Faculty

Pamela Sullivan, Interim Chair

 Pamela Sullivan, MSN, RN, FNP, Interim Chair                                                                                    

HSHW, Room 2.226A, Telephone:(956)665-5264, Email: psullivan@utpa.edu

Dr. Bahram (Bob) Faraji, Coordinator, Professor

Bahram Faraji, Dr. PH, RD, LD, Coordinator, and Professor
HSHW, Room 1.102B, Telephone: (956) 665-3221
Email: bfaraji@utpa.edu

Bahram Faraji is Coordinator and Professor of Dietetics and Nutrition in the Coordinated Program in Dietetics in the College of Health Sciences and Human Services at The University of Texas-Pan American. He obtained his Doctor of Public Health degree in Nutritional Science from UCLA and did two years of post-doctoral fellowship in the same institution. He taught at three California State University System campuses, including California State University-Los Angeles, before coming to UTPA in 1995. He is also a Registered and Licensed Dietitian.

Dr. Faraji's research interests include nutritional assessment, zinc nutrition, as well as other trace elements such as selenium, iron, and chromium. His ongoing research projects include nutritional assessment of children and adults in the Rio Grande Valley area, and relationship between dietary intake and breast milk content of trace elements in WIC women. He has published in the areas of zinc bioavailability, zinc supplementation, selenium dietary intake and assessment, and nutritional assessment.

Dr. Alexander Edionwe, Associate Professor

Alexander Edionwe, Associate Professor
HSHW, Room 2.308, Telephone: (956) 665-2294
Email: aedionwe@utpa.edu

Alexander O. Edionwe is an Associate Professor and was the Coordinator of the Dietetics Program in the College of Health Sciences and Human Services at The University of Texas-Pan American (1994-1996). He obtained his Ph.D. in Human Nutrition and Foodservice Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He came to UTPA in 1994.

In his first academic position, Dr. Edionwe was appointed as Assistant Professor at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John University in Saint Joseph, Minnesota.

He has published in the areas of lipids metabolism in Human, Digestibility in ruminants and sensory acceptability of fried foods. Dr. Edionwe's current research involves investigation of some dietary supplements on weight reduction in humans.

Ms. Norma Beardwood, Clinical Assistant Professor

Norma Beardwood, MBA, M.Ed., LPC, RD, LD, CEDS, Clinical Assistant Professor
HSHW Room 2.30_, Telephone:  (956) 665-3524
Email: nyekundu@aol.com

Norma L. Beardwood-Roper is a Clinical Assistant Professor of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics in the College of Health Sciences and Human Services at the University of Texas-Pan American.  She obtained her MBA ('08) and M.Ed ('97) at UTPA.  In addition, her BS in dietetics ('83) was obtained from a CP-Dietetics at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Ms. Beardwood's interests include critical care and mental health nutrition.  She has obtained a sub-specialty (CEDS) as a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist from the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.   She has a strong background in counseling skills.

This is her second academic position, she has also taught, at a local two year college, a food service supervisors course.

Some interesting facts include that she was born and raised in Rhode Island and has strong ties to Bermuda.  She lived in Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon Mexico for two years in 1983 to 1985.  She is able to converse in Spanish.

Jameela Banu, Assistant Professor in Coordinated Program in Dietetics

Jameela Banu, Dr. Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Coordinated Program in Dietetics, COHSHS and Department of Biology, COSM. HSHW Room 1.102C, Telephone (956)-665-3222.
Email: banuj@utpa.edu

Dr. Jameela Banu is an Assistant Professor in the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. She also has a joint appointment in the Department of Biology, COSM. She got her Ph.D. from University of Madras, India and got her post-doctoral training in National Institute for Leprosy research, Tokyo, Japan and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas. She was also a Research Assistant Professor at UTHSCSA and was at Edinburg Regional Academic Health Center, Edinburg, Texas.

Her research is on prevention and treatment of bone disorders using nutritional supplements and alternative medicines by identifying healthy agents, from extracts and/or compounds from botanical or other natural sources. She works on preclinical studies with these compounds on osteoporosis (age related and postmenopausal) as well in disease conditions such as diabetes and cancer. She has published extensively on therapeutics that prevent and treat osteoporosis.