Wagle, Ashwini R

Wagle, Ashwini

Professor and Department Chairperson 
Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging

Email

Preferred: ashwini.wagle@sjsu.edu

Telephone

Preferred: (408) 924-3100

Alternate: 408-924-3100

Education

  • Doctorate in Education (Ed.D), Specialization Educational Leadership, University of New England
  • Master of Science, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Licenses and Certificates

  • Registered Dietitian
  • Certificate of Training in Adult and Pediatric Obesity 2022-2027

Bio

Ashwini Wagle, Ed.D, MS, RD, FAND is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging at San José State University (SJSU). She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D) from the University of New England and brings over a decade of clinical experience as a registered dietitian (RD), having worked in skilled nursing facilities and acute care hospitals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Wagle is deeply involved in both campus and community initiatives. She serves on advisory committees for the South Asian Heart Center (SAHC) at El Camino Hospital, the Center for Healthy Aging in Multicultural Populations (CHAMP), Rise Against Hunger, and the Education Council of the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her research explores the intersection of food, culture, and health, with a particular focus on traditional health beliefs, dietary practices, and nutritional behaviors among multicultural groups—especially South Asians and their risks for diabetes and heart disease. Her additional interests include food insecurity, hunger, and foodservice systems. She has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and has presented over 100 abstracts at conferences at the national, state, and local levels. Dr. Wagle is the author of Carbohydrate Counting: Traditional South Asian Food Lists: For Management and Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus, a widely used nutrition education resource implemented in healthcare settings across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong.  She was recently featured in the documentary “The Brown Heart, which raises awareness about the silent epidemic of early and severe heart disease in South Asian communities worldwide.

Her professional excellence has been recognized by several honors, including her designation as a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In 2025, she received the “Excellence in Research” award from the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and previously, the “Excellence in Education” award for 2016–2017.

With 22 years of service at SJSU, Dr. Wagle remains dedicated to the university’s mission and to nurturing the next generation of nutrition professionals. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, she is an avid cook, hiker, and runner, having completed over 100 races—including half-marathons, triathlons, and relays. She looks forward to continuing her adventures on hiking trails around the world.

 

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