Two USU Salt Lake Faculty Receive Promotions to Professor

Two faculty members at Utah State University Salt Lake have received promotions. Lacie Peterson has been promoted to clinical professor in the Department of Nutrition Dietetics and Food Sciences, while Tim Riesen has been promoted to research professor in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling.

“I congratulate both Dr. Peterson and Dr. Riesen on these well-deserved promotions,” said David Vernon, senior associate vice president for the Wasatch Region. “Lacie is an accomplished registered dietitian and an exceptional leader in her field. Tim is a highly published researcher whose work profoundly impacts people with disabilities. We are lucky to have them both at USU Salt Lake to provide our students with excellent mentors, while also advancing our university teaching and research mission.”

Peterson joined the USU faculty in 2013, after seven years as a registered dietitian and diabetes educator at University of Utah Hospital. Over her 12 years at USU, she has developed and led innovative educational programs, mentored future dietitians and contributed to both the university and the broader community. In 2018, she became the director of the Dietetic Internship and in 2022, she led the integration of that internship and the Master of Dietetics Administration (MDA) program into a new Future Education Model, which is designed to better prepare students for the evolving demands of the profession.

“I am deeply honored by these recognitions,” Peterson said. “But I want to acknowledge that none of this would be possible without the incredible support and dedication of my MDA team. Their hard work, collaboration and passion are truly the foundation of everything we achieve together. My work has always centered on empowering future dietitians and supporting USU’s mission to serve students and communities across Utah and beyond.”

Peterson holds a doctorate degree and master’s degree in nutrition from the University of Utah. In addition to her work at USU, Peterson holds several national and state-level leadership roles that reflect her expertise and dedication to the field of dietetics. In 2024, she was named Outstanding Dietitian of the Year by the Utah Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Riesen joined the faculty at Utah State University in 2011, following three years as a research associate at the University of Utah. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling at USU and serves as the Director of Research and Training at the USU Institute for Disability Research, Policy, & Practice (IDRPP). With more than 30 years of experience working with individuals with extensive support needs, Riesen is a nationally recognized researcher in the field of disability employment, particularly for individuals with significant disabilities.

Since joining USU, his research focused on improving integrated employment outcomes for people with disabilities. His scholarly contributions include 40 peer-reviewed articles, two co-authored books, and five book chapters. He regularly presents at national conferences and has delivered keynote addresses on employment in the U.S. and internationally, including in India and Norway. He has secured over $16 million in extramural funding to support his research and scholarly initiatives.

Riesen holds a doctorate and master’s degree in special education, as well as a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, all from the University of Utah.