Faculty & Staff

Barbara Lohse, PhD, RD, CDN

Head, Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition
Professor of Health Sciences
Director NEEDs Center

SLA (78)-A622
180 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
Phone:  585-475-4208   |  FAX:  585-475-2160  | Email: balihst@rit.edu

Barbara Lohse is a nutrition education engineer and Head of the Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition at RIT. Formerly the Principal Investigator of the Pennsylvania SNAP-Ed program and Research Professor at Penn State and currently a Professor of Health Sciences in the College of Health Science and Technology. Dr. Lohse has experience providing evidence-based, theory-driven nutrition education to low-income audiences in Pennsylvania and beyond. Dr. Lohse received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a Master of Science degree in food and nutrition from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a PhD in nutritional sciences and educational psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has experience as a clinical dietitian, dietetic internship director, Extension specialist in nutrition, nutrition instructor and researcher. She works with others to focus nutrition education on health and eating behaviors that are effective, yet feasible and sustainable and contribute to the vision of the Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition: Scholars, students, citizens “walk the talk” to secure health for all.

Curriculum Vitae

Elizabeth Ruder, PhD, MPH, RD

SLA (78) – 1693 180 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623-5603
Phone:   585-475-2402  |  FAX:   585-475-1260  | Email:ehrihst@rit.edu

Bill Brewer, MALS, CES

CBET (75-3161) 153 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623-5603
Phone:   585-475-2476   |  Email:wsbscl@rit.edu

Bill possesses a bachelor’s degree in Health Education from SUNY Cortland and a master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion earned through the SUNY Empire State College. He has worked in corporate, commercial and medical rehabilitative settings as a health promoter and fitness specialist. He is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Clinical Exercise Specialist.

As Director of Exercise Science at RIT Bill developed the Exercise Science Program to enhance the utilization of exercise as a therapeutic modality within our healthcare system as well as focus on the science of athletic conditioning. Areas of physiology that are of particular interest to Bill include cardiorespiratory adaptations, thermoregulation during physical activity and the most compelling of all, the role of adherence to regular exercise in the preservation of functional capacity.

The mission of his educational endeavors is to seek the synergistic point of convergence where activity, good nutrition, stress management, and values clarification create a wellness lifestyle that provides an optimal life experience.

Elizabeth Kmiecinski, Ph.D., MS, RD, CDN

SLA (78)-A624
180 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623-5603
Phone:   585-475-2357   |  Fax: 585-475-2160 |  Email:eakism@rit.edu

Liz Kmiecinski received a B.S. in Dietetics from the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH and an M.S. in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY. She completed a Dietetic Internship at the Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston WV. Currently, Liz is the program director and faculty advisor for the Dietetics and Nutrition program at RIT; teaching a variety of undergraduate courses including Medical Nutrition Therapy, Sports Nutrition, and Nutrition & the Mediterranean Diet which includes a faculty-led study abroad component to Croatia. She also volunteers with various community organizations including Meal-on Wheels, St. Joseph’s Food Pantry and St. Peter & Paul Soup Kitchen.

Brenda Ariba Zarhari Abu, Ph.D., MPhil, RDN, CDN

SLA (78)-A 624 180 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
Phone:   585-475-4516   |  Fax: 585-475-2160 |  Email:  baaihst@rit.edu

Dr. Abu is an Assistant Professor in the Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition at RIT. She was formerly a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition at RIT and a Post-doctoral Research Associate in the Nutritional Sciences Department at Texas Tech University. Dr. Abu received her PhD in Nutrition from the University of the Free Sate (South Africa), a Masters in Nutrition from the University of Ghana and a Bachelor of Science Degree (Honors) in Community Nutrition from the University for Development Studies (Ghana).

Dr. Abu has experience as a clinical dietician, lecturer and nutrition consultant. Her research interests include micronutrient deficiencies, food security, maternal and child nutrition, program/project design and impact assessment, and stakeholder engagement. She works with others using a multi-disciplinary approach, to addressing food and nutrition security among college students and senior citizens (USA). She is involved in research that is exploring the use of M-health education to improve nutrition among young mothers and their children in low-income communities in Rochester (USA). She is also involved with addressing anemia and iodine deficiency using sustainable food-based approaches while facilitating stakeholder engagement (Ghana).

Zachary Bevilacqua, Ph.D., ATC

CBT 3169
180 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
Email: zwbihst@rit.edu

Dr. Bevilacqua was born in Rochester, NY, where he obtained his Bachelors degree in Athletic Training, and subsequently practiced as an Athletic Trainer for 5 years. He moved on to the University at Buffalo, where he received his Masters in Exercise Science and began his inquiry into head trauma research. While pursuing his Doctorate at Indiana University, Zachary published and co-authored a collective nine concussion research publications. He also designed and taught the first-ever Neurotrauma course within the Indiana University Post-Professional Athletic Training Program. Currently, his research focuses on the safe re-integration of college students back to full academic participation following concussion; known as Return to Learn. Zachary joins the RIT Exercise Science faculty this year, and is thrilled to bring his unique expertise back to his hometown.

Jason Rich, EdD CMPC CSCS

CBT-1129
180 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
Phone: 585-475-2167  |  Email: jarexs@rit.edu

Kathryn Faulring, MPH, CHES

SLA (78)-A620 180 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623-5603
Phone:   585-475-6117  |  FAX:   585-475-1260  | Email: KZFIHST@rit.edu 

Molly Gavin, BS

Email:mehciar@rit.edu

Molly holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science. She currently works as a Certified Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor in the Wellness Instructional Program through Student Affairs at RIT.  Her fitness classes and personal training sessions are in high demand and represent the skills and abilities that will become part of our students’ repertoire of capacities.  The course she teaches, Group Exercise, is one of the most engaging and popular classes in the curriculum.  Her instruction builds a foundation of practical skills for an exercise based career.

Kristie O’Connor, MLA, RD

CBT-2181
180 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623-5603
Email:kloihst@rit.edu

Stacey Brown, BS

CBT-1119
180 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
Phone:   585-475-5320  | Email:sabihst@rit.edu

Hannah Puzio, BS

Email:hcdchst@rit.edu

Nicole Trabold, PhD, LMWS

Email:nxtihst@rit.edu

Mary Anne McQuay, RD

Email:mamfsa@rit.edu

Tami Best, MS, RDN, CDN

Email:tmbihst@rit.edu