Stella L. Volpe

Stella L. Volpe is a Professor and Department Head of the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech. She holds a PhD in Human Nutrition from Virginia Tech (1991) and has held academic roles at universities including Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Massachusetts. Her research focuses on obesity and diabetes prevention through nutrition and exercise interventions, mineral supplementation, and environmental changes to promote healthy behaviors. She also studies athletes, from recreational to professional levels, examining nutrition and performance.

Dr. Volpe has extensive administrative experience, including leadership roles such as Chairperson of the Department of Nutrition Sciences at Drexel University (2011–2020) and the Miriam Stirl Term Endowed Chair in Nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania (2004–2009). She has affiliations with international institutions, including the Universita’ degli Studi di Roma, Tor Vergata in Italy, where she contributes to doctoral and fellowship programs.

Her awards include the Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutritionists’ Distinguished Scholar Award (2017), the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Outstanding Dietetic Educator Award (2017), and honorary recognitions like CELAFISCS membership (2019). She has also represented the U.S. on field hockey teams in international competitions, including the 2022 World Cup.

Her research spans nutrition education efficacy, magnesium’s role in diabetes prevention, and athlete performance optimization. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and regularly presents at international conferences, emphasizing translational research and public health interventions. Her work integrates exercise physiology with nutritional strategies to address chronic diseases and enhance athletic outcomes.