Nutrition and Foods Program

John is a full-time senior lecturer in Foods and Nutrition for the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management. Prior to teaching full-time at Appalachian State University John spent 10 years as the School Nutrition Services Supervisor and Dietitian for Union County Public Schools. While at UCPS, John was the preceptor for Winthrop University undergraduate and graduate nutrition internship students. John is a first-generation college graduate and has been a Registered Dietitian since 2006.

Ms. Lynn Van Ess joined the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management in 2012. Prior to coming to Appalachian State, Ms. Van Ess lived in North Jersey and worked as a music educator, a business co-owner, and an administrative assistant. Outside of work, she was active as a church musician and as a member of a feline rescue organization. Ms. Van Ess currently enjoys time spent with family and her cats.

Dr. Margaret Barth is Professor and Chair of Nutrition and Health Care Management at Appalachian State University. Dr. Barth received her PhD in Nutrition and Food Science from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; MPH from University of Illinois at Chicago; MBA from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University; and B.S. in Nutrition and Medical Dietetics from The University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Barth served on the faculty at University of Kentucky as Associate Professor in Food Science and Nutrition and AP4 Program director. Her research program focused on evaluating emerging technologies on nutritional and microbial characteristics of highly perishable foods.

Dr. Thompson is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and a Board Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC). Before she began teaching in the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management at Appalachian State University (ASU), she worked in a critical access hospital. Her clinical experiences provided an impetus for her interest in rural health care, particularly in the way that issues associated with rurality impact rural patients.

Paul Moore started teaching at App State as an adjunct in the Health, Leisure and Exercise Science Department in 2003 and full time for the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management in fall 2014.  Prior to this he worked at a medical fitness facility for 14 years.  He has been recognized as the 2015 Excellence in Weight Management Practice award winner, the 2013-2014 Today’s Dietitian Magazine’s Top 10 RD’s in the US Making a Difference, the 2012-2013 NCDA Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year, the 2011-2012 NCDA Outstanding Dietitian of the Year and the 2009-2010 NSCA State Director of the Year. Paul completed his PhD in Leadership Studies at North Carolina A&T State University. Outside of work he is a competitive racquetball player and loves spending time with his children.

Education

• PhD University of Tennessee
• MS University of Alabama
• BS University of Mississippi

Professional Affiliations / Organizations

• American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Council of Administrators of Family and Consumer Sciences

Dr. Gutschall is a Professor in Nutrition and Foods and Director of Graduate Programs in Nutrition at Appalachian State University. She has taught nutrition for 15 years at the undergraduate and graduate levels, served as the Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics for 5 years, published a companion textbook for use with the introductory nutrition course, and serves as a Faculty Internship Coordinator for senior dietetics students. Dr. Gutschall received the 2012 Inaugural College of Health Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award, the 2016 Beaver College of Health Sciences Research Award, and the 2020 Cratis D. Williams Graduate School 100 Scholars Award. She was selected as the Outstanding Dietetics Educator for 2014 by the North Carolina Dietetics Association, for the Chancellor’s Inaugural Class of the Academic Leadership Development Program in 2015, and for the UNC-BRIDGES Academic Leadership Program for Women in 2021. Dr. Gutschall has been a registered dietitian for 20 years, and she continues to practice clinically on an interdisciplinary team providing care for children with special needs in the Appalachian Region. She has served with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Library and Simulation Task Force, and currently serves on the NCAND board; she has earned the status of Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her current research agenda is aimed at using her experience to bridge the gap between food insecurity and chronic illness in the rural population of Watauga County through a community-centered health initiative funded by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of NC, in collaboration with the Hunger and Health Coalition and Appalachian Regional Healthcare System.

Melissa is a full-time senior lecturer in Foods and Nutrition for the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management. Prior to working full-time at the university, Melissa spent five years as a clinical dietitian at UNC Health Appalachian while also teaching adjunct. While at the health system, Melissa was the undergraduate and graduate preceptor for App State nutrition students. She has been a Registered Dietitian since 1999 and was a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) from 2010-2015. Melissa's interests are in the areas of eating disorders, sports nutrition and nutrition support. Outside of work, she likes to spend time with her family, travel and exercise.