Hollie Raynor, PhD, RD, LDN
Executive Associate Dean of Research and Operations
Hollie Raynor is the Director of the Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory. She has training in the fields of nutrition and clinical psychology. She received her master’s degree in Public Health Nutrition from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University at Buffalo, and completed her pre-doctoral internship and her post-doctoral fellowship, both with an emphasis in obesity research, at Brown Medical School. Following her fellowship she was promoted to an assistant professor of research in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown Medical School and was based in the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center . She joined the Department of Nutrition at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as an assistant professor in 2007. She also has an adjunct appointment in the psychology department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is currently a full professor and the Executive Associate Dean of Research and Operations for the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles, and has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, American Diabetes Association, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation for her research. She served as a member of the National Committee for Clinical Guidelines for Obesity for the American Psychological Association and as a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Prediabetes and Adult Obesity Treatment Evidence Analysis Library Committee. She is currently a member of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Her research interests are on identifying best methods to implement behavioral dietary factors that improve outcomes in obesity treatment (i.e., limiting variety, reducing energy density, shifting distribution of energy intake earlier in the day), and translating lifestyle intervention into practice-based settings (i.e., integrated primary care).
HEAL Research Team
Chelsi C. Cardoso
Chelsi Cardoso is the research associate of the Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory. She completed her bachelor’s of science in nutrition, as well as her master’s of science in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In addition, Chelsi is a registered dietitian and a certified diabetes educator. She has extensive experience in implementing behaviorally-intensive nutrition counseling, for both weight and diabetes management. In the past, Chelsi has been an adjunct lecturer teaching Nutrition Counseling at the undergraduate level in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Currently, she is managing a National Institutes of Health grant, which is a family-based, multi-component, behaviorally-intensive treatment program for childhood overweight and obesity. Her research interests include weight loss, weight loss maintenance, and obesity prevention in both children and adults.
Lauren Griffiths
Lauren Griffiths is a graduate research assistant in the Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory. She received her master’s of public health in Behavioral & Community Health Science at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) in 2015. After graduation, she worked as a research associate at the LSUHSC School of Public Health where she coordinated a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study investigating the social and molecular determinants of obesity in youth. In 2017, Lauren joined the LSUHSC Human Development Center where she designed, implemented, and evaluated a number of nutrition- and health-related programs. She was also a core faculty member for the Louisiana Leadership Education in Neuro-developmental and Related Disabilities (LA LEND) training program funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau from 2017-2019. Lauren is currently pursuing a PhD in community nutrition at the University of Tennessee.
Emilie Holloway
Emilie Holloway is a graduate research assistant in the Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory. She received a bachelor’s degree in human biology from North Carolina State University. Then, she attended Meredith College, obtaining her master’s in nutrition with a concentration in clinical dietetics. After completing her master’s, Emilie completed her dietetic internship to become a registered dietitian. Emilie’s research interests are focused on maternal and child health, specifically exploring the impact of infant feeding (breastfeeding, formula feeding, and solid food introduction) on health outcomes among families with lower socioeconomic status. In her free time, Emilie enjoys hiking, spending time with her family and friends, and cheering on her favorite sports teams!
Iyanuoluwa Oyetunji
Iyanuoluwa Oyetunji is a research assistant in the Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory. He has been involved in research evaluating the interaction of diet and lifestyle with the risks of non-communicable diseases, especially obesity and hypertension. He holds an MSc in Nutrition from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He also earned a BSc (Hons), and a Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics, both from Nigeria. Previously, Iyanuoluwa worked as a clinical nutritionist and research associate in Nigeria. In his free time, he enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and hiking. After his Ph.D., Iyanuoluwa intends to dedicate his future research and teaching to the modification of diet and lifestyle to address the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.
Rosemary Hamsley
Rosemary Hamsley is a graduate research assistant in the Healthy Eating and Activity Laboratory. She received her master’s in exercise science from Tennessee Technological University. Throughout her studies and work experience, she has been amazed at the impact that physical activity and proper nutrition could have on the body. Rosemary decided to pivot slightly from exercise and continue her studies in nutrition science as a PhD student. Her research interests include how life experiences influence eating behaviors and how interventions can be designed with this idea as a guide.