BenU Full-Faculty Member since 2017
Adjunct Faculty Members since 2007
Ed.D., Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education, Northern Illinois University
MPH, Public Health/Community Nutrition, Benedictine University

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, CDR
Licensed Dietitian, State of IL

Courses Taught:

• NUTR 2241 – Nutrition Through the Life Cycle Nutrition
• NUTR 2280 – Community Health and Nutrition
• NUTR 4472 – Clinical Nutrition Case Studies Lab
• NUTR 4475 – Mentoring in Dietetics Capstone
• NUTR 2364 – Food Systems and Policy
• NUTR 4493 – Leadership
• NUTR 4395 – Nutrition Counseling Lab
• NUTR 5460 – Advanced MNT Clinical Case Studies

Awards and Recognition:

• Dietitian of the Year in Illinois, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Foundation Scholarship for Doctoral Research, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Leadership Award in Adult and Higher Education, Northern Illinois University
• Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year in Illinois, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Procopian Award and Undergraduate Commencement Speaker, Benedictine University

Scholarly Achievements and Grant Awards:

Dr. Sochacki’s research interests focused on Leadership, Mentoring, Diversity and Career Pathway development of Dietitians. Dr. Sochacki is passionate about the importance of continuing professional development and the role of leadership within one’s professional organization. Her ongoing participation has been evident, and she hopes to encourage all nutrition professionals to acquire influential positions of leadership; where their “voices” can be heard, and they can impact decisions related to the future growth of the dietetics and nutrition profession. She is collaborating as a co-investigator on the $210,000 grant from the USDA NIFA to support a Multicultural Scholars Program in Nutrition and Dietetics. Her work has been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

University Leadership Roles:

• Undergraduate Nutrition Program Director
• Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics
• Assistant Department Chairperson, Nutrition Department
• SAND Club Advisor

Professional Leadership Positions:

• Programming Committee Member, Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Membership Committee Chair, Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Health Care Professions Committee Member, Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• President, West Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Student Connection Committee Chairperson, West Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, Professional Advisory Board Member

Memberships

• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Nutrition and Dietetics Educators and Preceptors Group
• Diabetes Dietetics Practice Group
• Renal Dietitians Dietetics Practice Group
• Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Member Interest Group

Leadership, mentoring, self-efficacy, ethics in professional practice and professional development.