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Background

Valerie Perkoski is an assistant professor in the Health and Wellness Studies Division at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Her academic and professional background spans nutrition and dietetics, human performance, fitness education and integrative wellness approaches that support whole-person health.

A registered dietitian with two decades of experience, she has served in diverse clinical, administrative and academic roles, including as a clinician, program director, state reviewer, implementation specialist and educator. 

Perkoski is a member of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and a former Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) fellow at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center. Her work reflects a strong commitment to accessibility and interdisciplinary collaboration in both teaching and service.

Education

• PhD, health sciences, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
• MS, human performance and fitness, Trevecca Nazarene University
• MS, acupuncture, Northeast College of Health Sciences
• BS, nutrition and dietetics, Marywood University

Research Interests

• Adapted approaches to nutrition and physical fitness for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Health and wellness of caregivers across the lifespan
• Curriculum design for health sciences and wellness education
• Aging, disability and systems-level support for lifelong health
• Nutritional strategies to support recovery from substance use disorders

Teaching Interests

• Nutrition for disease prevention
• Physical activity and functional fitness
• Aging and lifelong wellness
• Implementation science in health education
• Qualitative methodologies