As an associate professor and chairperson of the Department of Nutrition Science and Dietetics, Dr. Bruening’s recent research interests are in the prevention of, and intervention for, child overweight and obesity. She collaborates with the SUNY Upstate Medical University Department of Pediatrics to offer a group education program for overweight youth and their families and serves as a consultant to the NYS Department of Health Child & Adult Care Food Program for their obesity prevention initiatives. She also consults for a longitudinal study on bone density, skeletal, and pubertal development in girls with an interdisciplinary group from SUNY Upstate and SU’s Department of Exercise Science. Prior to joining the SU faculty, Dr. Bruening studied diet, nutrition and immunity as part of an interdisciplinary research team at a medical university. She has also published and presented in the area of dietetics education.
Dr. Bruening serves as a program reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education and was a Program Representative from 2006 to 2008. She has served as an item writer, item reviewer, and on the Item Reclassification Panel for the Commission on Dietetic Registration examination for registered dietitians. She is a member of five dietetic practice groups of the American Dietetic Association.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
Doctor of Philosophy, Clinical Nutrition, New York University (1998)
Master of Arts, Nutrition, Syracuse University (1980)
Bachelor of Science, Biology, St. Lawrence University (1979)
AFFILIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
American Dietetic Association & Committees (1980-present): Dietetic Practice Groups: Diabetes Care and Education; Dietetic Educators of Practitioners; Pediatric Nutritionists; Dietitians in Nutrition Support; Hunger and Environmental Nutrition; Weight Management
Commission on Dietetic Registration Item Reclassification Panel (November 11-13, 2005 & February 24-25, 2007) Chicago, IL
Program Representative/Commissioner Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education, Chicago, IL
Representative-elect, (July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006; July 2006-July 2008)
Panel of Site Visitors/ Program Reviewers Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education, Chicago, IL, (July 2002-July 2005 and July 2008-present)
Item Review Panel, Registration Examination for Dietitians Commission on Dietetic Registration,
Chicago, IL (March 2003)
Accreditation Standards Committee Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education, Chicago, IL
(February 2001-December 2001)
Item Writing Panel, Registration Examination for Dietitians Commission on Dietetic Registration, Chicago, IL (November 2001)
New York State Dietetic Association (1998-present)
Central New York Dietetic Association (1999-present)
New Jersey Dietetic Association (NJDA) (1984-1997)
NJDA Tellers Committee (1996)
NJDA Newsletter Editor (1997)
Greater New York Dietetic Association
Nominating Committee (1990-1991)