Profile

Department

School of Health Sciences

Role: Faculty
Campus: Springfield

Postal mail

Missouri State University
School of Health Sciences
901 S. National Ave.
Springfield, MO 65897

Biography

Dr. Daniela Novotny is a faculty member in the nutrition and dietetics programs in the School of Health Sciences. She also works as a dietitian at Missouri State University's Magers Health and Wellness Center.
 
In her role as an educator, Novotny loves working with students to connect the dots between what they learn in the classroom and what they experience or will experience in “real-world” settings. She also enjoys guiding students through the research process, helping them understand and appreciate evidence-based practice. As a dietitian, she enjoys working with people to improve their nutritional status; her areas of specialty include improving one’s relationship with food and eating, optimizing gastrointestinal health through nutrition and providing medical nutrition therapy for a variety of health conditions.
 
Before joining Missouri State, Novotny worked as an outpatient dietitian for many years; this allowed her to develop strong skills in counseling, education and communication. She also stays active in the campus and local community by developing and implementing health/wellness programs.

Details

Education

  • DHSc, area of emphasis in Fundamentals of Education, A.T. Still University
  • MS, Health Promotion and Wellness Management, Missouri State University
  • Dietetic Internship, Barnes Jewish College of Nursing & Allied Health
  • BS, Dietetics, Missouri State University

Teaching

  •  DTN 130 - Social and Behavioral Applications of Nutrition
  •  DTN 240 - Introduction to Nutrition
  •  DTN 300 - Service Learning in Nutrition and Dietetics
  •  DTN 334 - Introduction to Nutrition Assessment and Sports Nutrition
  •  DTN 335 - Nutritional Assessment
  •  DTN 532 - Human Nutrition and Metabolism
  •  DTN 595 - Introduction to Research in Dietetics
  •  DTN 750 - Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy

Research and professional interests

  • Contributors to and effects of weight stigma in educational and healthcare settings
  • Lifestyle intervention programs, primarily teaching kitchens
  • Complementary and integrative medicine/health
  • Intuitive eating and body appreciation

Current Research:

  • Teaching kitchen interventions
  • Weight stigma in higher education and health care
  • Intuitive eating and body appreciation among dietetics students

Publications:

  • Roberts HL, Novotny D, Stanbrough C, Keys, A, & Jackson, W. Experienced weight stigma in higher education: Impact on academic choices, extracurricular participation, and well-being in students. Journal of American College Health. 2025; March 11, 2025. Available online.
  • Novotny D, Mitchell Urich S, & Roberts H. Effectiveness of a teaching kitchen intervention on dietary intake, cooking self-Efficacy, and psychosocial health. American Journal of Health Education. 2022; December 5, 2022. Available online.
  • Gnau J, Novik M, Powell S, & Novotny D. Lessons learned about online engagement and implementation of an intuitive eating programme for university employees. Nutrition and Health. April 4, 2022. Available online. 
  • Novotny D, Matthews E, & Powell S. Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors of dietetics students. Topics in Clinical Nutrition. 2021; 36(4):299-310. Available online.
  • Novotny D, Novik M. Attitudes and education of dietetics students about complementary and alternative medicine therapies. Topics in Clinical Nutrition. 2015;30(3):209-221. Available online.
  • Heiss C, Gara N, Novotny D, Heberle H, Morgan L, Stufflebeam J, & Fairfield M.  Effect of a 1-liter fluid load on body composition measured by air displacement plethysmography and bioelectrical impedance. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online. 2009;12(2).

Recent presentations:

  • Novotny D & Myers K. Intuitive Eating and Body Appreciation in Dietetics Students: A Cross-sectional Analysis. Poster presented at Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE, 2025)
  • Novotny D, Roberts H, Breesawitz S, & Hoover M. From Classrooms to Campus Life: The Influence of Weight Stigma on University Students. Poster presented at FNCE (2025)
  • Murray S, Novotny D, & McGrath M. Peer Mentorship in Nutrition Education: A Pathway to Leadership Development. Poster presented at FNCE (2025)
  • Novotny D. Cooking up Confidence: A Teaching Kitchen Series for Bears Lead for annual Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition (MOCAN) meeting (2025)
  • Novotny D. Myth Busting: Nutrition Misinformation in a Modern World for MSU Employee Wellness (2025)
  • Novotny D, Roberts H, Breesawitz S, & Hoover M. From Classrooms to Campus Life: The Influence of Weight Stigma on University Students. Poster presented at the Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MOAND) Annual Meeting (2025)
  • Novotny D. Probiotics and Health: The Power Within for MSU Employee Wellness (2024)
  • Novotny D. Cultural Competence in the Workplace for MOAND (2023)
  • Novotny D. Alpha-gal Syndrome: Nutrition for Magers Health and Wellness Center (2023)
  • Novotny D. Teaching Kitchens and Health Outcomes for annual MOCAN meeting (2022)
  • Novotny D. Food for Thought: Nutrition and Mental Health for Mental Health and Inclusivity Initiative, MSU (2021)
  • Myers K, Novotny D. Intuitive Eating and Body Appreciation in Dietetics Students for MOAND (2020)
  • Urich S, Novotny D. CHIP-ing for Better Health: A Lifestyle Intervention for University Employees. Poster presented at MOAND Annual Meeting (2020)

Awards and honors

  • Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition (MOCAN) Healthcare Professional Award for Excellence in Connecting Health to Community (2025)
  • Excellence in Practice Eating Disorders nominee, Behavioral Health Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group (2025)
  • Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Community Impact Grant (2025)
  • MOCAN Healthcare Professional Award for Excellence in Connecting Health to Community (2025)
  • Master Online Course Recognition Award: Best Content and Activities DTN 130, Missouri State University (2022)
  • Curtis P. Lawrence Award for Excellence in Advising, Missouri State University (2019)
  • Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award recipient, NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising (2019)
  • Nominated for Outstanding Dietetic Educator Award nominee, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2016, 2021)
  • Nominated for Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award, Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2016)

Additional resources

Area of expertise

Nutrition and dietetics Health and wellness

Media appearances

6 Plant-Based Foods That Are Surprisingly High in Iron—No Beef Required
MarthaStewart.com
10/21/2025
RD Daniela Novotny highlights a few options.

Cheap Foods to Buy if You're Broke or on a Budget
U.S. News Money
07/15/2025
RD Daniela Novotny offers a few suggestions of what foods to buy when you're on a tight budget.

The 6 Best Nuts to Eat, According to Nutritionists
MarthaStewart.com
01/11/2025
RD Daniela Novotny shares insights on several options.

Osteoarthritis Diet: Foods to Eat and Avoid
U.S. News Health
10/31/2024
RD Daniela Novotny explains that inflammation in the body can lead to osteoarthritis and the types of food that increase and counter inflammation.

11 Best Foods High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
U.S. News Health
05/17/2024
RD Daniela Novotny offers some options.

10 Ways to Manage Thanksgiving Better When You Have Diabetes
U.S. News Health
11/12/2021
RD Daniela Novotny shares a few things that individuals with diabetes should do to enjoy Thanksgiving meals safely.

Nutritionists Share Their Favorite Spring Foods
Southern Living
04/20/2018
RD Daniela Novotny shares one of her favorite spring foods.

One Nutrition Professional to Another
Best Colleges
04/01/2018
RD Daniela Novotny offers insights about her career as a dietitian.

10 Healthy Reasons to Eat More Flaxseeds
Reader's Digest
12/01/2017
RD Daniela Novotny shares the benefits of flaxseeds.

Why Meal Timing Is Important for Better Diabetes Control
U.S. News & World Report
10/31/2017
RD Daniela Novotny explains how timing of meals can affect diabetes and weight management.