Faculty & Staff
Barbara Lohse, PhD, RD, CDN
Head, Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition
Professor of Health Sciences
Director NEEDs Center
Phone: 585-475-4208 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.
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.
Christopher Alterio, Dr.OT, OTR/L, brings over three decades of expertise in occupational therapy to his role as Program Director for the Occupational Therapy Doctoral program. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY at Buffalo in 1987, followed by a post-professional occupational therapy doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in 2007.
Prior to his current position, Dr. Alterio served as Dean of Health and Human Services and Professor of Occupational Therapy at Keuka College. He also established and owns ABC Therapeutics, a private practice specializing in pediatric occupational therapy and physical therapy in the western NY region.
Dr. Alterio is deeply committed to advancing the field of occupational therapy. He volunteers his time and expertise to organizations such as the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, where he contributes to occupational therapy competency and credentialing efforts. Additionally, he serves on the Foresight Committee of the American Occupational Therapy Association and is a member of the Monroe County Early Intervention Coordinating Council.
Outside of his professional commitments, Dr. Alterio remains actively engaged in his local community. He resides in Akron, NY, with his wife Caroline, and enjoys spending quality time with family.
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).
Marcia Shea, OTD, OTR/L
Marcia Shea, OTD, OTR/L is the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program. She earned an Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy and a Bachelor of Science in Health Services from the University of Southern Indiana, followed by an Occupational Therapy Doctorate from the University of Toledo.
Dr. Shea has prior academia experience with fieldwork coordinating and a strong clinical background in adult physical rehabilitation, working in acute care, acute rehab, skilled nursing facilities, and home health care. In addition, she has a certificate in gerontology and a passion for working with older adults.
Dr. Shea’s research interests include aging in place, fall prevention, and OT in hospice care. She looks forward to all the collaborative opportunities at RIT with the integration of technology and healthcare. On a personal note, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, traveling, and cooking.
Van Lew, PhD, MS, OTR/L
Stephen Van Lew, PhD, MS, OTR/L is the Capstone Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program and holds the rank of Assistant Professor. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Keuka College in 1993, a Masters of Science Degree in Movement Sciences from Seton Hall University in 2010, and a PhD in health sciences from Seton Hall University in 2019.
Prior to recently to joining RIT he was the Director of Occupational Therapy at NYU Langone and held this position for 23 years. He has co-authored numerous manuscripts in the field of occupational therapy and neurorehabilitation along with presenting national and internationally. He is currently working on an AOTA press manual for an assessment that he co-developed called the Functional Upper Extremity Level, (FUEL). Dr. Van Lew is especially interested in continuing his research agenda in the field of post-concussion management and neurorehabilitation.
Dr. Van Lew believes in the powerful synergy between academia and clinical practice. Highlighting this is his long-standing volunteer appointment as a Chair Roster Accreditation Evaluator for the Accreditation Council on Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). He has held this position for over 13 years in which he has engaged in the accreditation survey of over 25 academic programs.
Nicole Trabold, PhD, LMWS
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.