College of Nursing community engagement leader recognized for research excellence
The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) has named Carolyn Gunther, PhD, RDN, LD, who serves as senior associate dean for community engagement and associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, as part of its inaugural class of “Excellence in Nutrition” Fellows.
Gunther is the only representative from Ohio to join this inaugural class of 55 Fellows of ASN (FASN). ASN is recognizing “outstanding nutrition professionals” with a designation that “signifies their significant contributions to advancing nutrition science and practice and their dedication to the highest standards of the profession.”
The fellowship designation honors Gunther’s commitment to and contributions in research. She is a classically trained nutrition scientist who focuses her work on nutritionally vulnerable populations, especially obesity among underserved children and youth. Her research team investigates behavioral and environmental factors that influence a child’s risk for obesity, and findings from that work have direct implications on federal and state policy and reforms. Gunther has authored or co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles in this area and serves on the editorial board of the journals Childhood Obesity and Nutrition Reviews.
“Childhood obesity continues to plague communities in every corner of our society, and the goal of helping children live their best and healthiest lives drives my team and me every day,” Gunther said. “I’m so grateful to ASN for this recognition of the impact we have realized through our work. It will serve as additional motivation for us to continue this scientific pursuit and discover solutions that will benefit kids everywhere.”
Gunther and the other honorees will be featured at ASN’s NUTRITION 2025, its global annual meeting for nutrition professionals, in Orlando, Florida later this spring.
