Sherri Nordstrom Stastny

Professor

Faculty

Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences

Sherri Stastny

Sherri Nordstrom Stastny, PhD, RD, CSSD, LRD is a Professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences at North Dakota State University. She has been a full-time member of the Nutrition Science faculty at NDSU and has developed and led classes and labs in food science, sports nutrition, and all aspects of foodservice management for over two decades. Dr. Stastny is a gerontologist with a focus on nutrition as it relates to healthy aging in the Healthy Aging and Human Performance Labs on campus, and has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles. Current projects are focused on lifestyle choices among middle-aged and older adults and tactics to motivate change. She has led workshops for dietetic associations and other professional organizations, college residence life groups, physician groups, retirement communities, and college faculty. The ability to apply tips for preparation of everyday foods, snacks, and beverages using the most current nutrition optimization strategies is emphasized in sessions, and individual participation is encouraged. Use of whole, local, and non-processed foods is emphasized whenever practical. When foods do not fit, Dr. Stastny keeps abreast on the latest recommendations for supplements and functional foods.

Courses Taught

CURRENTLY TEACHING

  • HNES 361 Foodservice systems management I (formerly Food production management)
  • HNES 361L Foodservice systems management I lab
  • HNES735 Nutrition and Human Performance

COURSES DEVELOPED

  • HNES 710 Research Methods
  • HNES 455/655 Sports nutrition (online)
  • HNES 490/690 Obesity Across the Lifespan (online)
  • HNES496 Study trip foodservice management (Minneapolis area)
  • ADFH 411 Food in world culture
  • HNES 141 Food safety and sanitation (online)
  • HNES 270 Consumer issues in nutrition
  • HNES 452/652 Nutrition, health and aging (hybrid)
  • HNES 455/655 Sports nutrition (classroom)
  • HNES 460 Foodservice systems management II
  • HNES 460L Foodservice systems management II lab
  • HNES 261 Food principles and preparation
  • HNES 261 Food principles and preparation (online)
  • HNES 261L Food principles and preparation lab

Current Grants

  • Improving quality of life for persons with dementia, NDSU Foundation (2024-2025)
  • AI Digital Academy (2024). NDUS
  • Nourishing boomers and beyond II: improving the health behaviors of adults living in rural North Dakota. USDA NIFA Rural Health and
    Safety Education Competitive Grants Program. (2022-2026)

Awards & Honors

  • Recognized by the College of Human Development and Education as “people on campus” that made a difference to students
  • Outstanding Dietetic Educator representing a Dietetic Education Program (NDEP) Area 2
  • Program Excellence Award, Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance presented to the faculty of the MS in Dietetics at NDSU
  • HNES Graduate Faculty Ranked Research Showcase Poster Award.
    Consumer response to information about added sugar: preferred format and impact on food choices

  • Nominated for Faculty Row

Education

  • Ph.D. North Dakota State University
  • Masters of Business Administration; BS, Food and Nutrition, NDSU
  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Commission on Dietetic Registration
  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Commission on Dietetic in Sports Dietetics

Publications

  • Garden-Robinson, J., Stastny, S., & Johnson, N. (2025). Intakes of lean proteins and processed meats and differences in mental health between rural and metro adults 50 years and older. Scientia.
  • Hackney, K.J., Bradley, M., Mahoney, S., Johnson, N.R., Kotarsky, C.J., Bradley. A., Stastny, S.N., McGrath, R., & McCourt, M. (accepted). The effect of muscle strength and visual contrast sensitivity on fall risk sway velocity. Journal of Frailty, Sarcopenia and Falls.
  • Hamm, J., Choi, B., Singh, J., Jurivich, D., Stastny, S., Carling, C., Kieser, J., Hackney, K., & McGrath, R. (2025). Relative reliability of muscle function measured with electronic handgrip dynamometry and accelerometry Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 26 (9) 105763.
  • Hamm, J., Choi, B., Singh, J., Jurivich, D., Stastny, S., Carling, C., Kieser, J., Hackney, K., & McGrath, R. (2025). Examining the directional associations of handgrip strength asymmetry and cognitive function in American males and females. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. DOI: 10.1177/13872877251346722
  • Johnson, N., Stastny, S., & Garden-Robinson, J. (2024). Differential intakes of lean proteins and processed meats drive differences in mental health between rural and metro adults aged 50 and older. Nutrients. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/18/3056
  • Johnson, N., Garden-Robinson, J., & Stastny, S. (2024). How does living alone and inability to drive affect dietary intake and physical limitations? Journal of NEAFCS.
  • Johnson, N.R., Kotarsky, C.J., Hackney, K.J., Trautman, K.A., Dicks, N.D., Byun, W., Keith, J.F., David, S.L., & Stastny, S.N. (2021 and 2024 book). Measures derived from panoramic ultrasonography and animal-based protein intake are related to muscular performance in middle-aged adults. Gianluca, T. (editor) Prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. MDPI books reprint of articles from 2021. https://www.mdpi.com/books/reprint/3963-prevention-and-treatment-of-sar… ISBN 978-3-0365-
    1536-6 (Hardback); ISBN 978-3-0365-1535-9
  • Heimbuch, H., Rhee, Y., Douglas, M., Juhl, K., Knoll, K., Stastny, S., & McGrath, R. (2023). Prevalence and trends of basic activities of daily living limitations in middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Epidemiologia, 4, 483–491. https://doi.org/10.3390/ epidemiologia4040040
  • Bradley, A., Klawitter, L., Carver, E., Johnson, Z., McGrath, R., Stastny, S., Christenson, B., & Hackney, K. (2023). Reliability of a novel automated ultrasound technology for body composition assessment and comparisons with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4), 393-401.
  • Houfek, A., Garden-Robinson, J., Hilliard, E., Rhee, Y., Stastny, S., Belury, M., Cawthon, P., & McGrath, R. (2022). Older American women may especially benefit from distributing and consuming protein for decreasing odds of functional limitations. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 26(11), 1025-1032. DOI: 10.1007/s12603-022-1857-x

Presentations

  • Johnson, N., Garden-Robinson, J., Knoll, K., Aamot, K., & Stastny, S.(2025). Nourishing rural communities: remote education to promote health and well-being [oral presentation]. Strengthening
    Healthcare Through Interprofessional Collaboration, North Dakota Nurses Association, Fargo, ND.
  • Knoll, K., Garden-Robinson, J., Johnson, N., & Stastny, S. (2025). The Nourish Program: Prevention of chronic diseases in aging adults living in rural areas [Oral presentation]. Innovative Nutrition Strategies for Aging and Chronic Disease Prevention: From Target Interventions to Population Health: American Society of Nutrition, Orlando, FL.
  • Garden-Robinson, J., Stastny, S., Schaefer, J., & Renner, K. (2025). Nourish your dental health [Poster presentation], North Dakota Nutrition Council, West Fargo, ND.
  • Garden-Robinson, J., Johnson, N., & Stastny, S. (2024). Using research to guide Extension programming: Lessons from the Nourish program [Poster presentation & Proceedings]. NEAFCS Annual Session, Tucson, AZ.
  • Garden-Robinson, J., Johnson, N., & Stastny, S. (2024). Going solo: “Living alone” impact on health lifestyle for rural North Dakota [Poster presentation]. Cardiovascular Health and Well-being, dietetic practice group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Tucson, AZ.
    “Outstanding Professional Poster” Award.
  • Johnson, N., Garden-Robinson, J., & Stastny, S. (2023). Self-reported limitations in activity among older North Dakotans are associated with living alone and in rural counties [Oral presentation], 8th Edition of International Webinar on Aging and Rejuvenation, Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. https://aginggeriatrics.com/webinar/agenda
  • Johnson, N., Garden-Robinson & Stastny, S. (2023). The Nourish survey: differences among urban and rural North Dakotans [Oral presentation], NDNA Interprofessional Collaborative Research Conference, Fargo, ND.
  • Johnson, N., Garden-Robinson & Stastny, S. (2023). Going solo: “Living alone” impact on health lifestyle for rural North Dakotans [Poster presentation], NDNA Interprofessional Collaborative Research Conference, Fargo, ND.
  • Garden-Robinson, J., Johnson, N., & Stastny, S. (2023). What are rural North Dakota adult health concerns? [Oral presentation], REC Fall Conference, Fargo, ND.
  • Johnson, N., & Stastny, S. (2022). Way more than baking cookies: network analysis highlights the complexity of analyzing dietary intake data [Poster presentation]. NDSU Explore.
  • Kotarsky, C.J., Johnson, N., Mahoney, S., Mitchell, S., Schimek, R., Hackney, K.J., & Stastny, S.
    (2022). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and time-restricted eating are predictors of fat mass loss in overweight and obese females following an eight-week exercise and dietary intervention.
    Experimental Biology, Philadelphia, PA. Abstract ID: R4273