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 Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging at San José State University (SJSU). Before entering academia, she built more than a decade of clinical experience as a Registered Dietitian in skilled nursing facilities and acute care hospitals across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dr. Wagle is a committed advocate for health equity, the reduction of health disparities, and the promotion of wellness on the SJSU campus and in the broader community. She serves on advisory boards for organizations including the South Asian Heart Center at El Camino Hospital, and the Education Council of the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her research examines the intersections of food, culture, and health, with a particular focus on South Asian populations and their increased risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease.

A prolific scholar, Dr. Wagle has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and presented more than 100 abstracts at professional conferences. She is the author of "Carbohydrate Counting: Traditional South Asian Food Lists: For Management and Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus", a widely used educational guide adopted by healthcare professionals in the United States and around the world. She also authored "South Asians and Renal Disease: Traditional Food Lists for Management of Chronic Kidney Disease" and "Carbohydrate Counting: Traditional Filipino Food Lists: For Management and Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus", expanding access to culturally relevant nutrition education. She made these books open access and freely available to remove barriers for students, educators, practitioners, and communities.

Dr. Wagle was featured in the documentary "The Brown Heart", which highlights the prevalence of early and severe heart disease in South Asians. Her work has earned numerous honors, including recognition 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, following its Excellence in Education Award in 2016-2017. Now in her 23rd year at SJSU, she remains deeply committed to mentoring future nutrition professionals.

Outside academia, Dr. Wagle enjoys cooking, hiking, and running. She has completed more than 100 races, including half-marathons, triathlons, and relays, and continues to explore new trails around the world.

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