Department News

Dec 2023. Gut microbiome researcher, Dr. Chrissa Petersen, RDN, CD, co-published the journal article:  Gut microbiota depletion using antibiotics to investigate diet‐derived microbial metabolites: An efficient strategy. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2023 Dec 6:e2300386.

Dec 2023. Graduate student Kassidy Lee and Professor Cynthia Blanton, PhD, co-published a student capstone research in peer-reviewed journal: The effect of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on cancer treatment. Nutrition and Health. 2023;29(4):621-635

Dec 2023. Dr. Cynthia Blanton’s research on spices was featured in the scientific journal: Development of a rapid, sensitive, and selective LC–MS/MS method for quantifying curcumin levels in healthy human urine: Effect of pepper on curcumin … Food Sci Nutr. 2023; 11(12): 7732–7741.

Nov 2023. Graduate Student and Dietetic Intern, Bethany Hickey, won 3^rd Place 2023 in the ISU 3 Minute Thesis Competition. The Graduate School hosted the 7^th annual ISU 3 Minute Thesis Competition on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at the L.E. & Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center. Beth's research topic was "Food Processing and Appetite Regulation: How Ultra-Processed Foods May Be Influencing What and How Much We Eat."

Nov 2023. Assistant Professor Chrissa Petersen, PhD, RDN, LD’s research on how blueberries influence gut microbiota was published online first in an international journal: Blueberry intervention mitigates detrimental microbial metabolite trimethylamine N‐oxide by modulating gut microbes. Biofactors. 2023.

Oct 2023. Dr. Gordon published innovative research on diet and urological conditions: Nutritional Considerations for Bladder Storage Conditions in Adult Females. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2023; 20(19), 6879.

Sep 2023. Professor Blanton published novel research for evaluating spice levels in urine. Development of a rapid, sensitive, and selective LC–MS/MS method for quantifying curcumin levels in healthy human urine: Effect of pepper on curcumin … Food Sci Nutr. 2023; 11(12): 7732-7741.

Sep 2023. Dr. Gordon, RDN, FAND, was the first author and driving force on the collaborative interprofessional review about engaging patients in clinical research studies, which as published in Evaluation & the Health Professions. 2023;46(4):291-308.

Aug 2023. Cynthia Blanton, PhD, RDN, published research findings in an international journal: Circadian modulation of the antioxidant effect of grape consumption: A randomized controlled trial  Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2023; 20 :6502.

Jul 2023. Assistant Professor Chrissa Petersen, PhD, RDN, CD co-published in an highly respected journal: Dose-and time-dependent effect of dietary blueberries on diabetic vasculature is correlated with gut microbial signature. Antioxidants 12.8 (2023): 1527.

Jul 2023: Professor Cynthia Blanton co-published a journal article on The effect of berry consumption on oxidative stress Biomarkers: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials in humans. Food Science and Nutrition 2023, (11)12: 7732-7741

Jul 2023. Dr. Petersen’s research on the influence of blueberries on diabetes was featured in a peer-reviewed journal. Dose-and time-dependent effect of dietary blueberries on diabetic vasculature is correlated with gut microbial signature. Antioxidants. 2023 Jul 30;12(8):1527.

May 2023. Dr. Blanton, RDN, LD, presented research at the American Physiology Summit 2023 Meeting. Circadian timing of grape intake and the oxidative stress response. Physiology. 2023; 38(S1).

Mar 2023. Two ISU students were selected as Idaho’s Outstanding Dietetics Student Award Recipients: Kaela Armstrong, Idaho State University BS Dietetics, and Shannon Haderlie, Idaho State University MS Dietetic Internship`.

Mar 2023. Drs. Gordon and Weeden’s article offering insights into the role of the RDN the interprofessional practice learning needs of nutrition and dietetics students was published in spring issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Mar 2023;123(3):386-398.

Fall 2022. The 2022 Phi U Professional Project was "Inspiring Others Through FCS Storytelling." Club members told the story of child food insecurity in our community by raising awareness about the BackPack Program. After interviewing school coordinators of the Backpack Program, they used their stories to describe the program's impact and inspire others to donate to the food bank.  Club members leveraged social media, organized a raffle, used grassroot activities to collect funds for the program. They presented a check for $2,000 to the Eastern branch of the Idaho Foodbank to support the Backpack Program. 

Jun 1, 2022. Dr. Allisha Weeden, RDN, LD, was selected to be an Editorial Board member of the newly launched Journal of Dietetic Education.

May 10, 2022. KTVB7 featured the ISU-Meridian Nutrition Clinic in a news segment during the Idaho State University Meridian Clinic Dedication, along with other ISU-Meridian clinics open to the community.

May 3, 2022. The 2022 Phi U Professional Project "Inspiring Others Through FCS Storytelling" raised awareness about the BackPack Program for food insecure children. Their efforts raised $2,000 for the Idaho Foodbank's Backpack Program. Read more about the club member's successful efforts.

May 2, 2022. The Idaho State Journal highlighted the SCORE program in an article titled, "Natalie Christensen, Idaho State's sports dietician fostering a healthier atmosphere." 

Apr 22, 2022. The Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics named Kirsten Pfannmuller, ISU MS in Nutrition/Dietetic Intern Program and Shalissa Tomkinson, ISU BS in Dietetics, outstanding nutrition and dietetics students for the state of Idaho.

Apr 21, 2022. Three groups of faculty-student teams presented posters at the Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Meeting: 

• Tomkinson S (presenting author), Hickey B, Sauers G, Reader J. Food insecurity and the student athlete: A Survey on the Idaho State University campus.
• Cobabe C (presenting author), Reader J. Partnering with the Idaho Foodbank to support food insecure children in eastern Idaho project/program report. 
• Gordon B, Blanton C, Ramsay R, Jeffery A (presenting author), Richey L, Hulse R. Anti-inflammatory Diet for Interstitial Cystitis (AID-IC): Study protocol for a randomized controlled cross-over trial. 

Apr 20, 2022. Phi U Advisor Councilor. Diana Watson-Maile, EdD, presented the ISU Beta Rho Chapter with a certificate of national recognition for their chapter achievements including their My Brother's Table and Backpack Program projects.

Apr 5, 2022. Shalissa Tomkinson, BS in Dietetics major and Sahira Ramirez, MS in Nutrition student and Dietetic Intern, worked with Micaela Knickerbocker, Wellness Coordinator with the Portneuf Health Trust on how to make a healthy and yummy plant-forward meal. Check out the video on how to make nutrient-packed Tofu Ceviche!

Apr 4, 2022. Dr. Barb Gordon, RDN, FAND, presented a two-hour continuing education program on Cutomizing the Antiflammatory Diet for Clients for students and preceptors of Bastyr University in Washington.

Apr 1, 2022. Graduate student Kassidy Lee presented the findings of her Capstone research on the Effect of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplementation on Cancer Treatment at KDHS Research Day. Dr. Cynthia Blanton was a co-author on the poster.  

Mar 16, 2022. MS/Dietetic Intern Kassidy Lee presented her research on branch chain amino acids and cancer at the 8th Annual Graduate Research Symposium. Dr. Cynthia Blanton, RDN, is Kassidy's faculty advisor for this research project.

Mar 9, 2022. Andrea Jeffery, ISU-Meridian Nutrition Clinic Coordinator, organized a meeting with Governor Brad Little for the signing of two proclamations: March is National Nutrition Month and March 9 is RDN Day! Also attending the Governor's signing were ISU Research Dietitian Barb Gordon, EdD, RDN; ISU MS/Dietetic Interns Madison Ford, Brooke Gregory, and Kassidy Lee; Idaho Food Bank Nutrition Services Manager Megan Seal, RDN; and Clinical Dietitian Darlene Dougherty, RDN.

Mar 3, 2022. Mayor Brian C. Blad signed a proclamation declaring Wednesday, March 9, 2022, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day in Pocatello, Idaho. MS in Nutrition/Dietetic Internship student Dennis Nguyen presented the proclamation to Mayor Blad and the Pocatello City Council. Nguyen was joined by ISU Clinical Assistant Professor Jen Reader, MHE, RDN.

Feb 18, 2022. Research Dietitian Barb Gordon, EdD, RDN, FAND, was the invited master class speaker for the European Society for the Study on Interstitial Cystitis. Dr. Gordon presented on the state of the science on the association between interstitial cystitis and diet.

Feb 15, 2022. Capstone research conducted by MS/Dietetic Internship graduates Madison Keller and Bridget Von Kahl was accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal, Nutrition and Health. Professors Barb Gordon and Irene Van Woerden are co-authors on the study, entitled. Prevalence and Demographic Profiles of Food Insecure College Students at Main and Satellite Campuses in Northwestern USA.

Feb 1, 2022. Clinical Assistant Professor Jen Reader, MHE, RDN was selected as the February 2022 "Be a Bengal" winner for Stability.

Jan 27, 2022. ISU Sports Dietitian, Natalie Christensen, presented "Diet Quality and Mental Health Status Among Division 1 Female Collegiate Athletes during COVID-19 Pandemic" to the Pocatello Dietitians' group. 

Dec 2021: Professor Gordon, now Dr. Gordon, has earned her Ed.D. Additionally, she was selected to serve as one of 10 subject matter experts for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 

Dec 2021: Natalie Christensen, Bengal Sports Dietitian, graduated with her MS in Nutrition. Her capstone project titled "Diet Quality and Mental Health in Collegiate Athletes" was accepted for publication. 

Dec 2021: Assistant Professor, Barbara Gordon, MBA, RDN,  presented the poster entitled "Anti-inflammatory Diet for Interstitial Cystitis (AID-IC): Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial at the International Urogynecological Association's annual meeting. Professor Cynthia Blanton, PhD, RDN,  is a co-author on the poster.

Nov 2021: Clinical Assistant Professor Jenifer Reader, MHE, RDN, published the chapter, What Can You Do with a Dollar? in a new book by John H. Curry and Sean R. Jackson entitled The Greatest Lecture I Was Never Taught.

Sep 2021: 2020 ISU graduates Madison Keller, MS, RDN, and Bridget Von Kahle, MS, RDN, presented their Capstone research project at the National Institutes of Health, Food Insecurity, Neighborhood Food Environment, and Nutrition Health Disparities: State of Science Workshop that was held September 21-23, 2021. Madison and Bridget interviewed nearly 1,000 students between the main ISU campus and 3 satellite campuses. They found no difference between the campuses but found the food insecurity rate among ISU students was 42%.

Aug 2021: Professor Barbara Gordon, MBA, RDN, FAND, was a guest speaker at the Global Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome Society's 6th annual meeting. She presented initial findings of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Interstitial Cystitis (AID-IC) clinical trial. 

Jun 24-25: Anna Winnett, MS, a recent graduate of the ISU MS Nutrition/DI program presented her Capstone Research on the Perceived Benefits of Herbal Galactagogue use during Lactation Among Mothers Attending a Breastfeeding Support Group at the Idaho Breastfeeding Coalition Annual Conference in June 2021.

Jun 16: Master of Nutrition graduate student Danielle  Basye, RDN, LD, RYT,  and a colleague from the Center for Change (Boise) were the featured presenters for the ECHO Idaho Eating Disorders June 2021 Continuing Education Program.  ECHO Idaho is an educational resource empowering healthcare professionals in Idaho’s remote or underserved communities to treat complex chronic diseases with specialist-level expertise.

Jun 11: The Jeannette Rowe Memorial Scholarship was awarded through Phi Upsilon Omicron to four students. Congratulations to Elisabeth Stephens, Shalissa Tomkinson, Robin Moreno, and Lizzy Rowden!

Jun 9: Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon, MBA, RDN, presented at the Idaho Community Health Workers Association, "Say What? Health Literacy Training."

Jun 7: Professor Cynthia Blanton, PhD, RDN, presented the poster entitled "Anti-inflammatory Diet for Interstitial Cystitis (AID-IC): Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial to an international audience at the American Society for Nutrition's 2021 annual meeting. Assistant Professor, Barbara Gordon, MBA, RDN, is the study PI and a co-author on the poster.

May 27: Professor Cynthia Blanton was awarded a competitive grant from the California Table Grape Commission to conduct a research study title "Circadian Modulation of the Immune Response to Grape Consumption". 

May 11: Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon participated in virtual Congressional visits as a representative of the Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The ask? To support the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act.  This legislation will greatly expand Medicare reimbursement for nutrition services provided by RDNs.

Apr 30: MS in Nutrition graduate student Alexa Barney is investigating the effect of residing at high altitude on body mass index and lung functioning among patients with cystic fibrosis. She presented her preliminary findings along with Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon and Dr. Perry Brown (St Luke's Boise) at the Mountain West Cystic Fibrosis Coalition Investigator’s Meeting.

Mar 28: Rachel Krick, clinical preceptor at Terry Reilly Health Services in Nampa, was recognized by the Idaho Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics for outstanding service with the ISU dietetic interns and students for the academic year 2020-2021.

Mar 25: Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon co-presented on "Produce-ing" Powerful Partnerships to Optimize Patient Outcomes at the 2021 Virtual Forum for Migrant and Community Health.

Mar 18: Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon's article "Leveraging Telehealth for Delivery of Palliative Care to Remote Communities: A Rapid Review" was published in the Journal of Palliative Care. 

Mar 8: Recent graduate Abigail Mallory and student Elisabeth Stephens were honored with the 2021 Outstanding Dietetics Student Award by the Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Abigail Mallory completed her Masters of Science in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship in December 2020. Elisabeth Stephens will graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics in Summer 2021.

Feb 4: MS of Nutrition/Dietetic Internship student Sydney Knight was selected to present in the ISU 3MT competition. Her research is exploring nutrition and health behaviors influenced by COVID-19 using the Information Motivation Behavior (IMB) health model.

Feb 1: Sports Dietitian, Natalie Christensen, was interviewed on the CEWT Talk Podcast about the ISU SCORE program.

Jan 27: Pocatello Dietitians' President and Clinical Assistant Professor Jen Reader organized a seminar entitled, Helping patients navigate the mental aspects of unhealthy eating habits.

Jan 18: Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon, MBA, RDN, LD, FAND, kicked off recruitment for the AID-IC Pilot Study, which is evaluating the impact of an anti-inflammatory diet for helping to manage interstitial cystitis, a chronic, painful bladder condition.

Jan 15: Dr. Cynthia Blanton, RDN, LD, awarded ISU Seed Grant (no pun intended) for her research on the impact of hemp seed consumption on bone structure.

Dec 12, 2020. The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics graduated its first class of graduate students. Fourteen students earned an MS in Nutrition in the Dietetic Internship track. Woohoo!

Nov 11, 2020. The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Idaho State University will soon welcome home a familiar face. Dr. Patricia Z. Marincic has served as associate vice president for the Division of Health Sciences at Idaho State University and director of the ISU Meridian campus since 2017. She will return to the department of nutrition and dietetics as a tenured professor in January 2021.

Oct 23, 2020. Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon.MBA. RDN, FAND, was awarded a MW CTRN-IN pilot grant for her Anti-inflammatory Diet for Interstitial Cystitis (AID-IC) study.

Oct 12, 2020. Sports Dietitian Natalie Christensen was re-awarded the Smart Cooking on the Run (SCORE) Everday from Dairy West. This year, SCORE will bring together an interprofessional peak performance team to promote healthy eating among ISU collegiate athletes. Go Bengals! 

Aug 22, 2020. The ISU Beta Rho chapter of Phi Upsilon Omicron National Honor Society received a national award for their Professional Project: Shining Our Light on Food Insecurity through Nutrition Education.

July 29, 2020. Char Byington, MEd, RDN LD,  Clinical Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, is the 2020 recipient of the Phi Upsilon Omicron Community Impact Grant.

Spring 2020. ISU Nutrition & Dietetics alumni Pauline Hannan was recently featured in Phi Upsilon Omicron National Honor Society's publication, The Candle.

Jun 24 2020. Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon, MBA, RDN, FAND, was quoted in the article, Beyond the Intermittent Fasting Fad, published by WebMD Health News. 

Jun 15, 2020. Professor Cynthia Blanton, PhD and Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon, MBA, RDN co-published the manuscript, Effect of Morning vs.  Evening Turmeric Consumption on Urine Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Obese, Middle-Aged Adults in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Jun 1-3, 2020. The abstract entitled, "Timing of Turmeric Consumption and Oxidative Stress" was presented by Professor Cynthia Blanton, PhD, at the American Society of Nutrition Annual Conference [virtual due to COVID-19]: June 2020.

May 27, 2020.  SCORE sports dietitian, Natalie Christensen, RDN, CSSD, LD, presented on mindful eating at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies seminar on Coping with COVID. SCORE is funded through Dairy West, the trade association working on behalf of the Idaho and Utah dairy farmers.

May 26, 2020. Five Students Win 2020 Lewis Family Morning Star Scholarships—Two graduate students: Natalie Christensen and Anna Winnett, and three undergraduate students: Michele Butikofer, Sydney Knight, and Kaylee Schoefer.

May 12, 2020. Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon, MBA, RDN, LD, FAND, was recognized as the 2020 Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Award for Idaho.

May 10, 2020. Newly promoted to Clinical Associate Professor, Char Byington, MHE, RDN, takes the reigns as the Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Apr 25, 2020. At the KDHS Virtual Research Day, graduate student Anna Winnet’s work on barriers to breastfeeding among minority mothers was featured. Barbara Gordon and Cynthia Blanton, PhD, worked with her on this project.  Professor Gordon also presented a poster on leveraging telehealth for delivery of palliative care to rural communities along with four other ISU-Meridian faculty members.

Apr 23, 2020. Senior Dietetics major Sydney Knight and Cynthia Blanton, PhD, RDN, presented their findings of the study on assessing herb and spice intake at the ISU Virtual Undergraduate Research Day.

Apr 16, 2020. The innovative research of on validating an online herb and spice consumption tool, authored by Professor Cynthia Blanton, was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Apr 1, 2020. Research conducted by faculty and students was presented via the Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Virtual Meeting Poster Presentation:

• Barriers to Breastfeeding Among Minority Mothers was by Graduate Student Anna Winnet in concert with Barbara Gordon and Cynthia Blanton, PhD.
• Applying the MAP-IT Program Planning Model to a Community Nutrition Fair by Jenifer Reader.
• Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Programs: An Initial Evaluation by Graduate student Andrea Jeffery and Barbara Gordon. 

Mar 11, 2020. MS in Nutrition Graduate Student Danielle Basye, RD, LD, RYT, presents “Health at Every Size and Intuitive Eating:  Promoting Positive Health” at the ISU Positive Body Image Symposium.

Mar 5, 2020. Clinical Assistant Professor and President of the Pocatello Dietitians, Jenifer Reader, MEd, RDN, LD, was on hand as Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad declared March 11 Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day during a City Council Meeting.

Mar 5, 2020. Nutrition and Dietetics faculty, interns, and students educated the Pocatello community about nutrition at the ISU Health Fair.

Feb 11, 1010. Dr. Cynthia Blanton, RDN, presented the New Knowledge Adventures class, "Nutrition and the Older Adult."

Feb 1, 2020. Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon, MBA, RDN, LD, FAND, co-published, "Enhancing diversity in the nutrition and dietetics profession: The role of individuals with disabilities" in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and  Dietetics. 

Jan 25, 2020. Sports Dietitian Natalie Christensen, RDN, CSSD, LD, presented, "What Healthy Looks Like: Body Image and Nutrition" at the Assembly Learning & Event Center in Pocatello, ID.

Jan 15, 2020. The newly renovated Foods Lab officially opened, giving students in the nutrition and dietetics courses the opportunity to master equipment rivaling what they will later encounter in hospital kitchens and product development laboratories. 

Jan 1, 2020. Assistant Professor Barbara Gordon, MBA, RDN, co-published, "Medical Nutrition Therapy for Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome—Does One Size Fit All? A Narrative Review on Dietary Treatment for Adolescents and Young Adults in Topics in Clinical Nutrition.