Faculty Profile

Joey Freeman

Joey Freeman

Assistant Professor of Nutrition; Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Director; Chair of Food and Nutritional Sciences; Co-chair of Family and Consumer Sciences Department; Registered Dietitian

Email: freemj2@mxy163.com
Phone: 206-281-2006
Office: Peterson Hall 207


Education: BS, Central Washington University, 1994; MS, Central Washington University, 1996; MEd, Seattle Pacific University, 2022; PhD, Seattle Pacific University, 2024. At SPU since 2004.

A native Washingtonian, Joey Freeman studied food and nutritional sciences and psychology at Central Washington University from 1990–1996, where she earned a BS in Food and Nutritional Sciences, Dietetics Concentration, an MS in Nutrition, a Minor in Psychology, and completed a post-baccalaureate dietetic internship program. As a registered dietitian, she held a variety of jobs in the field before coming to teach at SPU.

Her professional experiences include working as an outpatient clinical dietitian at MultiCare Health Systems, overseeing a school food-service program in Tahoma School District, providing nutrition education to school food-service staff through employment at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, teaching in the dietetics program at Central Washington University, and developing consumer nutrition education materials for the Washington State Beef Commission.

At SPU, Ms. Freeman has taught a variety of courses to Food and Nutritional Sciences majors. These include “Medical Nutrition Therapy I and II”, “Human Nutrition,” “Community Nutrition,” “The Profession of Dietetics,” “Food Production and Management,” “Nutrition Education and Counseling,” and “Nutrition and Meal Planning.”

She splits her time between teaching, advising, and overseeing the SPU’s Didactic Internship Program and the Food and Nutrition Club. Ms. Freeman’s areas of academic interest and research include food sensitivities, improving the nutritional status of vulnerable populations, cultural food beliefs, and nutrition counseling best practices.

In her spare time, she serves as an ordained deacon at her church, where she is a liaison to the local food bank and a Christian organization that provides housing and support to single parents and their children. She also enjoys hiking, running, experimenting with new recipes, and reading.


Selected Publications

  • Changes in Coronary Heart Disease Risk Among Japanese Exchange Students. C. Sweeney, J. Freeman, D.L. Gee, C. Maruyama, M. Waki, M. Tsushima, M. Hanaoka. J. Am. Dietetic Assoc. 99; A 1680 (1999). Atlanta, GA. 33.
  • Nutritional Status of Japanese Exchange Students: The Physiological Effects of Acute Dietary Changes and Coronary Heart Disease Risk. J.K. Peterson, D.L. Gee, M. Hanoaka, C. Maruyama, M. Tsushima and M. Waki. International Congress of Nutrition. Montreal, Canada, p 177, 1997.

View Dr. Joey Freeman’s CV (PDF) for more information.

Why I Teach at SPU

Joey Freeman, Assistant Professor of Nutrition; Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Director

“As a Christian dietetics educator, I believe I have been called to serve vulnerable populations, and expose my SPU students to this work. Involving my students in outreach work builds empathy and concern for the underserved, and equips them to use their expertise to engage the culture and improve the lives of others through nutrition education, counseling, policies, and programs.”