Christen Cooper

Christen Cooper is an Associate Professor and the Founding Director of the Coordinated Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics program at Pace University’s College of Health Professions. She is based in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the Westchester campus. Dr. Cooper is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with extensive experience in nutrition education, child nutrition, and food equity.

• EdD in Nutrition Education, Teachers College, Columbia University (2017)
• MS in Nutrition Education, Teachers College, Columbia University (2006)
• BA in History and Political Science, Wellesley College (1995)

Dr. Cooper’s research focuses on child overweight and obesity, preschool nutrition, food practices in low-income and immigrant families, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, parental feeding styles, nutrition and human trafficking, and the future of food. Her work bridges clinical nutrition, public health, and education. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and popular media, addressing topics such as 3-D food printing, probiotics, plant-based diets, and interprofessional education.

Her recent publications reflect a strong trend in digital food innovation, behavioral nutrition, and health equity. She has explored the role of technology in cooking, the psychological aspects of feeding, and systemic inequalities in food access. Her work emphasizes practical, real-world applications of nutrition science.

• Outstanding Nutrition Educator of the Year Award, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2024)
• Writing Enhanced Course Faculty Award, Pace University (2019)

Dr. Cooper has received research funding, including a grant for travel to the Society of Nutrition Education and Behavior Conference (2023). She has advised numerous students through various educational roles and founded her own nutrition consulting firm. She is actively involved in professional service, including roles on the Pace University Faculty Council, Board of Trustees, and multiple wellness committees. She is a founding board member of the Foundation for Healthy Schools and serves on advisory boards such as Super Kids Nutrition.

She is a key leader in the Nutrition and Dietetics Teaching Kitchen at Pace University, which is part of the prestigious Teaching Kitchen Collaborative. This initiative promotes culinary nutrition education, food as medicine, and community engagement through hands-on learning in the state-of-the-art Zwilling Cooking Studio.