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Table of Contents

Department Announcements
Read highlights from the annual department report, NMHI, and our labs. 
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Student Achievements
See how our students in the NS Department are leading and succeeding!
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Faculty Awards
Learn how faculty members are being acknowledged for their work.
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Funding
Find out about some new NS Department grants!
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Presentations, Publications, and Invited Lectures and Boards
Discover the groundbreaking research being done by students and faculty.
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In the Media
See how the NS Department is being recognized in the media.
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Contact Us
Share your comments and suggestions. Email the editor (harsh.shah@ttu.edu) whenever you receive awards or funding; appear in the media; or have lab updates, publications, presentations or other achievements you wish to share. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Nutritional Sciences Faculty Win Innovation Hub Accelerator Competition for Novel Startup

What if there was an app that could customize your diet to your diagnosis? Drs. Allison Childress, Shannon Galyean, and Michelle Alcorn (Hospitality & Retail Management) are trying to make that a reality with their startup 3 CulinaryMed Docs. The startup is based on culinary medicine, a science that attempts to improve or manage medical conditions with diet. 

A healthcare professional's direct attention and supervision are typically required to adopt diet adjustments successfully, but medical education provides limited culinary medicine training to doctors. This in addition to time constraints makes educating patients in the clinical environment challenging. 3 CulinaryMed Docs aim to change that with a readily accessible culinary medicine software platform for patients. 

Their proposed software program eCulinaryMed Rx is a repository of culinary medicine videos for chronic and acute conditions. It will be delivered directly to the patient via an app equipped with machine learning to customize recipes, meal plans, and nutrition education to help them manage chronic diseases nutritionally. “The app is a wellness program as well but is specifically for the nutritional management of chronic disease. There is not another product on the market like eCulinaryMed Rx!” says Dr. Childress. 

The team also hopes to target insurance providers to include this wellness program in their insurance plans. Dr. Childress explains, “The idea is that they would provide our product free of charge to their subscribers in order to improve health outcomes and save money on healthcare and treatment of chronic disease.” 

3 CulinaryMed Docs approached the Innovation Hub and applied for the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps, which they completed, receiving a $50,000 grant for customer discovery. These avenues, in addition to iLaunch, helped get their idea off the ground and collect consumer input. The team was also awarded $10,000 from the Texas Tech Innovation Hub and Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA) in the form of the competitive Prototype Grant meant to further the development of startups in Lubbock. “I am a clinician, not a businessperson, but the people and resources at the Hub have enabled me to get a solid foundation to build our business,” says Dr. Childress.

Drs. Childress, Galyean, and Alcorn will be developing a prototype of a smartphone app to deliver the eCulinaryMed Rx program to assist with improving diet quality for people with conditions such as diabetes and other endocrine disorders, hypertension, heart disease, GI disorders, cancer, and specialized diets (vegan, lactose-free, etc.). A unique aspect of the program is the repository of various culinary medicine education videos accessed via the Internet including eCulinaryMed videos (recipes that focus on therapeutic foods), educational videos (short, entertaining videos exploring subjects like sodium, added sugars, fiber, label reading, etc.), and skills videos (knife skills, cooking skills, etc.) which will ensure that patients benefit regardless of their knowledge base or skill level. 

“I think so many people who are brave enough to create a startup think that they know exactly what their customer wants and are more or less ‘married' to their product. But we have been able to pivot and create an even better product by following the guidance of the people and programs at the Hub,” says Dr. Childress.

Drs. Childress, Galyean, and Alcorn also participated in the Accelerator Competition at the culmination of the Texas Tech Innovation Hub's Discoveries to Impact (DTI) Conference in April. Of the 15 teams to compete, their startup was chosen as one of the 9 to participate in the sixth cohort of Texas Tech's Accelerator Program. The Texas Tech Accelerator Program helps faculty, students, and other entrepreneurs in the region launch startup companies or find licensing opportunities based on inventions and university technology. 

3 CulinaryMed Docs will have access to funding support, $25,000 in grants, co-working space, and industry mentors during the year-long process. In addition, during the closing event at the Buddy Holly Hall, Dr. Childress gave the team's 60 Second Pitch, and the team was awarded the audience's People's Choice Award for their favorite pitch. Gaining experience from customer insight and this award from the Innovation Hub, 3 CulinaryMed Docs moves forward to develop their app and produce educational videos. 

Nutritional Sciences Faculty Win Innovation Hub Accelerator Competition for Novel Startup

Department Announcements

Class of 2022 Graduation Celebration

The Nutritional Sciences (NS) Department celebrated our Spring 2022 graduates on May 13, 2022. The hybrid celebration offered virtual attendance for anyone unable to attend in person. 

  • Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics
    • Luminita Bota
    • Isabella Brown
    • Katelyn Fernandez
    • Alexandra Jacobs
    • Krista Mckay
    • Shannon Mitchell
    • Mahlech Ojulu
    • Ashley Stickley
    • Kristina Suarez
    • Marissa Varni
    • Kelley Ann Worden
    • Baiyu Zhao
  • Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences
    • Tiffany Nguyen
  • Doctorate in Nutritional Sciences
    • Tariful Islam
    • Li-Ling (Penny) Peng

100% of Texas Tech Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics (NSCD) Senior Students Match!

Texas Tech NSCD seniors received results about internship matches this semester, and 100% of students applying for an internship received a match! To become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), students must not only complete their bachelor's degree but also a post-baccalaureate internship of >1000 hours of supervised practice and a master's degree before sitting for the RD Exam to gain credentials. To be competitive for internships, our NSCD majors worked through our rigorous degree plan to achieve a competitive GPA along with attaining paid work experience, volunteer hours, and leadership experience. Students submitted applications in February and waited (not so) patiently for Notification Day in early April to find out if and where they matched. Nationally, the match rate for students to dietetic internships is about 60%. Our match rate was, once again, 100% with all 30 students who applied matching. This incredible match rate speaks not only to the quality of these students but also to the quality of the faculty educators and mentors of the Texas Tech Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). Also, congratulations to DPD Director Holli Booe for so effectively leading the program!  

40th Annual U.S. Foods: Food and Nutrition Seminar

  • The US Foods: Food and Nutrition Seminar is designed for registered dietitians and certified dietary managers to receive the latest information on nutrition and food service topics. This is the 40th year we have held this seminar and topics covered included “Weight Control & the Brain” presented by Dr. Andrew Shin and “Culinary Medicine Intervention Using Digital Technology” presented by Dr. Shannon Galyean. Additional topics were “The Impact of COVID-19 on Health Inspections,” which met the required sanitation continuing education unit (CEU), and “Mitigating Bias for Inclusive Excellence,” meeting the ethics CEU. Other presentations were “The Latest Technology to Treat Diabetes,” “Nutritional Education/Intervention for Kidney Disease,” “Eating Disorders,” and “Personalized Nutrition through Nutrigenomics.”  This year we also had an expo that helps support our scholarships for Texas Tech students.

40th Annual U.S. Foods: Food and Nutrition Seminar

Department Alums Receive Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND) Awards

  • Dr. Jada Lynn Willis, RDN, LD, received the Outstanding Nutrition Education Award. Dr. Willis is a former TTU dietetic intern and obtained her Ph.D. at TTU.
  • Henley Davis, RD, LD, received the Outstanding Preceptor Award. Henley is a former TTU undergraduate who did her internship in Dallas.
  • Whitney Warminski, RD, CSO, LD, received the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year-North Award. Whitney is a former TTU dietetic intern.

Goodbye to Associate Professor Dr. John Dawson

Dr. John Dawson will be leaving Texas Tech at the end of the semester and joining the Department of Economics, Applied Statistics, and International Business at New Mexico State University. Best of luck, Dr. Dawson! You will be missed.

Goodbye to Taylor Reasoner, Coordinator of NS Undergraduate, Graduate, and Online Programs

Taylor Reasoner, Coordinator of NS Undergraduate, Graduate, and Online Programs, left Texas Tech at the end of April. Taylor accepted an exciting new position as Director of Financial Planning at a firm in Dallas. Taylor started her job with NS in September 2019. Over the last two and a half years, she contributed significantly to the success and growth of our department. We wish Taylor well in her new journey. Taylor's calm and pleasant demeanor, thoughtful input, and proactive initiatives will be missed! Taking her place is Amy Montoya. Welcome to the team, Amy!

New Nutritional Sciences Newsletter Editor and Social Media Manager

  • Department Chair Dr. Nik Dhurandhar would like to announce that, after timely publishing the Nutritional Sciences newsletter for the past several years, Chelsi Webster will be stepping down as the editor and social media manager as she prepares to write and defend her Ph.D. dissertation in a month. Her prompt, careful, organized, and dedicated service to the department as newsletter editor under the guidance of Dr. Allison Childress is very much appreciated. Chelsi has started the Texas Tech dietetic internship and intends to launch her career as Ph.D., RD. Wishing Chelsi all the very best!
  • Harsh Shah, Ph.D. candidate from Dr. Andy Shin's Neurobiology of Nutrition Laboratory, will be the new editor for the newsletter and social media manager for the department. While he has big shoes to fill, his interest, excitement, energy, and track record promise to do a great job! Harsh is excited about this new role and wants to actively contribute to raising awareness, improving outreach initiatives, and strengthening faculty, student, and community engagement through social media and newsletters. Please join Dr. Dhurandhar in welcoming Harsh in this new position. 

New NS Newsletter Editor and Social Media Manager

Shelley Fillipp, M.S., RDN, LD, and Lydia Kloiber, M.S., RDN, LD, Retire

  • Associate Professor of Practice and Assistant Director of Dietetic Internship Shelley Fillipp, M.S., RDN, LD, and Associate Professor of Practice, Associate Chair, and Undergraduate Program Director Lydia Kloiber, M.S., RDN, LD, both retired this semester. 
  • Mrs. Fillipp's background includes 25 plus years of work experience with Texas Tech Dining, Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP), outpatient nutrition counseling at multiple sites, and consulting work for long-term care facilities, small hospitals, and patient counseling in physician offices. She has been at Texas Tech University since 2007 and enjoys teaching and mentoring students at both the undergraduate and graduate level and bringing work experience and knowledge into the classroom. Shelley has received the Outstanding Dietetic Educator Award from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND). 
  • Lydia Kloiber has been a registered dietitian nutritionist for 20 years. As a clinical dietitian, she practiced in critical care and neonatal nutrition and was the nutrition support dietitian. Lydia also worked as a consulting dietitian for long-term care facilities and rural hospitals before joining the faculty at Texas Tech. She served as an expert witness for multiple medical malpractice legal cases across the country and Director of the DPD from 2007-2015. Lydia was instrumental in creating online courses for the NS undergraduate program.
  • Thank you both for your dedication and service to our department over the years. You will be missed!

Shelley Fillipp, M.S., RDN, LD, and Lydia Kloiber, M.S., RDN, LD, Retire

Student Spotlight: Kendra Doege, Undergraduate

Kendra is a graduating senior NSCD major and student worker in the Nutrition Office. Kendra just got accepted into the Masters in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics and Dietetic Internship here at Texas Tech and plans to go on to become a registered dietitian. Kendra goes above and beyond in whatever she does. She is a leader in the classroom and has served as a First Year Mentor to help the transition for students coming into the university. Kendra is graduating with a 3.8 GPA in a challenging degree plan, working, being active in student organizations, and volunteering in her community.

Student Spotlight: Kendra Doege, Undergraduate

Texas Tech Dietetic Internship Fills All Spots

The Texas Tech Dietetic Internship filled 100% of the 22 spots at all four locations across west Texas during our recent match. Applicants applied from 19 different universities across 9 different states. The volume and variety of applications speaks to the reputation the Texas Tech Dietetic Internship has across the country regarding supervised experiential learning and for producing well prepared dietetic practitioners (registered dietitians). Congratulations to Shelley Fillipp, our outgoing director of dietetic internship, and Allison Kerin, our new director of internship, for their great work!

Nutrition & Metabolic Health Initiative (NMHI)

  • First American Psychological Association Accredited Clinical Practicum Student Matches with an Internship
    • Yazmine Huizar is the first student in the American Psychological Association (APA) accredited clinical practicum in psychology that was conducted at NMHI. For her practicum, Yazmine worked at NMHI in the Optifast program with Dr. Shannon Galyean and was the primary provider in the TEMPO program. She also co-developed the high school training program during the summer of 2021. Dr. Martin Binks is the chair of Yazmine's graduate committee for her Ph.D. program in clinical psychology. Dr. Binks is pleased to announce that Yazmine passed a major milestone in matching at an APA-approved internship site. A final clinical requirement of the clinical psychology Ph.D. is a one-year internship (like medical residency). Yazmine will join the Lexington, KY, VA Health Care System, where she will begin training in July 2022. Yazmine will have the opportunity to receive further specialized training in behavioral medicine and clinical psychology. Congratulations to Dr. Binks and Yazmine on this achievement, and congratulations to NMHI for successfully training students beyond Nutritional Sciences!
  • NMHI Celebrates World Obesity Day with Free Open House

 NMHI Celebrates World Obesity Day with Free Open House

  • NMHI Director Receives Research Gift to Consider Nutritional Factors in Prostate Cancer
    • NMHI Director Dr. Martin Binks received a gift in the amount of $10,000 from a private donor to consider nutritional factors in prostate cancer.
  • NMHI Featured in College of Human Sciences Yearly Impact Report
    • This year's report focused on centers and institutes and featured NMHI, which supports the local community and trains future healthcare providers. At NMHI, students are offered the rare opportunity to conduct research with obesity experts and work with patients. The feature includes quotes from Dr. Nik Dhurandhar (Department Chair and founder of NMHI), Dr. Shin Shan Cho (NS and NMHI alum), Dr. Martin Binks (NMHI Director), Chelsi Webster (Ph.D. candidate), and Yazmine Huizar (Ph.D. candidate). 
    • Read more about the impact of this center and student experiences in the report: https://indd.adobe.com/view/15c86956-7563-4baf-a4ff-345580ce6ce2
  • NMHI Welcomes New Staff Member
    • NMHI welcomed Shannon Harris as the new Administrative Coordinator this past semester. Welcome to the team, Shannon!
  • Students Represent NMHI with Scientific Presentations at the Undergraduate Research Conference
    • Undergraduates Joey Carroll, Shruthi Durai, Casen Bigham, and Hanna Weiser represented NMHI with scientific presentations at this year's Undergraduate Research Conference through the Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences (TrUE). Undergraduates worked with graduate students Fereshteh Dehghani, Tanisha Basu, and Yazmine Huizar from Dr. Binks' Lab to prepare their research presentations.

 Students Represent NMHI with Scientific Presentations at the Undergraduate Research Conference

Obesity Research Institute (ORI)

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

  • Marqui Benavides
    • Degree: M.S.
    • Defense Date: March 25, 2022
    • Thesis Title: A Needs Assessment Survey to Identify Nutrition Knowledge Deficits in Graduating D1 Collegiate Athletes for Subsequent Development of a Pre-Graduation Nutrition Education Course
    • Thesis Committee: Dr. Allison Childress (Chair), Dr. John Dawson, and Dr. Wilna-Oldewage-Theron
  • Tiffany Nguyen
    • Degree: M.S.
    • Defense Date: March 30, 2022
    • Thesis Title: Development of a Mouse Model to Study the Progression of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to Hepatocellular Carcinoma
    • Thesis Committee: Dr. Vijay Hegde (Chair), Dr. Allison Childress, and Dr. Andrew Shin
  • Tariful Islam
    • Degree: Ph.D.
    • Defense Date: March 4, 2022
    • Dissertation Title: Mechanisms Mediating Protective Metabolic Effects of Curcumin in Obesity
    • Dissertation Committee: Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa (Chair), Dr. Nishan Sudheera Kalupahana, Dr. Oak-Hee Park, Dr. Natalia Shlabritz-Lutsevich, Dr. Masoud Zabet-Moghaddam, and Dr. Ali Nejat (Dean's Representative)
  • Phrashiah Githinji
    • Degree: Ph.D.
    • Defense Date: March 11, 2022
    • Dissertation Title: A Theory-Based Education Intervention for Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Peri-Urban Areas in Nairobi, Kenya
    • Dissertation Committee: Dr. Mary Murimi (Chair), Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa, Dr. Kristina Petersen, Dr. John Dawson, and Dr. Duke Appiah (TTUHSC)
  • Faith Bala
    • Degree: Ph.D.
    • Defense Date: March 29, 2022
    • Dissertation Title: A Theory-Based Nutrition Education Intervention to Promote Optimal Breastfeeding Practices among Lactating Women in East Wollega, Ethiopia
    • Dissertation Committee: Dr. Mary Murimi (Chair), Dr. Fekadu Habtamu, Dr. John Dawson, Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa, and Dr. Kristina Petersen

Lab Updates

Community and International Nutrition Research (CINR) Lab (Dr. Mary Murimi)

  • Faith Bala successfully completed her doctoral defense, “A Theory-Based Nutrition Education Intervention to Promote Optimal Breastfeeding Practices and Healthful Dietary Practices among Lactating Women in East Wollega, Ethiopia.” Her graduate committee members were Drs. Mary Murimi (Chair), Naima Moustaid-Moussa, John Dawson, Kristina Petersen, and Habtamu Fekadu of Wollega University in Ethiopia. Faith joined the department in Fall 2019 after completing her BSc in food science and nutrition from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and a master's degree in food science and technology from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, both in Nigeria. Before joining TTU, she was a lecturer at Kogi State College of Nursing in Nigeria. Faith has published two peer-reviewed papers with two manuscripts under review and two in preparation. She will be presenting part of her dissertation findings at Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) 2022. Faith was a teaching assistant for the Medical Terminology course and the Nutrition and Sustainability of Global Food Supplies course and worked at the Raider Red Food Pantry as a graduate assistant. She is currently planning to start a dietetic internship via the Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway. Congratulations, Faith!
  • Phrashiah Githinji successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, “A Theory-based Education Intervention for Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Peri-Urban Areas in Nairobi, Kenya.” Her graduate committee included Dr. Mary Murimi (Chair), Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa, Dr. John Dawson, Dr. Kristina Petersen, and Dr. Appiah of TTUHSC. Phrashiah joined the department in Spring 2019 after completing her BSc in nutrition and master's in public health from Kenyatta University in Kenya. Before joining TTU, Phrashiah was a lecturer in the department of Public Health Nutrition at the Kenya Medical College and an adjunct lecturer at Daystar University. Phrashiah has published four peer-reviewed papers with two manuscripts under review and two in preparation. She will be presenting part of her dissertation findings at SNEB 2022 and Nutrition 2022, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). Phrashiah received several scholarships from the NS Department (2019-2022) including the Yang F N Scholarship and the Margaret Carter Scholarship. She has also been highly active in the Graduate Nutrition Organization (GNO) and served as Community Outreach and Social Media Liaison. Phrashiah has been an active member of SNEB student division and is involved in the SNEB mentorship program as well. She served as a teaching assistant in Community Nutrition and Advanced Research Methods since 2020 and taught and assisted with other undergraduate/graduate courses. While at TTU, Phrashiah worked in student affairs with the Center of Campus Life as Graduate Assistant in Transition & Engagement where she was part of organizing Red Raider Orientation, Hub City Fest, Raider Roundup, and Tech Leadership Institute. She was also the graduate assistant at the Raider Red Food Pantry and served as a fundraising ambassador for the Raider Red Food Pantry (2019-2020) where she helped in creating awareness of food insecurity among students. Phrashiah is currently interviewing for academic and research positions in the field of Community Nutrition. Congratulations to Phrashiah!

Dr. Binks Lab at NMHI

  • Name Change: For the last 8+ years, Dr. Binks maintained his research efforts under the name of the Behavioral Medicine & Translational Research (BMTR) Lab. Moving forward, Dr. Binks has decided to rebrand the lab and refer to his research team as Dr. Binks Lab at NMHI. 
  • Recruiting for a Research Study: 4-Week Weight Loss Program
    • $25 per study visit ($50 total)
    • FREE WEIGHT LOSS INTERVENTION; BODY FAT & METABOLISM MEASUREMENT  
    • Study is approximately 4 TOTAL weeks
    • One 10-minute telephone eligibility screen
    • Two approx. 1.5-hour in-person assessment sessions
    • What to expect: Telephone screen and initial in-person assessment we will check for eligibility. If eligible, you will be enrolled in the program; have your weight, body fat, and metabolism measured; and be given a 4-week weight loss diet intervention to follow.
    • Who can join? Men and women with a BMI of > 25 who are between 18 and 25 years of age who are currently enrolled as full-time college students and meet eligibility criteria.
    • Find out more:
  • Yazmine Huizar, a fifth-year doctoral candidate under the mentorship of Dr. Martin Binks, was awarded a Graduate Student Research Support Award by the Graduate School. The funds were used for expenses related to her doctoral dissertation, which is a randomized controlled clinical trial exploring whether supplementing a standard, cognitive behavioral lifestyle intervention for weight loss with a novel body image protocol would yield greater improvements for both weight loss and psychosocial outcomes.  

Yazmine Huizar

Nutrigenomics, Inflammation & Obesity Research (NIOR) Lab (Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa)

  • Tariful Islam successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation, “Mechanisms Mediating Protective Metabolic Effects of Curcumin in Obesity.” His committee members were Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa (Committee Chair, NS Horn Professor and Director of the ORI), Dr. Nishan Sudheera Kalupahana (Senior Professor, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and NS Adjunct Graduate faculty), Dr. Oak-Hee Park (Research Assistant Professor, Human Sciences and NS Adjunct Graduate faculty), Dr. Natalia Schlabritz-Lutsevich (external member, formerly TTUHSC Graduate faculty), Dr. Masoud Zabet-Moghaddam (external member, formerly TTU Graduate faculty), and Dr. Ali Nejat (Dean's Representative & Associate Professor; Civil, Environment & Construction Engineering). Tariful joined our department in Fall 2018. He earned his BS in biotechnology and genetic engineering in 2010 from Khulna University, Bangladesh. Before joining TTU, Tariful had extensive work experience through six years at a biopharmaceutical company on bacterial and yeast system-based research and development of therapeutic proteins. He was also a research fellow in the Probiotics Research Laboratory at Juntendo University and Yakult Central Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan. Tariful's dissertation research focused on dissecting mechanisms by which curcumin exerts metabolic benefits in diet-induced obesity and inflammation. Specifically, he identified changes in gut microbiota composition, systemic and adipose tissue inflammatory markers, as well as the potential role of curcumin metabolites in mediating curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects in cultured adipocytes and some global changes in gene and protein expressions linked to these effects. Tariful published five peer-reviewed papers, two of which are from work at TTU, in Advances in Nutrition and Molecular Nutrition and Food Research journals. He has eight conference paper presentations, one review manuscript pending submission, and two additional research papers in preparation. Tariful received several honors and awards at TTU, including the Margaret Chan Carter Scholarship (2021-2022) and Nominee for the Student Academic Citizenship Award (2021). He was also a finalist for the 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition (2019 & 2020) and Nominee for TTU Student Involvement (2020). Tariful was the recipient of the Student Leader of the Year Award, Study Abroad Competitive Scholarship (2019 & 2020), and Graduate Student Research Support Award and was the Student of the Month, College of Human Sciences, too. He placed third in the Graduate Student Poster Competition at the 2019 ORI Annual Meeting and received other scholarships from the Department of Nutritional Sciences (2018-2021). At the national level, Tariful was a finalist for the Emerging Leader in Nutrition Science Competition and received a Travel Award as a finalist for the Dietary Bioactive Components Poster Competition at the Nutrition 2019 conference in Baltimore. He has been very active in the GNO and served as GNO President. Tariful has already accepted a postdoc position on a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded project at the University of Florida's McKnight Brain Institute to explore the dynamic interactions between the brain and adipose tissue in obesity. He will join this position in June 2022 following graduation. Wishing Tariful all the best!

Obesity & Metabolic Health Lab (OMHL) (Drs. Dhurandhar, Hegde, and Reddy)

  • Ph.D. candidate Chelsi Webster participated in the January 2022 Groundwork Program January 5-7, 2022. The Groundwork Program is an opportunity for graduate students and postdocs at Texas Tech University to learn more about teaching essentials in the college classroom.
  • Tiffany Nguyen successfully passed her thesis defense for the M.S. degree. The title of her master's thesis was “Development of a Mouse Model to Study the Progression of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to Hepatocellular Carcinoma.” Tiffany's graduate committee included Drs. Vijay Hegde (Chair), Andrew Shin, and Allison Childress. Tiffany received her BS in nutritional sciences and dietetics with a minor in biology here at Texas Tech. Tiffany was highly involved in extracurricular activities during her undergraduate years and continues to be active today as she is currently a coach for the Ultimate Frisbee Club (Tumbleweed) and Colony Advisor for her sorority (Lambda Delta Psi Sorority, Inc.). Tiffany also held a leadership position (treasurer) in the GNO. After receiving her master's degree, she wishes to pursue a dietetic internship and work in the sports industry.

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Student Achievements

  • Alejandra Amezola-Velazquez, M.S. Student
    • Received the Helen C. Brittin Scholarship from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND). This scholarship was established in 2008 by Dr. Helen Brittin and is awarded to a TTU student studying Food and Nutrition/Dietetics with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
    • Received the Lubbock Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Scholarship from the TAND. Fully endowed in October 2003, the scholarship was endowed through long-term efforts of Ms. Lydia Kloiber and March 2003 Fun Run Chair Gina Jarman, with Janet Basom as District President when the grant was secured. The recipient must be a TTU dietetic intern with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a resident of the Lubbock Academy area. 
  • Marqui Benavides, M.S. Student
    • Successfully defended her thesis for her M.S. degree. The title of her master's thesis was “A Needs Assessment Survey to Identify Nutrition Knowledge Deficits in Graduating D1 Collegiate Athletes for Subsequent Development of a Pre-Graduation Nutrition Education Course.” Marqui's graduate committee was Dr. Allison Childress (chair), Dr. John Dawson, and Dr. Wilna Oldewage-Theron. Based upon the needs assessment conducted as her master's project, she will be working with Drs. Childress and Oldewage-Theron to develop a curriculum for retiring student athletes. Marqui completed her undergraduate degree in NSCD as well as her dietetic internship at TTU. As a Texas Tech McNair Scholar, Marqui began doing research in the Energy Balance & Body Composition Lab in the Kinesiology Department and helped with several projects resulting in eight co-authored publications. This is remarkable for an undergraduate student. Her research focused on assessing the validity of body composition assessment methods. Marqui plans to take the dietetic registration exam soon to become a registered dietitian and will be starting her doctoral program in our department in the fall. Congratulations, Marqui!
  • Shin Shan Cho, M.S. Student
    • Received the Corlis Pate Memorial Scholarship from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Established in 2008, to honor Corlis Pate, MS, RD, LD, FADA, this scholarship is awarded to a TTU dietetic intern with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a resident of the Lubbock DDA area.
  • Kendra Doege, Undergraduate
    • Received the South Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Scholarship from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND). Established in January 2003, the scholarship was endowed through the efforts of dietitians to support students. South Texas Academy now awards yearly 2 merit-based scholarships of approximately $500 each to 2 qualified recipients from the annual scholarship fund and Foundation endowment fund. The recipient must be a current graduate, undergraduate, or dietetic intern studying/majoring in nutrition or food science. The recipient must also be a resident in any of the counties serviced by South Texas Academy.
    • Received the Helen Lane Nutrition Research Scholarship from the TAND. The purpose of this scholarship is to promote nutrition research by dietitians. The Texas resident student should be pursuing or be a registered dietitian. The scholarship is to provide funding to assist the student's training in nutrition research. These funds provide research expenses such as laboratory supplies, books, paper, computer usage, and potentially travel. Nutrition research covers food science and technology, clinical or community dietetics, food service, or nutritional biochemistry.
  • Joy Driver, Undergraduate
    • Received the West Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – Miriam Curry Scholarship from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND). Established in 2001 by colleagues and friends of Miriam Curry, this scholarship was begun as a $500 annual scholarship. Miriam, a beloved member of the Texas Academy and Academy, was a founding member of the West Texas Academy. She served twice as district president, as Texas Academy president, a 3-term delegate, and continuously on the Texas Academy Board in a variety of positions for more than 30 years. Miriam has been actively involved with the Academy Dietetic Practice Group Nutrition Education for the Public since 1983 and started their first newsletter. When recognized as a 50-year Academy member in 1994, Miriam was still working full time in the Consumer Services Division of the Associated Milk Producers, Inc., a position she held from 1971 to 1995. Miriam was honored as Texas Distinguished Dietitian in 1988. The West Texas Academy-Miriam Curry was fully endowed with the help of the Texas Academy Foundation in 2003. The recipient must be an undergraduate or graduate student or dietetic intern studying in any area of dietetic practice with preference given to a TTU student with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference is given to a student who is active in the community and has an outgoing, flamboyant personality.
  • Disha Ganjegunte, Undergraduate
    • Selected as a 2022 Frederick Douglass Global Fellow. As a Fellow, Disha has been awarded a full scholarship to represent Texas Tech in Ireland for a four-week leadership program focused on social justice, peace, and conflict resolution.
  • Ritchel Gannaban, Ph.D. Student
    • Received the Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Abstract Recognition Award from the ASN. This award recognizes the highest quality research presented by students and young investigators at the Nutrition 2022 conference.
  • Ally Huerta, M.S. Student
    • Received the Mozzelle Craddock Scholarship from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND). This is one of the original scholarships in effect when the Foundation was organized in 1983 and was established in honor of a former member of the Texas Academy who dedicated her life to the teaching and training of dietitians. This former member taught at Texas Woman's University and TTU. Recipients must be an undergraduate or graduate nutrition/dietetic student.
  • Alyssa Kramer, Undergraduate
    • Received an Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award for her poster “FGF21 mediates restored BCAA metabolism following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) surgery in mice.” This was part of the URC in March. Congratulations!
  • Hyunjung Grace Lee, Ph.D. Student
    • Awarded first place in the Biological Life Sciences division at the 21st Annual Texas Tech Graduate Student Research Poster Competition. Grace developed an innovative eHealth intervention to improve dietary intake and physical activity among toddlers from low-income families in Lubbock, Texas. 
  • Caitlyn Mullins, Ph.D. Candidate
    • Received the Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Abstract Recognition Award from the ASN. This award recognizes the highest quality research presented by students and young investigators at the Nutrition 2022 conference.
  • Wasiuddin Najam, M.S. Student
    • Awarded a $1000 scholarship grant by the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) to attend their Annual Training Conference May 24-26, 2022, in Austin, TX.
  • Shadi Nejat, Ph.D. Student
    • Won the Graduate Student Poster Competition for the second consecutive year for her presentation “DNAJB3 Deficiency Exacerbates Metabolic Dysfunctions in Diet-Induced Obese Mice.”
    • Granted the International Travel Award to participate in the Digital Humanities program at Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic) during the Summer Interdisciplinary Colloquium Natural and Artificial Intelligences within the European Union program.

 

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Faculty Awards

Dr. Allison Childress, RDN, LD

  •   Ajinomoto Young Investigator Pilot Grant from Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc.
    • This ASN award provides a $10,000 pilot grant to Dr. Childress and co-investigators Drs. Shannon Galyean and Michelle Alcorn (Hospitality and Retail Management) for their project “Increasing Vegetable Intake Using Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): A Reduced-Effort Intervention.” This study will utilize an electronically delivered culinary medicine program aimed to increase vegetable intake with MSG as a sodium-lowering approach and assess the consumption and acceptability of vegetables prepared with MSG compared to vegetables prepared with table salt (NaCl) or potassium chloride (KCl) in healthy adults.
  • Accelerator Winner & People's Choice Award at the Discoveries to Impact Conference
    • Drs. Allison Childress, Shannon Galyean, and Michelle Alcorn participated in the Accelerator Competition at the culmination of the Texas Tech University Innovation Hub's Discoveries to Impact Conference in April 2022. Of the 15 teams to compete, their start-up 3 CulinaryMed Docs was chosen as one of the 9 teams to participate in the sixth cohort of Texas Tech's Accelerator Program. They will have access to funding support, $25,000 in grants, co-working space, and industry mentors during the year-long process. In addition, during the closing event at the Buddy Holly Hall, Dr. Childress gave the team's 60 Second Pitch, and the team was awarded the audience's People's Choice Award for their favorite pitch. 
    • https://www.depts.ttu.edu/research/research-park/Startup_Program_and_Events/Acceleration/Acceleator_Finalists.php
  • Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Media Award
    • Dr. Childress is a former TTU dietetic intern and received her Ph.D. from TTU. The purpose of the Media Award is to recognize individuals employed by newspapers, radio, and/or television entities or personalities that have made a positive contribution to the profession of dietetics or the promotion of nutrition/dietetics. Dr. Childress was honored with this recognition at the Texas Annual Conference and Exhibition in late April.

Dr. John Dawson

  • Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 2022 High-Impact Author for the following publication:
    • Bakırcı-Taylor, A. L., Reed, D. B., McCool, B., & Dawson, J. A. (2019). mHealth improved fruit and vegetable accessibility and intake in young children. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 51(5), 556-566.
    • Citations 2019-2021: 18

Dr. Nik Dhurandhar

  • 2022 TTU President's Excellence in Research Commercialization Award
    • The intent of this award is to recognize outstanding contributions to the commercialization of innovative work conducted by TTU faculty. The award consists of a $5,000 cash gift and framed certificate. The award recognized Dr. Dhurandhar and his team's efforts in substantially advancing the development of an anti-diabetes drug from a viral protein and for obtaining significant external investment for commercialization of this research.

Shelley Fillipp, M.S., RDN, LD

  • Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND) Texas Distinguished Dietitian Award
    • Also known as Outstanding Dietitian of The Year (ODY)-Affiliate Award, this is the highest honor bestowed on a member by the TAND. It is designed to recognize and honor a Texas dietitian who has made outstanding and significant contributions to the TAND, as well as the profession of dietetics. The ODY Award recognizes the commitment to excellence made by an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership. Shelley was honored with this recognition at the Texas Annual Conference and Exhibition in late April.

Dr. Shannon Galyean 

  • Ajinomoto Young Investigator Pilot Grant from Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc.
    • This ASN award provides a $10,000 pilot grant to Dr. Galyean and co-investigators Drs. Allison Childress and Michelle Alcorn (Hospitality and Retail Management) for their project “Increasing Vegetable Intake Using Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): A Reduced-Effort Intervention.” This study will utilize an electronically delivered culinary medicine program aimed to increase vegetable intake with MSG as a sodium-lowering approach and assess the consumption and acceptability of vegetables prepared with MSG compared to vegetables prepared with table salt (NaCl) or potassium chloride (KCl) in healthy adults.
  • Accelerator Winner & People's Choice Award at the Discoveries to Impact Conference
    • Drs. Allison Childress, Shannon Galyean and Michelle Alcorn participated in the Accelerator Competition at the culmination of the Texas Tech University Innovation Hub's Discoveries to Impact Conference in April 2022. Of the 15 teams to compete, their start-up 3 CulinaryMed Docs was chosen as one of the 9 teams to participate in the sixth cohort of Texas Tech's Accelerator Program. They will have access to funding support, $25,000 in grants, co-working space, and industry mentors during the year-long process. In addition, during the closing event at the Buddy Holly Hall, Dr. Childress gave the team's 60 Second Pitch, and the team was awarded the audience's People's Choice Award for their favorite pitch.
    • https://www.depts.ttu.edu/research/research-park/Startup_Program_and_Events/Acceleration/Acceleator_Finalists.php

Dr. Vijay Hegde 

  • 2022 TTU Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award 
    • This award from the Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences involved receiving special recognition at the URC banquet and Discoveries to Impact (DTI) Week closing awards this year. The award description says, “We respect and support all that you do as a faculty mentor and hope that you will continue to strive for excellence as you work with undergraduates at Texas Tech University.”

Dr. Kristina Petersen 

  • 2022 TTU Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award
    • This award from the Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences involved receiving special recognition at the URC banquet and DTI Week closing awards this year. The award description says, “We respect and support all that you do as a faculty mentor and hope that you will continue to strive for excellence as you work with undergraduates at Texas Tech University.”

Dr. Andrew Shin 

  • TTU Alumni Association New Faculty Award Nominee
    • The awards are presented to faculty who have four years, or fewer, of service at any university and have earned distinction for dedicated service to Texas Tech.

 

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 Funding

  • Title: Come N Go Grant
    • Funding Agency: College of Human Sciences)
    • Total Amount: $5,000
    • Principal Investigator: Dr. Nik Dhurandhar
  • Title: Lp(a) and Oxidized Phospholipids - Impact of Diets
    • Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
    • Total Amount: $2,423,788
    • Sponsor's Award Number: R01HL157535-01A1
    • Duration: 12/15/2021-11/30/2025
    • Principal Investigator: Dr. Enkhmaa Byambaa (University of California-Davis)
    • Co-Investigators: Drs. Kristina Petersen (TTU Site Lead Principal Investigator), Penny Kris-Etherton (Penn State University Site Lead Principal Investigator), Oliver Fiehn (University of California-Davis), and Heejung Bang (University of California-Davis)
    • Collaborator: Dr. Lars Berglund (University of California-Davis)
  • Title: Prototyping Grant
    • Funding Agency: Texas Tech Innovation Hub and Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA)
    • Total Amount: $10,000
    • Investigators: Drs. Allison Childress, Shannon Galyean, and Michelle Alcorn
    • The Texas Tech Innovation Hub partnered with the LEDA to establish the Prototype Grant Fund to further the development of startups in Lubbock. It is a competitive grant for prototype development. Drs. Childress, Galyean, and Alcorn will be developing a prototype of a smartphone app to deliver the eCulinary Medicine (eCM) program, designed to assist with improving the diet quality for people with chronic and acute conditions such as diabetes and other endocrine disorders, hypertension, heart disease, GI disorders, cancer, and specialized diets (vegan, lactose-free, etc.). A unique aspect of the program is the repository of various culinary medicine education videos accessed via the internet including eCM videos (recipes that focus on therapeutic foods), educational videos (short, entertaining videos exploring subjects like sodium, added sugars, fiber, label reading, etc.), and skills videos (knife skills, cooking skills, etc.) which will ensure that patients benefit regardless of their knowledge base or skill level.
  • Title: Serotonin Modulated Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Depression, Diabetes and Dementia (3Ds).
    • Funding Agency: NIH
    • Total Amount: $2,630,385
    • Grant Number: R01 AG071560-01 A1
    • Duration: 2/15/2022-01/2027
    • Principal Investigator: Dr. Arubala P. Reddy
    • Co-Investigators: Drs. Vijay K. Hegde and Andy C. Shin 
    • Consultants: Drs. Nik Dhurandhar and P. Hemachandra Reddy (TTUHSC)

Presentations, Publications, and Invited Lectures and Boards

Faculty Abstracts

  • Riley, T., Sapp, P., Petersen, K., & Kris-Etherton, P. M. (2022). Abstract P059: Effects of Saturated Fatty Acid on Lipoprotein (a): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Circulation, 145(Suppl_1), AP059-AP059.

Journal Articles

  • Abbas, M. M., Soto, P., Ramalingam, L., El-Manzalawy, Y., Bensmail, H., & Moustaid-Moussa, N. (2022). Sex Differences in Fish Oil and Olanzapine Effects on Gut Microbiota in Diet-Induced Obese Mice. Nutrients, 14(2), 349.
  • Akheruzzaman, M., Hegde, V., & Dhurandhar, N. V. (2022). COVID-19, Other Microbial Infections, and Obesity. In G. Bray & C. Bouchard (Eds.), Handbook of Obesity, Vol. 1 (chapter 34). Accepted.
  • Chen, Y. T., Ramalingam, L., Garcia, C. R., Ding, Z., Wu, J., Moustaid-Moussa, N., & Li, W. (2022). Engineering and Characterization of a Biomimetic Microchip for Differentiating Mouse Adipocytes in a 3D Microenvironment. Pharmaceutical Research, 39(2), 329-340.
  • DeMartino, P., Johnston, E. A., Petersen, K. S., Kris-Etherton, P. M., & Cockburn, D. W. (2022). Additional Resistant Starch from One Potato Side Dish per Day Alters the Gut Microbiota but Not Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acid Concentrations. Nutrients, 14(3), 721.
  • Dhurandhar, N. V. (2022). The Simplistic View of Obesity Management: A Curse in Disguise. Accepted. International Journal of Obesity, 46(5).
  • Dhurandhar, N. V. (2022). What is obesity? International Journal of Obesity, 1-2.
  • Della Guardia, L., & Shin, A. C. (2022). White and brown adipose tissue functionality is impaired by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure. Journal of Molecular Medicine, 1-12.
  • Kitessa, D. A., Bacha, K., Tola, Y. B., Murimi, M., Smith, E., & Gershe, S. (2022). Nutritional compositions and bioactive compounds of “Shameta”, A traditional home made fermented porridge provided exclusively to lactating mothers in the western part of Ethiopia. Heliyon, 8(2), e08990.
  • Moyo, G., Montenegro-Montenegro, E., Stickley, Z., Egal, A., & Oldewage-Theron, W. (2021). A Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Examine the Relationship between Socioeconomic Status, Diet Quality and Dyslipidaemia in South African Children and Adolescents, 6–18 Years. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), 12825.
  • Mubtasim, N., Moustaid-Moussa, N., & Gollahon, L. (2022). The Complex Biology of the Obesity-Induced, Metastasis-Promoting Tumor Microenvironment in Breast Cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(5), 2480.
  • Rahman, M., & Jun, H. (2022). The Adipose Tissue Macrophages Central to Adaptive Thermoregulation. Frontiers in Immunology, 1683.
  • Weschenfelder, C., Sapp, P., Riley, T., Petersen, K., da Silva, J. T., Bersch-Ferreira, A. C., ... & Marcadenti, A. (2022). Absolute and Relative Agreement between the Current and Modified Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional Program Dietary Index (BALANCE DI) and the American Heart Association Healthy Diet Score (AHA-DS) in Post Myocardial Infarction Patients. Nutrients, 14(7), 1378.
  • Yavari, M., Ramalingam, L., Harris, B. N., Kahathuduwa, C., Chavira, A., Biltz, C., Mounce, P., Alers Alers, K., Davis, M., Zu, Y. & Moustaid‐Moussa, N. (2021). Protective effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on metabolic features and cognitive function in the APPswePS1dE9 Alzheimer's mouse model. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 17, e054179.

Invited Lectures, Presentations, and Panels

  • Dr. Nik Dhurandhar
    • “Insparin: An Adenoviral Protein that Improves Glycemic Control.” Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University.
  • Dr. Shannon Galyean
    • “Culinary Medicine Intervention Using Digital Technology.” US Foods: Food and Nutrition Seminar, Lubbock, TX. May 17, 2022.
  • Gugulethu Moyo, Ph.D. Candidate
    • “Breastmilk and Chrononutrition.” [Webinar]. United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA). May 5, 2022. 
  • Dr. Kristina Petersen
    • “Peanut-Enriched Weight Loss Diet: Weight Loss, Glycemic Control and Blood Pressure.” The Peanut Institute Meeting, Napa, CA. April 10, 2022.
    • Integrative Management of Dyslipidemia: Role of Nutrition, Exercise and Weight Management.” Cardiometabolic Health Congress Masterclass – Connecting the Dots in Cardiometabolic Medicine: Integrative Approaches to Improve Patient Care. Hollywood Beach, FL. April 30, 2022.
  • Dr. Andrew Shin
    • “Weight Control & the Brain.” US Foods: Food and Nutrition Seminar, Lubbock, TX. May 17, 2022.

Miscellaneous Board and Other Appointments

  • Holli Booe, MS, RDN, LD, was elected for membership into the TTU Teaching Academy. The mission of the Teaching Academy is to advocate for teaching excellence, promote service related to the university's teaching mission, advise and mentor colleagues and others, and share knowledge about teaching strategies and their implementation as appropriate. The Teaching Academy has been limited to no more than 20% of Texas Tech faculty since its inception in 1997, so those accepted have demonstrated dedication to excellence in teaching and efforts in furthering the development of the scholarship of teaching and learning.
  • Dr. John Dawson received tenure and was promoted to associate professor. This is a recognition of Dr. Dawson's significant contributions to our department, the TTU community, and his professional career.
  • Dr. Vijay Hegde was elected for membership into the TTU Teaching Academy. The mission of the Teaching Academy is to advocate for teaching excellence, promote service related to the university's teaching mission, advise and mentor colleagues and others, and share knowledge about teaching strategies and their implementation as appropriate. The Teaching Academy has been limited to no more than 20% of Texas Tech faculty since its inception in 1997, so those accepted have demonstrated dedication to excellence in teaching and efforts in furthering the development of the scholarship of teaching and learning.
  • Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa, Horn Distinguished Professor, was invited to serve on the Board of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to represent the foods and nutrition areas.
  • Dr. Andrew Shin was appointed as an associate editor of Frontiers in Nutrition & Frontiers in Psychology. 

Meetings

Dr. Nik Dhurandhar participated as an NIH study section reviewer in February 2022 for the Kidney, Nutrition, Obesity, and Diabetes (KNOD) Study Section.

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In the Media

Students

Professors in Local Media

Professors in National Media

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 Graduate Nutrition Organization (GNO)

General Meeting

  • GNO held the Spring General Meeting online via Zoom on Friday, January 14, 2022.

Volunteer Events

  • Lubbock Meals on Wheels Mardi Gras Fundraising Event, March 1, 2022 – All proceeds from this event went toward the meals and services Meals on Wheels provides to home-bound elderly in our community.

 Lubbock Meals on Wheels Mardi Gras Fundraising Event

  • Arbor Day, April 29, 2022 – GNO officers helped with a 30-min planting session around TTU Memorial Circle.

Arbor Day, April 29, 2022

  • Give Kids a Smile Community Dental Event, April 30, 2022 – This event at the Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater was organized by the South Plains District Dental Society. GNO members gave a presentation on “Nutrition and Dental Health” and manned a booth to give out pamphlets, stickers, and bracelets.

Give Kids a Smile Community Dental Event

 

Fundraisers

  • Chipotle Fundraiser on May 2, 2022 – 33% of event sales were donated to GNO

Faculty Roundtable

  • The Spring 2022 NS Faculty Roundtable Discussion took place Friday, February 25, 2022. Panelists included Drs. John Dawson, Kristina Petersen, and Andrew Shin. This free, open-to-the-public event focused on “Becoming an Independent Researcher and Goals/Challenges of a Graduate Student.” The discussion was an excellent platform for students to glean from the vast experience of the faculty members and ask questions pertinent to future career decisions.

Faculty Roundtable

 

GNO Cultural Potluck Day

  • This event on April 8th was a unique opportunity for students and faculty members to come together and share their diverse cultural backgrounds through food and attire. Students were encouraged to dress up in traditional attire and bring foods representative of their culture. During this event, students had a chance to present something culture-specific through a short creative showcase via the medium of their choice (PowerPoint, skit, music, etc.). 

GNO Potluck

Early Career Networking and Professional Development Session

  • This hybrid session themed “Valuable Insights from Professionals” was co-sponsored by the Texas Tech Graduate School and held in collaboration with ORI during their annual meeting on May 11, 2022. Panelists included Dr. Nalin Siriwardhana, Senior Associate Director at Bayer US; Dylan Bailey, MS, RD, FAND; and Dr. Phillip S. Sizer Jr., Associate Dean for Research for the School of Health Professions at TTUHSC. 

Early Career Networking and Professional Development Session

New GNO Committee 2022-2023

  • We want to thank the outgoing GNO committee for volunteering their time and energy leading the NS students in many volunteer and fundraising events during the 2021-2022 academic year. Temitope, Shadi, Harsh, Tanisha, Raksa, Carolina, and Zobayda each managed their roles with grace, dedication, and tenacity and had activities planned until the very last week of the semester. The 2021-2022 GNO committee is leaving a legacy of engaging the NS grad students and faculty through faculty roundtables implemented in Fall 2021 – a great idea and learning experience for NS grad students. 
  • We also want to congratulate and welcome the new GNO committee for 2022-2023. We are grateful and excited to have this group of grad students join the committee to bring their unique talents and perspectives to fulfill the mission of the GNO. We look forward to a fruitful new academic year and all the activities that they will plan. Below are the GNO committee members for 2022-2023:
    • President – Shadi Nejat
    • Vice President – Elyvine Ingabire-Gasana
    • Student Organization Representative Council (SORC) – Ritchel Gannaban
    • Social Media/Social Events – Andrea Holwelda
    • Fundraising Chair – Teresa Wang
    • Community Outreach – Fardous Farhana
    • Treasurer – Zobayda Farzhana Haque

New GNO Committee 2022-2023

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