Rate My Professor Neilann Horner

Neilann Horner, PhD, MPH, RD, serves as Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Nutrition Undergraduate Program in the College of Health at Oregon State University. She earned her PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of Washington, an MPH from the University of Illinois Springfield, and is a Registered Dietitian. Horner joined Oregon State University in 2014 as a Clinical Assistant Professor and has since advanced to her current role, overseeing the undergraduate nutrition program and didactic program in dietetics.

Her research interests center on clinical nutrition, with a focus at OSU on the efficacy and outcomes of clinical nutrition services, promoting evidence-based medical nutrition therapy by qualified practitioners, and enhancing access to nutrition services for those in need. Previously, during her postdoctoral fellowship and tenure at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and University of Washington, Horner investigated dietary influences on breast health conditions. Notable publications include "Fruit and Vegetable Intakes Are Associated with Lower Risk of Breast Fibroadenomas in Chinese Women" (Journal of Nutrition, 2010), "Food and Botanical Groupings and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study in Shanghai, China" (Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2005), "Dietary and Other Risk Factors in Women Having Fibrocystic Breast Conditions with and without Concurrent Breast Cancer" (International Journal of Cancer, 2005), "Selected Nutritional Biomarkers Predict Diet Quality" (Public Health Nutrition, 2003), and "Validation of a Soy Food-Frequency Questionnaire with Plasma Soy Isoflavone Profiles in a Chinese Population in Shanghai, China" (Journal of Nutrition, 2003). These works have contributed to understanding diet-breast disease associations.

In addition to research and teaching, Horner organizes experiential and service-learning opportunities for students, emphasizing broad communication skills and professional networking. She advises the OSU Nutrition and Dietetics Club, serves as State Regulatory Specialist for the Oregon Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and leads community initiatives such as ROI: Return on Ingestion, a nutrition education program for Oregon State Credit Union employees launched in 2023. Her involvement extends to university committees, including the Core Education Elevation Team as Nutrition Co-Representative.