Faculty and Staff

Wen-Hsing Cheng, PhD

Professor and Chair
SRC 204L
wcheng1@twu.edu
940-898-2637

Research interests: Using mouse and cell models to study 1) molecular and physiological aspects of selenium and selenoproteins; 2) aging and age-related chronic diseases; 3) DNA damage response and senescence

Kathleen Davis, PhD, RDN, LD

Dietetic Internship Director – Denton
Associate Professor
SRC 204
kdavis10@twu.edu
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
agriffin3@twu.edu
940-898-2657

Xiaofen Du, PhD

Associate Professor
WH 211
xdu@twu.edu
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
heverts@twu.edu
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
sjuma@twu.edu
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
mlemieux@twu.edu
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
mpahlavani@twu.edu
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
rrobbins3@twu.edu

Research interests: 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
ztao@twu.edu
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
dwang4@twu.edu
940-898-2709

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

Cynthia Warren, PhD

Professor
OMB 313A
cwarren2@twu.edu
940-898-2647

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

Derek Miketinas, PhD, RDN

Associate Professor
dmiketinas@twu.edu
713-794-2376

Rachel Poland, MS, RDN, LD

Dietetic Internship Director - Houston
Assistant Clinical Professor
Houston Center 7118
cpoland@twu.edu
713-794-2344

Research interests: Clinical nutrition, professional issues and educational modules

Mindy Patterson, PhD, RDN, LD

Associate Professor
Houston Center 7023
mpatterson14@twu.edu
713-794-2375

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

Wesley Tucker, PhD, RDN

Associate Professor
Houston Center 7018
wtucker1@twu.edu
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
eeasley@twu.edu
940-898-2637

Bethany Reinecke
Senior Secretary 
breinecke@twu.edu
940-898-2710