Faculty and Staff

Wen-Hsing Cheng, PhD
Professor and Chair
SRC 204L
[email protected]
940-898-2637

Kathleen Davis, PhD, RDN, LD
Dietetic Internship Director – Denton
Associate Professor
SRC 204
[email protected]
940-898-2651

Research interests: Pediatric obesity prevention and weight management; pediatric developmental disorders and nutritional intervention

Angela Griffin, MS, RDN, LD
Dietetics Program Director
Assistant Clinical Professor
OMB 311A
[email protected]
940-898-2657

Xiaofen Du, PhD
Associate Professor
WH 211
[email protected]
940-898-2667

Research interests: Using instrumental and sensory approaches to characterize and create flavor (aroma, taste, trigeminal sensation) and texture of various agricultural produce and food products associated with human health and wellness and a sustainable planet.

Helen Everts, PhD, RDN
Associate Professor
SRC 204
[email protected]
940-898-2639

Research interests: Vitamin A metabolism and function, with an emphasis on skin cancer and hair loss diseases

Shanil Juma, PhD
Professor
SRC 204
[email protected]
940-898-2704

Research interests: The cause of age-related conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis and developing nutritional strategies to prevent and manage them

Monique LeMieux, PhD
Associate Professor
SRC 204
[email protected]
940-898-2712

Research interests: Adipose tissue biology and its role in obesity-induced inflammation and PCOS; use of bio-actives as nutritional interventions for these conditions

Mandana Pahlavani, PhD
Assistant Professor
SRC 204I
[email protected]
940-898-2650

Research interests: High-density Lipoprotein (HDL) function, Reverse Cholesterol Transport (RCT), Inflammation and Atherosclerosis, use of bioactive food compounds and nutrients such as polyphenols, antioxidants, and functional foods in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, and inflammation.

Ronna Robbins, PhD, RD
Assistant Professor
SRC 204N
[email protected]

Research interests: Dr. Robbins’s research integrates her clinical background and career-long commitment to the health of older adults. Her research focuses on developing translational nutritional and health-related behavioral interventions that improve cardiometabolic health outcomes in older adults.

Zhipeng (Toby) Tao, PhD
Assistant Professor
SRC 204K
[email protected]
940-898-2641

Research interests: To elucidate the role of lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function in cancer and metabolic diseases (diabetes and obesity) and design nutritional interventions and evidence-based target therapies.

Danhui Wang, PhD

Assistant Professor
OMB 313B
[email protected]
940-898-2709

Research interests: Food safety; food microbiology; rapid detection; microbial metabolomics

Cynthia Warren, PhD
Associate Professor
OMB 313A
[email protected]
940-898-2647

Research interests: Interface between public health and the food industry; nutrition and food safety literacy

Derek Miketinas, PhD, RDN
Assistant Professor
[email protected]
713-794-2376

Rachel Poland, MS, RDN, LD
Dietetic Internship Director - Houston
Assistant Clinical Professor
Houston Center 7118
[email protected]
713-794-2344

Research interests: Clinical nutrition, professional issues and educational modules

Mindy Patterson, PhD, RDN, LD
Associate Professor
Houston Center 7023
[email protected]
713-794-2375

Research interests: The impact of nutrient intake on gut-derived satiety mediators, adipokines and body composition

Wesley Tucker, PhD, RDN
Assistant Professor
Houston Center 7018
[email protected]
713-794-2379

Research Interests: Heart failure pathophysiology, obesity, dietary interventions, functional foods, exercise training, exercise testing, cardiorespiratory fitness, vascular biology, skeletal muscle function and cardiac function

Estée Easley
Business Manager
Denton Campus - SRC 204
[email protected]
940-898-2637

Bethany Reinecke
Senior Secretary 
[email protected]
940-898-2710

Casey Tiernan, PhD, RDN, LD
Undergraduate Academic Advisor
WH 013G
[email protected]
940-898-2468