Kelly Whitehair

Kelly Whitehair is a Teaching Assistant Professor, Program Chair of the Dietetics Program, and Director of the Dietetic Internship in the School of Health Sciences. With more than two decades of professional experience prior to transitioning to full-time academia, her background bridges applied management and higher education. Her professional background includes extensive experience in foodservice operations, recipe and menu development, culinary training, nutrition analysis, and sustainability-focused initiatives. While her past scholarly and professional involvement has aligned with areas such as edible food waste reduction and food safety, her current work emphasizes applied teaching and program leadership grounded in real-world experience. She teaches food production and management-focused courses and integrates practical, systems-based perspectives into student learning.