (May 2010 – May 2012)
Member, HNFE's Social Committee (August 2009 – present)
Member, HNFE's Space Committee (2008)
Member, HNFE's Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (August 2007 – May 2010; October 2013 – present)
Ethics Panelist of the USDA Summer Scholars Undergraduate Research Program (July 2009)
USDA Summer Scholars Selection Committee (2007 and 2008)
HNFE Faculty Mentor for 40-55 HNFE undergraduate students to assist in undergraduates in their pursuits of professional programs, graduate school and other career-related goals (August 2007 – present)
Service to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Virginia Tech:
HNFE department representative on the Board of Directors, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Organization (CALSAO) (October 2013 – present)
Member, Search Committee for Assistant Director of Health Professions Advising, Career Services, Division of Student Affairs (March – May 2014)
Spring Commencement Ceremony, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Served as usher at the CALS Commencement Ceremony on May 12, 2012
Member of the Advisory Council on Large Class Instruction, Center for Instructional Development and Educational Research (CIDER)
Section Committee Member, 2013 University Exemplary Department or Program Award
Graduate Teaching Scholars Program, CALS
Member of the Selection Committee for the Virginia Cooperative Extension's Family Nutrition Program's 2012 Summer Interns (Spring 2012)
Served on CALS Committee on Academic Programs and Policies (CAPP) (August 2010 – December 2010
Last five years:
"Inclusive Pedagogy," 12-credit-hour Networked Learning Initiatives (NLI) Summer Program Course (May 22-23, 2014)
"Flipping the Large Classroom," Center for Instructional Development and Educational Research (CIDER) workshop (April 17, 2014)
2014 Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy, CIDER conference (February 5-6, 2014)
"New Data-link Training Session for Scholar" (July 12, 2013)
"Top Hat" tutorial; completed to assess feasibility of utilizing this student-response system instead of I>Clickers in my large-enrollment course (October 29, 2013)
The Academy of Teaching Excellence's Dossier workshop; prepared new dossier for required 2014 submission (November 14, 2013)
"Writing a Teaching Philosophy Statement," CIDER workshop (November 18, 2013)
Subscriber of three daily evidence-based email alerts: "SmartBrief for Nutritionists," "DiabetesPro SmartBrief" and "SmartBrief for the Higher Ed Leader"
Completion of first-ever, two-semester CIDER course called "Instructional Scholars Teaching Certification" (September 2012 - May 2013)
Third Annual Advising Matters Conference, "Mindfulness in Advising," (March 8, 2013)
2013 Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy, CIDER conference, (February 7, 2013)
"Conflict of Interest in Research" FDI training based on new policy, "Individual Conflict of Interests and Commitments," approved by the Board of Visitors, June 2012 and effective as of August 10, 2012 (July 27, 2012)
Member of the Montgomery County Public Schools' Health Advisory Board (November 2011 – May 2012)
The 83rd Annual Virginia Dietetic Association Conference (April 26 - April 27, 2012)
The Tenth Annual Undergraduate Research Conference (April 19, 2012)
Special seminar by Dr. Kevin Grove on "Fetal Development in Relation to High Fat Maternal Diet" (March 23, 2012)
CALS FA Spring 2012 Seminar, "Innovations and Use of Technology in Teaching" by Dr. Gary Moore from NCSU, Academic Team Leader and Director of Graduate Programs, Department of Agriculture and Extension Education. (March 22, 2012)
"Large Class Pedagogy: Just-in-Time Teaching," CIDER workshop (November 7, 2011)
Diversity Council's Brown-bag luncheon on Promoting Classroom Civility (September 21, 2011)
American Diabetes Association (2010 – present)
American Heart Association (2010 – present)
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (2009 – present)
2001, M.S., Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech
Thesis: Soy Isoflavone Supplementation Does Not Alter Distribution of Circulating Lymphocytes or Natural Killer Cell Activity in Postmenopausal Women
2000, Completion of Didactic Program in Dietetics, Virginia Tech
1990, B.A., International Studies with Sociology Concentration, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill