Leanne Skehan

Dr. Leanne Skehan, DCN, CNS, CHES, MPH, MBA, DTR, is a nutrition and public health educator, researcher, and practitioner with more than 14 years of experience in higher education and 25 years in nutrition consultation. She holds master’s degrees in public health, business administration, and clinical nutrition, and completed her doctorate in clinical nutrition at the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She serves as Clinical Faculty in the Master of Public Health program at Southern New Hampshire University and is an adjunct instructor in the nutrition programs at Northeast College of Health Sciences and the University of New England.

With advanced training in both nutrition and public health, Dr. Skehan is a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), Certified Health Coach, and Certified Personal Trainer. Her professional experience includes roles with the WIC Program and the Healthy Community Coalition in Maine, as well as eight years leading population health and wellness initiatives at Tufts Health Plan. She is also the owner of Balanced Within Nutrition, a Texas-based nutrition consulting practice.

Dr. Skehan’s research focuses on the gut-brain connection and the complex relationships among nutrition, inflammation, mental health, and food insecurity. Her current scholarly interests include nutrition and criminal behavior, chrononutrition, and breastfeeding rates and barriers among vulnerable populations. She actively contributes to interdisciplinary research, publishing, and professional education at the intersection of nutrition, public health, and behavioral health.

A little about Dr. Skehan: She lives in a small Texas town with her husband and their three beloved dogs, Gunner, Nelson, and Pedro. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys running, indoor cycling, traveling, reading, and spending time with family and friends. An avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast, Dr. Skehan is on a mission to visit as many U.S. National Parks as possible.