Skip Links

Find an Expert View All Stories

Topic: Nutrition

Michael Wray

By

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

By

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

By

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.

Malena Perdomo

By

Malena Perdomo, MS, RD, CDE, is an affiliate professor of nutrition at MSU Denver. She’s a dietitian, nutritionist and certified diabetes educator and she also educates the Latino community on nutrition. She produces educational materials on general nutrition, diabetes and other consumer topics such as nutritional videos aimed at Latinos.

She is co-author of “Los Secretos de Maya,” a cookbook featuring health-conscious Latin flavors. Malena was the national Latino nutrition spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (now called the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) from 2005 to 2011. She was also president of the Latino/Hispanic Dietetics and Nutrition (LAHIDAN) and was the star nutritionist for the LiveWell Colorado campaigns for Latinos. Previously, Perdomo worked as a clinical dietitian at Kaiser Permanente Colorado, a nutritionist for the WIC public health program and a nutrition consultant for children with special needs.

She graduated from Florida State University-Panama Canal Branch and University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and earned a master’s degree in nutrition education from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

Anne Hatcher

By

Cynthia Dormer

By

Cynthia Dormer is a registered dietitian and holds a Ph.D. and Masters in Human Nutrition. She currently teaches Nutrition and Weight Management and Nutrition Education and Counseling. Her research aims to provide brief and effective tools for wellness goal setting.

Jennifer Bolton

By

Jennifer Bolton, Ph.D., RDN, is a professor with the Department of Nutrition at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She’s been an instructor at the institution for nearly two decades, where she teaches a variety of courses to include: maternal and child nutrition, introduction to nutrition and medical therapy I and II. Her research includes infant feeding, childhood obesity, breastfeeding best practices and medical nutrition therapy.

Micah Battson

By

Micah Battson, Ph.D., is an assistant 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.

Kelsey Asplin

By

Kelsey Asplin, is a naturopathic doctor and affiliate professor in the Integrative Health Care Program at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

She operates a naturopathic private practice called Determinant Health Naturopathic Medicine. Before obtaining her doctorate, Asplin worked as a licensed massage practitioner. She also serves as a board member for the Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors, a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and a certified member of the Kinesio Taping Association International. Asplin received the Best of the Best 2017 award in Highlands Ranch for Holistic/Naturopathic Medicine and the Most Instrumental Woman in Naturopathic Medicine 2017 – West USA award at the Women in Health Awards 2017.

Asplin has published several articles in the Natural Medicine Journal titled “Gut Bacteria, Sleep and Brain Health” and “High-Protein Breakfasts Especially Important for Adolescents.” She also periodically reviews research for the journal.

Asplin received her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington and a bachelor’s in integrative therapeutic practices from MSU Denver. She is a certified Kinesio taping practitioner.