Professional Activities:

Academic Appointments:

1/2014	Present Graduate Program Director, Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center.
1/2013	present Associate Professor, College of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion, Social, & Behavioral Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center.
1/2013	present Associate Member, Cancer Prevention and Control, Eppley Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center.
9/2008 – 2013	Adjunct Research Assistant Professor, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
8/2009 - 12/2012	Assistant Professor (Tenure-track), Dietetics. Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, College of Education and human Development, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI.
8/2004 - 8/2008	Research Assistant Professor, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes. University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
9/2002 - 7/2004	Assistant Professor, Atherosclerosis and Lipoprotein Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
8/2003 - 7/2004	Assistant Professor, Graduate Program in Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
3/2002 - 9/2002	NIH-Postdoctoral Fellow, Atherosclerosis, and Vascular Biology Training Grant (T32, HL07812-05). Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Mentor: Joel D. Morrisett, Ph.D.
8/2000 - 2/2002	Welch Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Medicine, Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Mentor: Joel D. Morrisett, Ph.D.
3/1998 - 7/2000	Research Associate, Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. Mentors: F. Charles Brunicardi, M.D and Kamal Itani, M.D.
1/1996 – 3/1998	USDA-Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine. Mentors: Darryl Hadsell, Ph.D. and Mary Dudley, Ph.D.
12/1994 - 12/1995	Postdoctoral Research Associate, Nutritional Sciences, Lipid Metabolism Laboratory, University of Arizona, Mentors: Donald J. McNamara, Ph.D., and Maria-Luz Fernandez, Ph.D.
7/1991 - 12/1994	Graduate Research Assistant, Nutritional Sciences, Lipid Metabolism Laboratory, University of Arizona, Mentor: Donald J. McNamara, Ph.D.
1/1990 - 6/1991	Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Immunology Laboratory, University of Arizona, Mentor: Ronald Watson, Ph.D.
8/1989 - 12/1989	Research Volunteer, Family and Community Medicine, Immunology Laboratory, University of Arizona, Mentor: Ronald Watson, Ph.D.

Ad hoc-reviewer for journals:

• Journal of Nutrition, 2001-present
• Obesity Research, 2003 –present
• Kidney International, 2004-present
• Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2005-present
• Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2007-present
• Arthritis Research and Therapy, 2008-present
• Gene, 2010-present
• Lipids, 2011- present
• Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2011- present
• Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2013-present
• The Journal of Pediatrics, 2013-present
• Health Education Journal, 2013-present
• Journal of Cancer Education, 2014-present

Editorial Board:

Member of the Editorial Board for Austin Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome

ELECTED OFFICIAL OR COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:

• Elected, Trustee, Scholarship Committee Member, Michigan Dietetic Association Institute (MDAI), 2011-2013
• Nomination Committee, Michigan Dietetics Educators of Practitioners, 2010-2012
• Medical Scientist Career Advisory Committee. University of Michigan Medical School, Member: 2005-2008
• Executive Committee, Baylor Postdoctoral Association, 2002-2003

Memberships In Professional Societies:

• American Association for Cancer Research, 2014-present
• American Public Health Association, 2013- present
• Obesity Society, Member, 2013- present
• Metabolomics Society, Member, 2011-present
• Southeastern Michigan Dietetic Association (SEMDA), Member, 2011-present
• Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group (WM-DPG), Member, 2010-present
• Research in Dietetics Practice Group (RDPG), Member, 2009-present
• Dietetics Practice Group, Nutrition Educators of Health Professional, Member, 2009-Present
• Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2013-present
• Michigan Dietetic Educators of Practitioners Group (MDEP), Member, 2009-present
• Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MAND), Members, 2009-present
• Southwestern Michigan District Dietetic Association (SWMDDA), Member, 2009-2013.
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Member, 2007- present
• American Society on Nutritional Sciences (ASN), Member, 2002- present
• American Diabetes Association, Member (ADA), 2003-present
• American Institute of Nutrition (AIN), Member, 1994 - 2006
• Endocrine Society, Member, 2001- 2008

University Committees  Membership:

• Chair, Graduate Program Committee, Department of Health Promotion, Social, & Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2014-present.
• Member, Graduate Council, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2014-present.
• Co-Chair, Graduate Student Research Study Section, Cancer Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2014.
• Student Recruitment and Admission Committee, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, 2013 – Present
• Strategic Planning Committee, College of Education and Human Development, Western Michigan University, 2012
• Nutrition Committee, Western Michigan University Medical School Planning, 2011-2012
• Awards and Recognition Committee, College of Education and Human Development, Western Michigan University, 2010-2012
• Academic Integrity Committee, Western Michigan University, 2009-2012
• International Committee, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Western Michigan University, 2011--2012
• Dietetic Community Service Program (DCSP), Faculty Advisor, Western Michigan University, 2009--2012
• Executive Committee, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Western Michigan University, 2009-2010.
• Technology Committee, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Western Michigan, University 2010-2012.
• Sabbatical Committee, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Western Michigan University, 2010-2012.
• Dietetic Internship Advisory Council, Western Michigan University, 2011-present.
• Dietetics Advisory Board for Undergraduate Program, Western Michigan University, 2011-2012.