Faculty
Rayane AbuSabha
Rayane AbuSabha, PhD, RD, Assistant Professor, Didactic Program in Dietetics Director, MS Program Director, received her bachelor's degree in food technology and nutrition from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, and her masters and doctoral degrees in nutrition from The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania. She completed her dietetics internship at Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA. Her postdoctoral work was in program evaluation and nutrition education and behavior.
Before joining Sage, Rayane was the Executive Director of the Health Research Science Board at the New York State Department of Health working in the area of breast cancer research. She also served as a Social Science Research Analyst at the Office of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation, Food and Nutrition Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture where she worked on an evaluation of the WIC and Medicaid Programs.
Dr. AbuSabha has been involved in a variety of research projects including studying the dietary patterns of older adults, evaluating distance learning media, and applying and evaluating facilitated nutrition education in WIC clinics. Rayane taught nutrition at Penn State for over a decade and provided instruction using traditional and distance-learning formats. She is widely published in the areas of nutrition education and community nutrition. Dr. AbuSabha has authored articles in many journals including the Journal of The American Dietetic Association, the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Health Education and Behavior, and Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences. She teaches Principles of Nutrition SCI 120, Special Topics in Nutrition NTR 448, Community Nutrition NTR 348 and Nutrition Programs and Interventions NTR 561.
Melodie Bell-Cavallino
Melodie Bell-Cavallino, MS, RD, FADA, CDN, Associate Professor/Dietetic Internship Director has worked with the Sage Graduate School Dietetic Internship since July, 1990, with the program's beginning. She received a BS degree in General Dietetics from Rochester Institute of Technology and a MS degree in Health Education from Sage Graduate School (SGS). Ms. Bell-Cavallino has also achieved an advanced credential as a Fellow of The American Dietetic Association.
Prior to coming to SGS, Professor Bell-Cavallino worked for the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Long Term Care Services where she participated in the regulation and monitoring of quality of care in nursing homes. Ms. Bell-Cavallino's area of practice has focused primarily with the elderly and nursing home care. She has also consulted with a variety of organizations from the Association for Retarded Citizens, a major pharmaceutical company, and Head Start Programs to fitness centers. Additionally, Professor Bell-Cavallino has assisted WTEN-Channel 10 and WNYT - Channel 13 news and health reporters with nutrition news segments and acted as an expert resource for nutrition related stories.
During a sabbatical leave for the 2002-03 academic years, Professor Bell-Cavallino worked with Dr. Sharon Alger at Albany Medical College on the Lifestyle Challenge Program. This is a 20-week weight management program that focuses on developing healthy lifestyle habits.
Professional activities have been a priority also. Professor Bell-Cavallino has held several positions on the Boards of the Hudson Valley Dietetic Association and the New York State Dietetic Association. Ms. Bell-Cavallino was a delegate for the New York State Dietetic Association to The American Dietetic Association's House of Delegates. From 1997-99, Melodie served on the Association Membership Committee of the ADA, and during the 1998-99 year was the chair of this national committee. Outside of work, Professor Bell-Cavallino enjoys spending leisure time with her husband and daughter, Madeleine, near their country home in the Catskills. bellcm@sage.edu
Eileen FitzPatrick
Eileen FitzPatrick, MPH, RD, Nutrition Faculty. Ms. FitzPatrick earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Tufts University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Russell Sage College. She received a Masters of Public Health from the School of Public Health, University at Albany. Her previous work experience includes seven years of biochemical research at the Wadsworth Center for Labs and Research, New York State Department of Health. In addition, while pursuing the MPH she was employed at the Division of Nutrition, New York State Department of Health, to study participant retention in the New York State WIC program. Ms. FitzPatrick is co-author of numerous scientific publications and has presented original research at professional meetings including the New York State WIC Association, the New York State Dietetics Association and the American Public Health Association. She is currently working toward her doctorate in Public Health at the School of Public Health at the University of Albany. Eileen teachers Advanced Food Science NTR 402, Nutrition Seminar NTR 602 and Functional Foods NTR 572. fitzpe@sage.edu
Nina Piccini Marinello
Nina Piccini Marinello, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor, BS Program Coordinator, received her doctoral degree in molecular biology from SUNY Buffalo and Roswell Park Cancer Institute. She was a research scientist at the New York State Department of Health where she worked on recombinant vaccine development. During the early 1990's she attended Russell Sage College and received a degree in nutrition. She combines her knowledge of nutrition with her molecular biology expertise to present lectures on nutrigenomics and food biotechnology. Dr. Marinello teaches nutrition courses in both the undergraduate and masters programs. She is a Development Consultant for the Genomics Institute, which is a collaboration between the NYS Department of Health and Albany Medical Center. Dr. Marinello teaches Intro to Food Science NTR 211, Advanced Nutrition NTR 311, Weight Management NTR 562 and Nutrigenomics NTR 572. Dr. Marinello is a columnist for The Times Union answering nutrition and wellness questions in a bi-weekly Healthy Professor column.
marina1@sage.edu
Stephanie DiBacco
Stephanie DiBacco, MBA, RD, CDN, Adjunct Faculty, earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Nutrition and Foods from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, as well as a Master's in Business Administration from The College of Saint Rose. She has over 8 years experience in health related food and nutrition management. Stephanie is the General Manager of ARAMARK at Albany Medical Center where she plans, directs and controls three ARAMARK food service operations. Stephanie also has experience working as a Clinical Dietitian at Albany Medical center. Stephanie DiBacco is responsible for teaching Diet and Disease NTR 517/417.
William W. Schaefer
William W. Schaefer, BPS, Adjunct Faculty, earned his degree in Health Administration from SUNY - Empire State College. Bill has 25 years of experience in health related food and nutrition management, including senior dinning, meals on wheels, nursing homes, developmental centers and currently psychiatric centers. Bill is the Director of Bureau Nutrition Services for the NYS Office of Mental Health which has 26 JCAHO accredited hospitals and a central Cook Chill Production Center. Bill has an extensive background in food service design and construction, staffing, budgeting and implementation of automated nutrition management systems. Bill is responsible for teaching NTR 313, Food Service Systems Management.
Mo Schifley
As a General Manager of multiple campuses for Sodexho Campus Services, Ms. Schifley current oversees all food service operations at The Sage Colleges-Troy and Albany, Albany College of Pharmacy, and Camp Emerson in Massachusetts. In addition, Ms. Schifley is the Sodexho District Human Resource Coordinator, assisting with recruiting and training. Mo Schifley brings over 16 years of Food Service Management and Culinary Arts Training experience to the classroom. After graduating from Wells College with a BA in Economics, Ms. Schifley went on to pursue Graduate Certification in Applied Human Resources and Labor Relations from The Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations, followed by an MBA from The College of St. Rose. Ms. Schifley aspires to a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior. She teaches NTR 314 Quantity Food Production.
Pat Severson-Wager
Pat Severson-Wager, MS, RD, CDN, CDE, Adjunct Faculty received her BA degree in Education and Dietetics from St. Joseph College, West Hartford Connecticut and a MS degree in Health Education from Sage Graduate School.
Ms. Severson-Wager's area of expertise is diabetes education. She developed a local community diabetes education program serving patients with Type I, II and Gestational Diabetes. At this time, she wrote a teaching manual for patients and teachers and conducted outcome based research on patients with gestational diabetes. Ms. Severson-Wager was the Director of the Nutrition Care Technician Program at Maria College and a nutrition tutor for Empire State College. She has also been a WIC dietitian, dietitian at the Albany Visiting Nurses, a Reservist in the Army, and a pediatric dietitian in the department of endocrinology serving patients with inborn errors of metabolism.
Ms. Severson-Wager served as President, Secretary and Treasurer for the Hudson Valley Dietetic Association. She has also held many board appointments. She was selected Recognized Young Dietitian by the New York State Dietetic Association. She also served on the nominating committee and was newsletter editor for the New York State Dietetic Association. For a number of years, Ms. Severson-Wager was a local guest for area radio talk shows discussing current nutrition topics. She teaches Medical Nutrition Therapy NTR 404 and Pediatrics Nutrition NTR 549.
Laura Spanbauer
Laura Spanbauer, MS, RD, CDN received a BS in Human Nutrition from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and MS in Health Education at Russell Sage College. She currently works as a consulting dietitian for pregnant teens, foster children and developmentally disabled adults. In addition to teaching for Russell Sage College, she also teaches for Empire State College's Distance Learning Program. During her career she has worked as a clinical dietitian for Albany Medical Center and Ellis Hospital's Diabetes Center. Her community nutrition experience was fostered at the Regional Food Bank where she was the nutritionist, working with Emergency Food Relief Organizations (EFROS) and the NYS DOH Hunger and Prevention Nutrition Program (HPNAP). After completing her Masters degree, she worked with the USDA as a nutrition educator for the Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables Program. This community based program serves to educate low income individuals about the importance of fruits and vegetables in the diet. She is co-author of the Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables Handbook.
Ms. Spanbauer has held several committee positions for the Hudson Valley Dietetic Association, including: President, Newsletter Chair and Nominating Chair. She has also served on the Food Bank NYS DOH grant committee and Schenectady Inner City Mission food pantry coalition. In 2000, she was awarded Young Dietitian of the Year by the New York State Dietetic Association. Ms. Spanbauer teaches Nutrition Science, SCI 120. Laura.spanbauer@verizon.net
