Nicole Vitale

Dr. Nicole Vitale is a Postdoctoral Associate in the STEM Transformation Institute. She earned her PhD at Florida International University in Dietetics and Nutrition with research focused on community nutrition education for teachers, children, and families. Dr. Vitale is a former Montessori Early Childhood Educator who went on to become a Registered Dietitian and Board-Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition. During her graduate studies, Dr. Vitale developed and implemented a preschool nutrition curriculum and a nationwide teacher training program which reached 45 Montessori schools in 24 US states. She received the "Outstanding Graduate" award in Spring 2024 for recognition of her innovative academic work. Dr. Vitale was awarded the NSF STEM Education Individual Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (STEMEdIPRF) and will be focusing her research on the intersection of STEM education and nutrition science through development of culturally affirming, at-home, co-cooking activities for Latino families to evaluate the effects on children's STEM identity, career aspirations, and diet quality.