Meet the RD

Hi, my name is Ruth Sullivan. I am the Registered Dietitian for the Syracuse University Food Services Department. I work one-on-one with students that have dietary needs/accommodations including, but not limited to food allergies and celiac disease. I help students get the most out of their meal plan by reviewing menu choices at the dining centers and elsewhere on campus. My goal is to assist students in finding nutritional diet solutions, so they are comfortable eating on campus.  I also help with employee training on related nutritional issues and assist on nutrition and wellness initiatives throughout campus.

If you have questions regarding dietary needs such as food allergies, celiac disease, vegetarian and vegan issues or general nutrition questions pertaining to your meal plan, please don’t hesitate to call me at 315.443.9884. You can also send me an email to the address above or to resulliv@syr.edu.

I can also assist in setting up a meeting with your dining center manager to guide you through the dining center, so you feel comfortable getting the foods you need.  Dining center contacts.

The Barnes Center at the Arch employs a Registered Dietitian who conducts confidential nutrition counseling related to clinical nutrition issues and eating disorders. Nutrition counseling is available to Syracuse University students who have paid their Health Service fee. If you would like to make an appointment for a confidential counseling session, please call Health Services at 315.443.8000.

Employees are trained on food safety, food allergies, celiac disease and other dietary issues when they are hired and semi-annually throughout their employment with Syracuse University Food Services.

Staff takes every precaution to prevent cross-contact during service, including using separate serving utensils for each food item and keeping service areas clean. However, cross-contact is still a possibility in shared preparation spaces and self-service dining areas.

To minimize exposure to allergens, guests are encouraged to:

  • Contact resulliv@syr.edu to learn more about dining accommodations.
  • Notify a manager of allergies and intolerances.
  • If you are unsure about cross contact, ask staff to change gloves and utensils before preparing their order.
  • Request a portion of food from a backup pan (including salad bar, deli station, ice cream, and cereal containers)
  • Call ahead to have an order specially prepared with attention to specific food allergens.
  • Carry a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector at all times.

All Syracuse University students residing in residence halls on north campus or in Skyhalls are required to be on a Syracuse University Meal Plan, including those with special nutritional needs. The Syracuse University registered dietitian can work one-on-one with students who have special diets or medically prescribed diets. The following list represents some of the special diets and medical conditions for which meal plan accommodations can be arranged:

  • Anemia
  • Celiac Disease/Gluten
  • Colitis
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Duodenal Ulcer
  • Elevated cholesterol
  • Elevated triglycerides
  • Food allergies
  • Food intolerances
  • Hypertension
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Kidney disease
  •  Sensitivity
  • Vegan/Vegetarian Diets
  • Weight reduction*

*Please note: Enrollment in a commercial weight loss program or diets that are considered preferred avoidance are not valid reasons for a meal plan exemption. Our dietitians are available to assist those students requiring weight management.

To help us access your nutritional needs, please fill out the Dietary Accommodations Request Form.

Medical documentation from your medical doctor needs to be provided to the Registered Dietitian in Food Services for special accommodation requests.

Syracuse University Food Services is committed to delivering quality food and service to our students. Food Services continually strives to meet the needs of all students, including those with special nutritional requirements.

The Food Services online menu is available for guests to search for allergens and ingredient and nutritional information. The top nine allergens: milk, fish, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, and sesame are indicated on the menu. Halal, vegan, and vegetarian items are also indicated.

Food Services recognized that students and guest may be allergic to foods outside of these common allergens. Customer with allergies or intolerances to any food are encouraged to contact resulliv@syr.edu for additional support and resources.

Although our chefs and staff adhere to standardized recipes, last minute changes to ingredients may occur. If you have a question about an item, we encourage you to seek assistance from a staff member for specific ingredient information.

If you need information on a food that is not labeled with ana mean food allergens, please ask the staff for information.

Syracuse University Food Services treats food allergies and celiac disease seriously. Food Services employees work one-on-one with students with food allergies and celiac disease to avoid cross-contact and allergic reactions.

Please be advised that our menu items may contain gluten and the Big 9 allergens (Milk, Eggs, Fish, Shellfish, Wheat, Sesame, Soy, Peanuts, and Tree nuts) or have come in contact with items containing gluten or the Big 9 allergens. In addition, food manufacturers may change their formulation or manner of processing without our knowledge.

Syracuse University Food Services will assume no liability for any adverse reactions that may occur in the dining facilities.