Meet our Applied Human Nutrition faculty members
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Dr. Kyly Whitfield, PhD, Department Chair, Associate Professor
Research interests: Dr. Whitfield is passionate about international nutrition, with interests in identifying and combating micronutrient deficiencies during ‘the first thousand days’ window, from conception through 2 years. Read more about Dr. Kyly Whitfield
Dr. Patricia Williams, PhD, Professor
Research interests: Participatory research processes into social and policy change necessary to build food security. Read more about Dr. Patricia Williams
Dr. Bohdan Luhovyy, PhD, Professor
Research interests: Functional foods and food-derived bioactivities; mechanisms of adaptive responses to chronic dietary exposures, the role of food-born substances in physiologic and metabolic regulations. Read more about Dr. Bohdan Luhovyy
Dr. Phillip Joy, PhD, Associate Professor
phillip.joy@msvu.ca
Research interests: I am a registered dietitian with the Nova Scotia Regulator of Dietetics (NSRD). My research interests are driven from my own experiences as part of the LGBTQQIP2SAA community. A community that is often silenced through heteronormative social and cultural discourses. Read more about Dr. Philip Joy
Dr. Irene Ogada, PhD, Associate Professor
irene.ogada1@msvu.ca
Research interests: Maternal and Child Nutrition, Social Determinants of Health, Intersectionality in Nutrition and Health, Community Nutrition Programming. Read more about Dr. Irene Ogada
Jillian Ruhl, MScAHN, RD, Lab Instructor and Faculty Supervising Dietitian
jillian.ruhl@msvu.ca
As the Faculty Supervising Dietitian for the Internship Education Program, I serve as an educational liaison between dietetic interns and sponsors/preceptors at sponsoring organizations of our program. Read more about Jillian Ruhl
Dr. Meredith Bessey, PhD, RD Assistant Professor
Meredith.bessey@msvu.ca
Research interests: Women’s experiences of weight stigma/bias in healthcare; biomedical interventions into body weight; arts-based research; critical theory. Read more about Dr. Meredith Bessey
Dr. Safura Syed, RD, Assistant Professor
safura.syed1@msvu.ca
Research interests: Culturally inclusive menu planning in LTC; nutrition status, food intake, and mealtime experiences of older adults; access to culturally inclusive nutrition health care across continuum of care, scholarship of teaching and learning in dietetics education. Read More about Dr. Safura Syed
Staff
Megan Henderson, MSc., RD, Nutrition Support & Placement Advisor (Interim)
Megan.Henderson1@msvu.ca
902-457-6101
Megan is a Registered Dietitian with the Nova Scotia Regulator of Dietetics (NSRD). She is a proud graduate of MSVU’s BScAHN Dietetics with Internship Education Program (IEP), and has recently completed her MSc. AHN. Megan is thrilled to continue her journey at MSVU as Interim Nutrition Support and Practicum Advisor (NSPA).
As a Registered Dietitian and MSVU alum, Megan has a comprehensive perspective related to student life and dietetic practice. She is enthusiastic about supporting current and prospective students in developing the skills and confidence to successfully navigate their future career(s). She looks forward to taking on responsibilities like program evaluation and accreditation to ensure current and future students have access to top-tier learning and professional development opportunities, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Any questions related to the Internship Education Program can be directed to Megan at the email address above.
Caroline Anderson, MSc, RD, Nutrition Support & Placement Advisor (On Leave)
caroline.anderson2@msvu.ca
902-457-6101
Caroline completed both her BScAHN Dietetics and MScAHN with Internship Education Program (IEP) in the Department of Applied Human Nutrition. She is a Registered Dietitian with the Nova Scotia Regulator of Dietetics (NSRD).
Caroline has worked in the Department of Applied Human Nutrition since 2022 in the role of Nutrition Support and Placement Advisor. In 2026 she took on coordination of the IEP.
As the NSPA, Caroline maintains the curricula of our programs, coordinates program evaluation, accreditation, external review, and also coordinates experiential learning for our programs.
As a graduate of both the BScAHN Dietetics and MScAHN with IEP, Caroline has a first-hand perspective on the experiences of students in our programs. This perspective allows her to better understand the needs of our current students when working to place them on internships, and also in program evaluation and curriculum maintenance efforts.
Any questions related to the Internship Education Program can be directed to Caroline at the email address above.
Erin McDonald, Administrative Assistant 
Erin has worked in the field of settlement language in a number of capacities and has worked as an educational administrator for many years. She can help answer your questions and supports the work of the department in a variety of ways.
Dr. Daphne Lordly, DEd, Professor Emerita
Linda Mann, Professor Emerita
Dr. Priya Kathirvel, PhD, Adjunct Professor
Dr. Sukhinder Cheema, PhD, Adjunct Professor