Nikolai honored with Excellence in Teaching – New Teacher Award

Sierra Jezuit<jezuitsi@msu.edu> -

Michele Nikolai to receive the 2024 CANR Excellence in Teaching – New Teacher Award

A headshot image of Michele Nikolai

Michele Nikolai, of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, will receive the 2024 CANR Excellence in Teaching – New Teacher Award on May 2.

The CANR Excellence in Teaching – New Teacher Award recognizes individuals with less than five years of teaching experience who have demonstrated a commitment to quality scholarship of teaching and learning with demonstrated success in these areas.

A proud Spartan alum, Michele Nikolai joined the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition in 2020, following an accomplished career in healthcare and management. A registered dietitian nutritionist, Nikolai is experienced in clinical nutrition management, dietetics and nutrition informatics. She actively utilizes such expertise while instructing courses focused on medical nutrition therapy and business of nutrition services.

Nikolai’s teaching philosophy aims to increase student engagement while promoting a sense of community and social presence in the classroom. Nikolai has notably focused efforts on increasing student engagement and interprofessional opportunities through multi-modal instruction and an inclusive learning environment. She aims to integrate a balance between individual experimentation and collaborative group work, with additional emphasis on incorporating real life experiences to reinforce course concepts. Her development and restructuring of courses to increase use of simulation technologies works to better prepare students for real-life work environments.

Outside of the classroom, Nikolai serves on the dietetics curriculum, student admissions and scholarship committees. Additionally, she serves as the Girl Scout program advisor for the student Food and Nutrition Association, which works to provide culinary nutrition and science badge workshops to youth.

 

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