Faculty and Staff
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Stephanie N. Petrosky, D.C.N., M.H.A., RDN, FAND, FNAPDepartment Chair and Associate ProfessorDirector, Graduate and Professional Studies in Nutrition spetrosky@nova.edu |
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Stephanie Petrosky has enjoyed a diverse and exciting career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and loves to make nutrition fun. In addition to clinical practice in hospital and outpatient settings, she has held executive operations roles within national healthcare companies and senior living communities. She received her professional training from Florida International University and earned an M.S. in Health Services Administration from Capella University. Stephanie earned an advanced practice doctorate in clinical nutrition from the University of North Florida. With 30 years of teaching experience, she has been active in many leadership roles. She is proud to be a past-president of the Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and currently serves as the Chair of the Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council for Florida, which oversees the licensure in Florida. On a personal note, Stephanie enjoys the beach, reading, long walks, learning new things, and mentoring others. |
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Ioana Scripa, Ph.D., RDN, LDNAssistant Professor |
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Ioana received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Dietetics and Nutrition from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro. As the Director of the B.S. in Human Nutrition program, she is responsible for program operations, accreditation, and faculty oversight and facilitating student success. She enjoys community-based projects, diabetes prevention, wellness, and nutrition education. She developed cooking sessions that were integrated into an existing life-skills program offered by the YWCA North Carolina for adolescent and young adult mothers. She has a passion for reading, cooking (especially fish), and spending time with her fur babies, June Bug and Tator Tot. |
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Marilyn Gordon, Ed.D., RDN, CSSD, LDNAssistant Professor |
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Marilyn is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her interest in nutrition grew out of vegetarianism and fitness. Early in clinical practice, she realized the power of food and lifestyle for optimal health. After graduate work in exercise science and wellness, she began teaching nutrition and wellness courses. She completed her doctoral studies in educational leadership at Florida International University. Most recently, she used her lifelong interest to develop a course on plant-based eating patterns. Dr. Gordon is the team nutritionist for the athletics department and teaches yoga and spin classes at the university’s recreation center, which is a great way to get to know students. She loves exploring the topics of Ayurveda, functional nutrition, and nutrigenomics as additional tools to enhance health. |
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Melinda Luis, M.S., RDN, LDNAssistant Professor |
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Melinda earned her M.S. in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University and is currently working on her Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition from the University of North Florida. Her early career involved clinical practice in hospital and extended care settings. Her graduate work emphasized eating and cognitive challenges in older adults. She enjoys exploring the nutritional patterns of culturally diverse populations worldwide and created a unique course at NSU on world culture, food, and nutrition. Her teaching experience ranges from cooking and nutrition skill classes for children to extensive work in higher education. For fun, Melinda enjoys family time, relaxing at the beach, and scrapbooking. |
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Jennifer Keil, M.S.H., RDN, LDNAssistant Professor |
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Jennifer Keil graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition and earned a Master of Science in Health from the University of North Florida. As a licensed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Professor Keil brings 20 years of experience from various settings. Early in her career, she practiced in the acute care setting with a focus in cardiac nutrition. More recently she has served as faculty in higher education where she led community events and mentored students. Jennifer is an active member of the South Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and has held several board positions. She was recognized by the association as Distinguished Member and Recognized Young Dietitian. She loves to travel, time with family and friends, line dancing, baking, and playtime with her dog. |
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Andrea Charvet, Ph.D., RDN, LDNAssistant Professor |
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Andrea Charvet completed her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition at the Universidade Federal do Parana, Brazil and started her career in the clinical setting working with pediatric patients. Her professional experience includes private practice, sports/wellness, and community nutrition, working for many years as a nutrition educator in public health with young children and pregnant and lactating women. Dr. Charvet earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University. Her research expertise focuses on examining risk factors for childhood obesity to help children and families promote healthy living through nutrition, and her work has been awarded an NIH grant for scientific enhancement. Dr. Charvet serves on the Nutrition and Fitness Task Force of Broward County and collaborates with other external initiatives, including the United States International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative Reference Group Research Subcommittee, national conferences, and mentoring students in pursuing their research ideas. |
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Karen Basedow, D.C.N., RDN, LDN, CDCES, FNAPAssistant Professor |
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Dr. Karen Basedow completed her doctorate in clinical nutrition from the University of North Florida. Her doctoral research focused on dietitians’ knowledge pertaining to the role of vitamin D. Dr. Basedow is also a certified diabetes care and education specialist, requiring ongoing board certification. Dr. Basedow recently joined the faculty of Team Nutrition, relocating from New Jersey. She brings a strong background in outpatient counseling, community grants and programming, and teaching in the acute hospital setting. She has been a strong advocate for underserved communities by highlighting disparities in healthcare and nutrition throughout her career. She also enjoys working with students to help them apply their didactic knowledge to various cultures and education levels of patient population. In her leisure time she likes to take walking vacations to immerse in other cultures and meet the locals when traveling by foot. |
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Priya Krishnakumar, Ph.D., RDN, LDNAssistant Professor |
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Dr. Priya Krishnakumar completed her Ph.D. in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University, and her primary research interest includes working with children and families to improve health outcomes through nutrition education in the community. As a dietitian who trained in India, she started her career in the intensive care setting. She brings much experience working with diverse populations and supporting their nutrition goals. Dr. Krishnakumar also served as a post-doctoral fellow at NSU’s Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine and published her research on the nutritional approaches to manage complex patients. My other professional experience includes teaching at Florida International University. On a personal note, she loves to travel, experience new cultures, and spend time with family and friends. She is passionate about bringing out creativity through the performing arts. |
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Amanpreet Cheema, Ph.D., M.S. Assistant Professor |
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Amanpreet Cheema is a research associate in the areas of integrative, immunological, and cardiovascular specialties. She currently serves as program director of research operations for the Gulf War Illness Clinical Coordinating Center and holds a faculty appointment as an assistant professor in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. Cheema, a nutritional biochemist, earned both her Master of Science in Biochemistry and Doctor of Philosophy in Nutrition from Florida International University. She has several years of experience overseeing large, multisite, multi-study, highly complex research projects. Her current research interests focus on clinical studies for therapeutic targets tied to Gulf War illness and myalgic encephalomyelitis-associated molecular and physiological imbalances. She is the principal investigator of a Department of Defense Phase II study and a coinvestigator in other Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. |
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Tobin Silver, Ph.D., CSCSProfessor |
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Dr. Silver earned his doctorate degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree from Barry University. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and carries Level I Exercise is Medicine Credential of the American College of Sports Medicine in conjunction with Exercise is Medicine®. Dr. Silver’s research interests include nonlinear, linear, and temporal analyses of biological signals (human), trip recovery while walking, balance and posture, personal training, and community wellness. My interests are vast with the goal of providing hands-on learning experiences to our students within the University and throughout the community. |
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Annie Lin, D.C.N., M.S., CNS, LDNAssistant Professor |
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Dr. Annie Lin is a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist focusing on integrative and functional nutrition approaches for optimizing health and addressing root causes of clinical imbalances. She earned her Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition from Maryland University of Integrative Health and Master of Science in Applied Nutrition from the University of New England. With a background in functional nutrition, sociology, and teaching, she also advocates social and food justice. Empowering youth and adults to use food as medicine and connection is her passion. She enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, and spending time with her family. |
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Angela Taylor, D.C.N., M.S., CNS, LDN, IFMCPAdjunct Instructor |
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Professor Angela Taylor is a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist and a Board-Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner. She holds a Master of Science in Integrative and Clinical Nutrition and is completing her Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition from Maryland University of Integrative Health. She also has specialized training in herbal medicine and health coaching. Angela Taylor authored The BrainFood Cookbook and openly shares her personal experience of supporting her son through his journey with autism using targeted nutrition as the cornerstone of his treatment plan. |
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Dynyce Boyce, M.S.MEd., RDN, LDNAdjunct Instructor |
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Dynyce Boyce is a registered dietitian and graduate of Nova Southeastern University‘s Master of Science in Medical Education program. She completed undergraduate studies in Nutrition and Dietetics at Florida International University and brings over a decade of experience in acute care, critical illness, trauma, wound healing, performance improvement, and community outreach. In addition to academia, she serves as a nutrition and quality improvement content expert, supporting physicians and allied health professionals at hospitals and clinical practices throughout Florida. Dynyce is devoted to equipping the next generation of leaders with the necessary tools to succeed and transform lives in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape. |
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Su-Nui Escobar, D.C.N., RDN, LDN, FANDAdjunct Assistant Professor |
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Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Su-Nui Escobar earned a master’s degree in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University and a doctorate in clinical nutrition from the University of North Florida. Her research dissertation explored mindful parenting around food. As a natural leader in her field, Dr. Escobar is the founder and director of a nutrition internship at Larkin Community Hospital. She is past president of the South Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and was honored as the Greater South Florida Dietitian and the Outstanding Educator. Dr. Escobar is a media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the national spokeswoman for several Hispanic programs. Her charisma and warmth have made her popular for Latino television appearances. Dr. Escobar's success can be attributed to her very personal way of offering real-life advice to maximize health. |
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Douglas S. Kalman Ph.D., RDN, FACN, FISSNAdjunct Assistant Professor |
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Dr. Kalman graduated from Florida State University. He earned a master’s at Hunter College - City University of New York and a doctorate in exercise and nutritional biochemistry from Touro University International. Dr. Kalman co-founded The International Society of Sports Nutrition and remains actively involved in several professional organizations. Dr. Kalman brings extensive experience in the field of sports performance and research, including work with Olympic and professional athletes, musicians and musical companies, combat sports, and collegiate teams as well as numerous scholarly contributions. Impressively, Dr. Kalman has completed over 250 clinical trials and projects within the pharmaceutical, medical, exercise, and nutrition industries. He has taught at New York University, C.W. Post-Long Island University, Florida Atlantic University, and Florida International University and is an adjunct professor with Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences. |
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Lillian Craggs-Dino, D.H.A., RDN, LDNAdjunct Assistant Professor |
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Dr. Lillian Craggs-Dino is a nationally and internationally renowned Registered and Licensed Dietitian with nearly 20 years specializing in bariatric nutrition. She holds a Doctorate in Health Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University where she completed her nutritionist training. She serves on the Executive Council for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Integrated Health (ASMBS-IH), and has held many professional leadership appointments and positions. She is a member of the Integrated Health Support Group Committee with ASMBS and is active with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. As a member of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, she is helping to write the International Bariatric Nutrition Consensus Statement. Dr. Craggs-Dino is Associate Editor for Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases and a peer reviewer for many scholarly journals. She has authored many articles on nutrition care for bariatric surgery and obesity management, including the ASMBS Integrated Health Nutritional Guidelines for The Surgical Weight Loss Patient- 2016 Update: Micronutrients. |
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Alissa Baum, Psych.D., CEDSAdjunct Instructor |
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Dr. Alissa Baum is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. She currently serves as the Assistant Clinical Director and Team Leader at The Renfrew Center of Florida. She also serves at the Director of Internship Training for The Renfrew Center and oversees the pre-doctoral interns from Nova Southeastern University's Clinical Psychology Doctoral program. Dr. Baum received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from The University of Florida and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Baum completed her Pre-Doctoral Internship and Post-Doctoral Residency at The Renfrew Center. Her clinical interests include Eating Disorders, Jewish Women’s Issues, Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and Family Therapy. |
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Janet Peterson, Dr.PH., RDN, RCEP, WEMT, FACSMAdjunct Instructor |
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Janet Peterson is a professor of health and human performance and nutrition and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. She holds a doctorate in public health from Loma Linda University and a master's in exercise science from California State University, Northridge. She is a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist, a certified clinical exercise physiologist, and a wilderness medicine instructor. Janet’s research interests include reducing chronic disease risk through primary prevention and education, body composition and immune function and high-altitude illness awareness and prevention. Janet co-founded a nonprofit aimed at providing nutrition education and physical activity opportunities for local youth and their families. Janet’s entrepreneurial adventures include co-founding a wilderness medicine education company and running her own private dietetics practice. Janet advocates for health and wellness for all people and encourages lifelong learning. When she is not teaching, running a business, or volunteering, Janet enjoys hiking, biking, or other human-powered activities in the outdoors, baking, or playing with her lab, Bonnie. |
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Carolyn Jackson M.S., RD, LDNAdjunct Instructor |
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Registered Dietitian Carolyn Jackson has worked in many areas of the food, farming, and culinary fields over her career. She earned her Master of Science in Nutrition from Nova Southeastern University and was honored with the Community Service Award for her class for her spirit of volunteerism and working with various populations. She is passionate about culinary and lifestyle medicine and works with the team to bring these concepts to life for students, community programming, and other initiatives. |
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