Nicole Withrow, PhD, MS, RDN

Contact Information

Education

Degrees:

• PhD, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
• MS/Internship, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
• BA, Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Professional Certification, Licensure and Membership:

• Registered Dietitian, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Professional/Academic Experience

• 2015-present, Assistant Professor & Dietetic Internship Coordinator, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
• 2015-present, Affiliate Professor of Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
• 2010-present, Neurodevelopmental Disorder Clinical Dietitian, The Colorado Children's Hospital, Aurora, CO
• 2001-present, Affiliate Professor of Nutrition, Metro State University of Denver, Denver, CO
• 2009-2011, Pediatric Research Dietitian, Autism Treatment Network, Aurora, CO
• 2008-2013, LEND Fellowship, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders at JFK Partners, Aurora, CO

Other Experience

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Dietetics and the Director of the Dietetics Internship Program at the University of Northern Colorado.  Additionally, I am the neurodevelopmental Pediatric Clinical Dietitian at the Colorado Children’s Hospital and have a practice focused on clinical nutritional interventions for children with ASD. Additionally, I have been a medical research consultant for the Center for Discovery, a residential facility in New York for individuals with complex medical conditions and a nutrition research consultant for Kate Farms, the plant based nutritional supplement.

My professional interests vary, but my passion is working with children on the autism spectrum while concentrating my research on developing standardized assessment tools, and interventions to identify children and adults with ASD who are at nutritional risk and who would benefit from nutrition intervention. I integrate multidisciplinary intervention by collaborating with other healthcare professionals to educate, address nutritional deficiencies, and to prevent downstream comorbidities associated with malnutrition and/or obesity. 

Research/Areas of Interest

• Pediatric nutrition
• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Body composition and energy metabolism in pediatrics
• Specialty dietary interventions (gluten and casein free)
• Gastrointestinal symptoms in neurodevelopmental disorders
• Survey development in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Publications/Creative Works

• Ann Reynolds, Nancy F. Krebs, Patricia A. Stewart, Harriet Austin, Susan L. Johnson, Nikki Withrow , Cynthia Molloy, S. Jill James, Cynthia Johnson, Traci Clemons, Brianne Schmidt, and Susan L. Hyman. Iron Status in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics 2012;S130;S154.
• Withrow, N., Alvidrez, L. (2019). The development of the Sensory Processing, Aberrant Mealtime Behaviors, Motor Inventory for Eating (SAMIE) in children with an ASD. Advances in Autism, https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-08-2018-0025.
• Withrow, N., Hsueh, E. (2019). A Comparative Analysis of My Plate Food Group Intake to a 3- DayFood Record in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Food & Nutritional Sciences, 1 (3): 114-127.
• Withrow, N. (2020). Why so Picky? Food Selectivity and How it Impacts Eating in ASD Book Chapter . A Spectrum of Solutions for Clients with Autism: Treatment for Adolescents and Adults. Routledge-Taylor & Francis.(August, 2020).
• Berry R, Novak P, Withrow N, Schmidt B, Rarback S, Feucht S, Criado K, Sharp WG (2015). Nutrition Management of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Guideline from an Expert Panel. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, in-press.

Honors and Awards

• Golden Key Award Recipient at Metro State University of Denver
• Gamma Phi Beta Honors Society