Rena Mendelson

Rena Mendelson is a full-time Professor in the School of Nutrition at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she has taught for over 30 years. Her courses include Nutrition and Metabolism, Communications, and a senior seminar on energy balance. She has held leadership roles, including Director of the School of Nutrition, Associate Vice President Academic, and the first Dean of Graduate Studies. Currently, she serves as Nutrition Section Head for the Canadian Obesity Network.

Education:

• MSc
• DSc
• RD (Registered Dietitian)

Research Interests: Food marketing dynamics in Canada, childhood obesity interventions, and nutrition policy. She led the Ontario Food Survey as Principal Investigator and is researching the Canadian landscape of nutrition marketing in foods. Her work emphasizes evidence-based strategies to address public health nutrition challenges.

Awards and Honours:

• Yeates Graduate School Award, 2012
• President’s Teaching Award, 2009
• 2008 Faculty Teaching Award for President's Award for Teaching Excellence
• Inaugural Maurice Yeates Graduate School Outstanding Contribution to Graduate Education Award

Labs/Teams: Leads the Nutrition Section at the Canadian Obesity Network, collaborating on national initiatives to combat obesity through nutrition strategies.