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Topic: Nutrition

Prabhdeep Sandha

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Prabhdeep Sandha, Ph.D., RDN, is an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and program director of the Nutrition Graduate Program at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her areas of expertise include food and nutrition, dietetics, food security/insecurity, and food environments. She is knowledgeable about the application of National Food Assistance Programs, such as SNAP, WIC, and NSLP.

Prior to joining MSU Denver, Sandha worked as a graduate assistant at the Institute of Child Nutrition. Additionally, she served as a graduate instructor at the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management at the University of Mississippi, where she developed and taught a senior-level dietetics and nutrition class, “Orientation to Child Nutrition Management.” Sandha’s research is centered on vital issues such as hunger, child and school nutrition, nutrition policy development and program evaluation. With her expertise, she is striving to enhance nutrition-related policies and practices.

She is chair of the Indians in Nutrition and Dietetics Member Interest Group (IND MIG) within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Sandha received her doctorates of Nutrition Policy with a minor in Applied Statistics from the University of Mississippi, and a bachelor’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from the Punjab Agricultural University.

Godwin-Charles Ogbeide

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Lucía E. Briceño

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Michael Wray

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Michael Wray, Ph.D., is a professor in the School of Hospitality at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He has decades of collegiate teaching experience within culinary, brewing and beverage management and hospitality management industries.

As a chef and sommelier, Wray is active in the food and beverage industry by consulting with companies in restaurant design, menu and recipe development. He has also provided instrumental input into the vision that led to the creation of MSU Denver’s Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center and complementary laboratory classrooms. Wray has developed key partnerships with community and civic leaders for major events and charities such as Food for Thought Denver and the Denver Food and Wine Festival. He recently developed the framework for the brewery partnership with the Tivoli Brewing Company, leading to $7 million facility enhancements to the Tivoli Student Union and establishing integrated learning laboratories for students studying brewing.

As the former food and beverage director with Ramada Renaissance and Holiday Inn Hotels, Wray is regularly interviewed regarding his knowledge and creative abilities in food, wine and beer. His research interests include hospitality competency, learning environments and learning communities. Most recently, he co-authored the article “Effects of cooperative learning on Chinese students performing a formal table setting for American style service” in the Journal of Foodservice Business Research.

Wray received his doctorate in education leadership from University of Colorado, Denver, a master’s in business management from Salisbury University and a bachelor’s in nutrition and foods from Virginia Tech. He also holds multiple credentials in food and beverage, including Sommelier Diploma, Certified Wine Specialist, Master Certified Food Service Executive and Certified Culinary Instructor.

Michelle Tollefson

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Michelle Tollefson is a physician and associate professor in the Health Professions Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She teaches in the Integrative Therapies program and is the current secretary of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Tollefson worked as a private practice obstetrician and gynecologist, until leaving to work with Poudre Valley Health System as a medical director and director of Women’s Wellness Education. She is a certified wellcoach, guest faculty for Harvard and author of online continuing medical education for the Harvard Institute of Lifestyle Medicine. She is passionate about women’s healthcare, lifestyle medicine and teaching people to lead healthier and happier lives.

Tollefson is a graduate of Creighton University, where she received her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees. She completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Missouri in Kansas City and received her board certification in this medical specialty.

Inna Soifer

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Inna Soifer, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of event and meeting management in the School of Hospitality at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her areas of expertise include global meetings and events; conventions, exhibitions industry; event technology; incentive travel; venue management and destination management.

Prior to joining MSU Denver, Soifer taught at the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management for the University of Memphis and was a graduate instructor at the University of Mississippi. She is a certified hospitality educator with over a decade of experience in the global hospitality industry, including as a project manager for one of Russia’s leading meeting and event agencies. Soifer’s primary research area is in business and trade events. Her recent studies examined value creation in corporate events and customer adoption of event technology.

Soifer received her Ph.D. in nutrition and hospitality management with a minor in applied statistics from the University of Mississippi in 2021.

Anne Hatcher

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Cynthia Dormer

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Cynthia Dormer, Ph.D., R.D., is a professor in the Department of Nutrition at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her areas of expertise include nutrition education, nutrition counseling, online and classroom course design, basic nutrition, and health promotion. She teaches Body Image: Concepts & Approach and Nutrition Education & Counsel. Her career is focused on weight-inclusive approaches, weight management, body image, nutrition, goal-setting, wellness, and college- student success.  

In addition to teaching, Dormer is a registered dietitian nutritionist and the president of Brightside Co. Inc. She is the author of publications such as “Effects of College Classroom Goal-Setting Activities on Autonomous Motivation, Competence, Relatedness, and Achievement of Goals” and “Developing Technologies to Support People to Develop Healthy Eating Routines,” both featured in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  

Before joining MSU Denver, Dormer served as an assistant scientist at the AMC Cancer Research Center.  

Dormer earned a doctorate in Philosophy with a focus in Human Nutrition from Colorado State University.  

Jennifer Bolton

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Jennifer Bolton, Ph.D., RDN, CLC, is a professor in the Department of Nutrition at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her areas of expertise encompass school nutrition, infant and childhood feeding, prenatal nutrition, breastfeeding, initiating solids, promoting healthy foods for children, childhood obesity and trans-fat. She currently teaches Lifecycle Nutrition in the graduate program as well as Maternal and Child Nutrition, Introduction to Nutrition, and Medical Nutrition Therapy I and II in the undergraduate program. Her research is centered around infant feeding, childhood obesity, breastfeeding best practices, and medical nutrition therapy as well as the prevention of neural tube defects in developing countries.

In addition to teaching, Bolton currently works as a Clinical Dietitian at HealthONE as well as a Registered Dietitian for Project Wellness 365. She holds a Certified Lactation Counselor certification, further contributing to her multifaceted engagement in the field of nutrition and health.

Bolton earned a Doctorate in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Colorado State University, a Master’s in Nutrition from Illinois State University, and a Bachelors of Science from Arizona State University.

Micah Battson

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Micah Battson, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition at Metropolitan State University of Denver. His areas of expertise include the impact of dietary patterns and individual nutrients on health and disease, aging, obesity, diabetes, gut microbiome, metabolism, and cardiovascular disease. Battson teaches Introduction to Nutrition; Macronutrients in Health and Disease; and Vitamins, Minerals, and Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease.

He was an affiliate professor at MSU Denver before becoming an associate professor last fall. Before coming to MSU Denver, Battson worked as the vice president for research fellow at Colorado State University. He was also a lead graduate teacher and a graduate research assistant at the University of Colorado Boulder.

His doctorate research at CSU focused on the interaction among diet, the gut microbiome, and cardiovascular physiology in the setting of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

Battson received his doctorate in Food Science and Human Nutrition from CSU in 2018, a master’s in Integrative Physiology from CU Boulder in 2014, and a bachelor’s in Biochemistry magna cum laude from the University of California Los Angeles in 2010.