CHS Leadership
Terezie Tolar-Peterson, EdD, MS, RDN, LDN, CLC, FAND
She/Her/Hers
Areas of Expertise
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Clinical Nutrition
- Pediatric Oncology Nutrition
- Public Health Nutrition
- Leadership
Biography
Dr. Terezie Tolar-Peterson is a registered dietitian, educator, and internationally recognized scholar with more than two decades of experience in clinical nutrition, public health, and academic leadership. She has held faculty and administrative appointments at several institutions, including California State University, San Bernardino, where she served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Science and Human Ecology, as well as Mississippi State University, Tennessee Technological University, and the University of Memphis.
Dr. Tolar-Peterson earned a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition and an Ed.D. in Higher and Adult Education from the University of Memphis. She also holds dual bachelor's degrees in Physical Therapy and in Public Health and Nutrition from Charles University in the Czech Republic. Her professional background includes ten years as a Clinical Dietitian III at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she contributed to the advancement of evidence-based practices in pediatric oncology nutrition.
Her interdisciplinary research integrates nutrition science, chronic disease prevention, and personalized health interventions. Her scholarly work has focused on pediatric oncology nutrition, global nutrition and food safety, metabolic health, and gene-nutrient interactions. A prolific author, she has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and is a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Dr. Tolar-Peterson has led and collaborated on research initiatives that have garnered over $4 million in competitive funding from agencies such as USAID, USDA, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. As Dean, she brings a visionary and inclusive approach to leadership, driving innovation in health professions education, fostering global engagement, and cultivating strategic partnerships that promote community health and health equity.
Education
- Doctor of Education (EdD), Leadership, Higher and Adult Education, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN | 2006 – 2011
- Master of Science (MSc), Clinical Nutrition, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN | 2002 – 2004 | (Combined Program with Internship)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc), Physical Therapy Charles University, 3rd School of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic | 1995 – 1998
- Bachelor of Science (BSc), Public Health and Nutrition Charles University, 3rd School of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic | 1994 – 1997
Recent Publications
Memberships and Affiliations
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) – 2003 - Present