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Jessica Garay

Assistant Professor

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Director, Nutrition and Food Studies

Contact

jlgaray@syr.edu

Department

Location

White Hall, #560
Syracuse, NY 13244

Biography

Jessica Garay joined the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies in 2018. Dr. Garay’s research interests center on the short- and long-term effects of adolescent and adult health behaviors, with a focus on dietary patterns (including dietary supplement use) and physical activity. Currently, Dr. Garay has two active areas of funded research: the effect of stress on health behaviors during pregnancy and the relationship between dietary intake, body composition, and exercise performance among female athletes.

Dr. Garay’s work has been published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise, the American Journal of Human Biology, and Current Biomarker Findings, among others. She has presented at the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Conference and the NYS Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NYSAND) Annual Meeting. Dr. Garay teaches NSD 225: Nutrition in Health, NSD 343: Dietary Supplements, NSD 425/625: Nutrition for Fitness and Sports, and NSD 457: Research & Evaluation in Nutrition. Dr. Garay is the recipient a 2016 Emerging Dietetic Leader Award from the NYSAND and currently serves as its public policy coordinator. She also currently serves as a lead evidence analyst for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics’ Evidence Analysis Library.

Previously, Dr. Garay worked at Utica College as an assistant professor of biology: physiology & nutrition since 2016. From 2010-2016, she was an adjunct instructor at Syracuse University and has held positions at Onondaga Community College and George Washington University. She has worked as a practicing dietitian at the Washington Cancer Institute and Food Bank of Central New York.

Education

  • CAS, Department of Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation, Syracuse University, NY, . Major: Designing Digital Instruction
  • Ph.D., Syracuse University, NY
  • M.S., George Washington University, Washington, DC, . Major: Exercise Science: Nutrition & Eating Behaviors
  • B.S., Cum laude, Cornell University, NY, . Major: Nutritional Sciences and Human Development

Fellowships

  • American Society of Nutrition Science Policy Fellowship, American Society of Nutrition Science Policy

Specialization

  • Fetal programming, nutrition and athletic performance, dietary supplements

Teaching

Currently Teaching

  • NSD 343 - Dietary Supplements
  • FYS 101 - First Year Seminar
  • NSD 425 - Nutrition for Fitness and Sports
  • NSD 625 - Nutrition for Fitness and Sports

Active Research

Sponsored Research

  • Jessica Garay (PD/PI) Margaret Voss (Co-Investigator) , Evaluating CAT2 Primary, Secondary, And Potential Indicators For Use By Sports Dietitians To Identify Reds Risk Among Collegiate Female Athletes - American Sports and Performance - Not for Profit/Foundation. End Date: 2028-07-31
  • Jessica Garay (PD/PI) , Determining risk of REDs among adolescent female athletes - Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Fdn - Not for Profit/Foundation Subgrant. End Date: 2027-10-13
  • Jessica Garay (PD/PI) , Measuring energy availability among low-income high school female athletes - National Strength and Conditioning Association - Not for Profit/Foundation Grant. End Date: 2027-07-31

Other Grants, Fellowships, Contracts, and Gifts

  • Jessica Garay, Determining REDs risk among adolescent female athletes - Falk College. End Date: 2026-12-31

Published Scholarship

Publications

  • Garay, J.L., Voss, M.A. and Pilkay, S.R., 2025. Effects of Maternal Peanut Intake and Breastfeeding Duration on Offspring DNA Methylation. Food Science & Nutrition, [online] 13(10). https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.71129.
  • Fein, T., Garay, J. and Voss, M., 2025. Effects of Fluid Intake on Sleep Duration and Quality Among Healthy Adults. Nature and Science of Sleep, [online] Volume 17, pp.791–800. https://doi.org/10.2147/nss.s511807.
  • Garay, J., Sebe, J.G., Strickland, J., Clark, L. and Voss, M.A., 2025. Using RMR Ratio to Identify REDs Risk Among Female Athletes. Current Developments in Nutrition, [online] 9, p.107377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2025.107377.
  • Lodge, M.T., Ackerman, K.E. and Garay, J., 2024. Differences in Knowledge of Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport in Female Cross-Country Athletes. Journal of Athletic Training, [online] 59(8), pp.836–844. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0608.22.
  • Garay, J.L., Jezak, S.T. & Templeton, O.F., 2023. Soy protein and plant sterols. In A Health Professional's Guide to Dietary Supplements. Chicago, IL USA: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, pp. 527–532.
  • Garay, J., Donnelly, M., Herman, A., Lawson, K., Martin, S. and Reed, L., 2024. Public Policy and Advocacy in the Dietetics Curriculum: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Dietetic Education, [online] 2(1), pp.63–76. https://doi.org/10.26890/otnm1568.
  • Liu, R., Figueroa, R., Brink, H.V., Vorland, C.J., Auckburally, S., Johnson, L., Garay, J., Brown, T., Simon, S. and Ells, L., 2024. The efficacy of sleep lifestyle interventions for the management of overweight or obesity in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health, [online] 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17708-6.
  • Garay, J.L. & Pelkey, A., 2023. Intervening to Change the Public's Eating Behavior. In S. Edelstein, ed. Community and Public Health Nutrition. Burlington, MA USA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
  • Raynor, H.A., Morgan-Bathke, M., Baxter, S.D., Halliday, T., Lynch, A., Malik, N., Garay, J.L. and Rozga, M., 2024. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Medical Nutrition Therapy Behavioral Interventions Provided by Dietitians for Adults With Overweight or Obesity, 2024. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, [online] 124(3), pp.408–415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2023.11.013.
  • Garay, J.L., 2022. Dietary Supplements; Health Behaviors among Women; Nutrient Deficiencies in Women’s Health: Understanding Issues and Influences. ABC-CLIO.

Presentations

  • Garay, J., Vettamvelil, S. & Voss, M.A., 2025. Effect of Dietary Intake on Exercise Performance in Collegiate Rowers.. In MARC ACSM. American College of Sports Medicine.
  • Garay, J., Vettamvelil, S. & Voss, M.A., 2025. Effect of Dietary Intake on Exercise Performance in Collegiate Rowers.. In FNCE. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
  • Sebe, J.G. et al., 2025. REDs risk in physically active females and inflammation: Is there a correlation?. In FNCE. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
  • Garay, J., 2025. Current Guidelines and Recommendations for Nutrition and Exercise during Pregnancy.. In Nutrition 2025. American Society of Nutrition.
  • Garay, J., 2025. Use of RMR ratio as a REDs indicator in female athletes.. In Nutrition 2025. American Society of Nutrition.
  • Garay, J., 2025. Moving beyond the Female Athlete Triad: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport.. In Annual Meeting. NYS Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
  • Garay, J., 2024. Moving beyond the Female Athlete Triad: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport. In MARC-ACSM Annual Meeting. MARC-ACSM.
  • Garay, J., Fein, T. & Voss, M.A., 2024. Effects of hydration status on sleep duration/quality among healthy adults. In International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics. ICDA.
  • Garay, J., 2024. Relationship between energy availability and omega-3 index in female athletes. In International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics. ICDA.
  • Dellett, S., Borza, A. & Garay, J., 2024. Prevalence Of Supplementation, Nutrition Knowledge And Behaviors Among Physically Active College Students. In ASCM Annual Meeting. ACSM.

Consulting

  • LeMoyne College, Syracuse, NY, United States. Consulting Sports Dietitian
  • American Dairy Association North East
  • Kelly’s Choice, Wellness Corporate Solutions, Balancing Life’s Issues

Active Service

Professional Service

  • Committee Member, American Society of Nutrition's Education and Professional Development Oversight Committee (active since: 2025)
  • Reviewer/Referee, Advances in Nutrition, Pediatric Exercise Science (active since: 2021)
  • Member/External Reviewer, Institutional Review Board, Utica College (active since: 2017)
  • Chairperson, Sports and Human Performance Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, In 2025-2026 I serve as Chair-Elect In 2026-2027 I will serve as Chair In 2027-2028 I will serve as Past Chair. (active since: 2025)

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

  • Affiliate, Center for Health Behavior, Research and Innovation (received: 2025)
  • Fellow, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (received: 2016)
  • Excellence in Legislative Advocacy Award, NYS Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Leadership Institute attendee, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Emerging Dietetic Leader, NYS Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics

Licensures and Certifications

  • Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, Committee on Dietetic Registration. (since: 2023)
  • ServSafe™ Instructor and Proctor, National Restaurant Association. (since: 2015)
  • Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, National Strength & Conditioning Association. (since: 2009)
  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Committee on Dietetic Registration. Certified in Adult Weight Management. (since: 2005)

Department

Location

White Hall, #560
Syracuse, NY 13244