Nutrition

Learn a little about me, review my student-focused active-teaching philosophy, and then select your class link for more information!

Welcome Team Nutrition!

I look forward to learning with you. I am Dr. Denise Calafato Russo, your professor for Nutrition. My students call me Denise, Dr. D, Dr. Denise, or Dr. Russo.

Our journey together will lead us down a path of "nutrition is a science." Together we will explore a variety of sciences that affect nutrition, including anatomy, physiology, chemistry, health, and behavior.

As you prepare for learning in our course, this site is a quick reference for what to expect and has answers to many of your Frequently Asked Questions. And, of course, if you have other questions, please email me through our Canvas Inbox or my college email address.

Eat well, play fit!

We will participate in our course using Canvas

You can find access to Canvas and Canvas Help on the college homepage

Meet Denise

I am a California native, born and raised in Silicon Valley, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and coastal Santa Cruz County. Like many of my students, I am a first-generation college learner who relied on financial aid and my income to complete college. My path to each degree was non-traditional, dropping out of school, changing majors, and then with gaps between degrees. My degrees are in managerial science (AS), nutrition (BS and MS), and education (EdD). I am also a Registered Dietitian. I have been a college educator since 1996 and teach in person and online (since the early 2000s). I have multiple jobs, a family (all three kids started at a community college), and keep busy with fitness teaching, coaching (Varsity Girls Flag Football, Junior High Flag Football and Running), dogs (Dudley, Buddy, and my daughter's corgi Karma), and hiking, running, or paddleboarding.

Teaching Philosophy

Your learning is the focus in the classes that I lead. Whether online or in-person, our "nutrition team" participates in engaged and active learning! In my classes, we are "breaking education" by implementing equitable learning and grading practices. Learners complete the assigned reading and are then asked to participate in real-world activities. We focus on social justice issues like food insecurity and health disparities. You complete case studies using the nutrition care process, design public health messages, create interviews or podcasts, prepare presentations, and may play the occasional Kahoot! Work that isn't complete is revised until learning is demonstrated in an "iterative" process..

This may be different than how you are used to participating, but end-of-semester reviews indicate a high level of student engagement throughout the course. In Fall 2023, course modification will include you creating an intentional plan for our preferred grade. On this journey, your teammates and I are here to provide support in our learning community. I am 100% committed to student success. If you are willing to work, you will meet your academic goal!

Student Feedback About The Iterative Process

"I love that she allows us to revise assignments and work for full points. She seems to really care about us learning rather than us getting a number or grade in the grade book. She allows us to revise work for full or close to full credit and she grades based on effort and information provide. I think that's such a helpful way of grading for students to get the most out of a class." (Summer, 2023)

Fall 2023 Feedback from All Classes