Maureen Molinari, Ph.D., RD

Maureen Molinari, Ph.D., RD
Faculty, Integrative and Functional Nutrition

"The single greatest lesson the garden teaches is that our relationship to the planet need not be zero-sum, and that as long as the sun still shines and people still can plan and plant, think and do, we can, if we bother to try, find ways to provide for ourselves without diminishing the world." —Michael Pollan"

Maureen Molinari, Ph.D., RD, started her journey in nutrition when she was working for the fashion industry in New York City. At the time, she had an associate degree in fashion merchandising and loved the industry and her work, but she soon became interested in improving her health.

After reading some books on the topic, Dr. Molinari was hooked. While she still enjoyed the fashion industry, she knew she wanted to take a new direction. Following this call, she attended Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science. An internship at Fresno State University in California followed, where she learned about the intersection between agriculture and the people who work in the industry. After her internship, she earned her Registered Dietitian credential.

Dr. Molinari knew that she wanted to settle down in a place where she could go skiing and enjoy more outdoor activities. This led her to accept a job at St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming, where she created a diabetes program for the hospital. However, she still felt something was missing, so she returned to school once more.

While at a conference held by the Culinary Institute of America, she discovered Saybrook University. The Mind-Body Medicine program had the information that she believed she was missing from her practice. She entered the M.S. in Mind-Body Medicine program in 2010 and fell in love with the school and the program, so much so that she stayed and earned her Ph.D.

During her time at Saybrook, Dr. Molinari especially enjoyed courses on hypnosis, spirituality and health, and coaching. The coaching classes, in particular, changed how she practiced as a dietitian. They moved her focus from the more directive style traditionally taught to dietitians to being a guide in the client’s process.

After graduation, Dr. Molinari stayed on with Saybrook as an adjunct professor in the Mind-Body Medicine Department. When the Integrative and Functional Nutrition program launched, she joined the department to teach future nutrition professionals. Her favorite thing about teaching is helping students find their voice in their writing.

Outside of the classroom, Dr. Molinari spends time with her rescue border collie/Australian shepherd dog, Bear. When she’s not skiing, you can find her riding her bike or working in her garden. She has also hiked around the world, including spots in South America, the Himalayas, Andes, and Asia as well as the Tetons and Yellowstone in her own backyard. She is fascinated by her area’s medicinal and indigenous plants and has spent many hours studying them.