Profile
Dr. Khursheed Navder is the Inaugural Acting Dean for the newly reconfigured School of Health Professions at Hunter College, which comprises the Departments of Nutrition and Public Health, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. With more than 35 years of experience at Hunter, she brings a strong record of academic and administrative accomplishments and a wealth of expertise and vision to this position.
Dr. Navder has successfully collaborated with faculty, staff, students, and senior administrators in serving as the chair and directing the School of Urban Public Health for the past 10 years, earning recognition for creating and directing unique, dynamic programs, some of which are the firsts within CUNY. She has also been involved in leadership activities at the national level within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and has served as the president of the Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors group, and as a commissioner on the Commission on Dietetic Registration. She has more than 25 years of experience directing ACEND accredited programs and has led three successful self-studies and site visits, and has taught extensively at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Dr. Navder received her PhD in Nutrition and Food Science from Kansas State University and joined Hunter in 1988 as an Assistant Professor. Her research interests have involved studying the effects of various food components on biochemical and metabolic regulations of lipid and alcohol metabolism. She has also looked at ethnic differences in fat distribution patterns in children and neonates, and has examined the effect of maternal diet and obesity on fetal growth and offspring adiposity. She encourages active student involvement on research projects and has built a strong research foundation for students she mentors.
As the Dean of the School of Health Professions with its focus on strong evidence-based clinical programs, she is also committed to emphasizing prevention, wellness and public health measures that contribute to a healthier society. With the anticipated move of the School of Health Professions to the new Brookdale SPARC campus, she looks forward to greater community engagement, and innovative interdisciplinary research and scholarship opportunities.