Nicolin Girmes-Grieco, MS
- Director, HNFE Foods Teaching Laboratories
- Focus area(s): Nutrition across the life span; food selection and preparation to promote human health and planetary sustainability; food cultures and dietary behaviors
Education
M.S., Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2001
Completion of Didactic Program in Dietetics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2000
B.A., International Studies with Concentration in Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1990
Experience
August 2021 – present: Senior Instructor, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
January 2016 – present: Director, HNFE Foods Teaching Laboratories, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
August 2015 – August 2021: Advanced Instructor and Director of HNFE Foods Teaching Laboratories, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
December 2008 – August 2015: Instructor and Director of HNFE Foods Teaching Laboratories, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
January 2006 – December 2008: Adjunct Instructor, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
January 1993 – May 1995: Program Director, Environmental NPO Renew America, Washington, D.C.
October 1990 – January 1993: Research Assistant, Environmental NPO Renew America, Washington, D.C.
Selected Major Awards
- 2019 – Excellence in Access and Inclusion Award, Office of Services for Students with Disabilities, Division of Student Affairs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- 2013– CALS Certificate of Teaching Excellence Award, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- 2010-2011 – Outstanding Recent Alumna of the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Organization, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Program Focus
In my role as instructional faculty, I am interested in studying and implementing best practices in higher education to enhance student engagement and learning in a variety of academic settings (e.g., lecture-based courses, practice-based labs, experiential, online, hybrid, etc.). Specific to the disciplines that I teach, my interests include modifying food preparation to enhance acceptability and nutritive value of foods for special dietary needs (e.g., gluten-free, low-FODMAP, glycemic management, etc.).
As part of the new Salute: Food & Health in Switzerland study abroad program, I am exploring food culture and dietary patterns across the human life span in a multi-national context and I am attentive to plant-based substitutions to reduce one’s dietary carbon footprint as part of a commitment to environmental sustainability.
Presentations
Recent examples of my presentations including several guest lectures:
- “HNFE First Year Experience: Teacher Talk Panelist” (Aug. 26, 2022);
- “Improving the Laboratory Experience” at the Welcome Back Symposium 2022 - Teaching Strategies for Increased Student Engagement (Aug. 16, 2022);
- Served as a panelist at the CALS Faculty Association’s teaching panel Discussion (Nov. 17, 2021)
- “Teaching During a Pandemic” presented to the CALS Alumni Organization at the annual board meeting (Oct. 8, 2021)
- Presentation at the 13th Annual Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy (Feb. 5, 2021) of recently published research completed in collaboration with several HNFE faculty called “Lessons Learned During the Transition to Online Learning”.