Who I Am

EXTRACURRICULAR

(2022 – Present) Bartender: Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

(2024 – Present) Youth group leader: Mill City Church

(2026) CSU SoGES Diana Wall Master’s Fellow 2026

ACADEMICS

(2025 – Present) Colorado State University Master’s Candidate: Food Science and Human Nutrition

(2020 – 2024) Colorado State University Bachelor of Science: Food Science and Human Nutrition

A Bit About Me

I am a first-year master’s student in the Food Science and Human Nutrition department. I am originally from the Portland area of Oregon, but came to Colorado in 2020 to pursue my undergraduate degree in nutrition. In my free time, I like to read, cook, practice yoga, go on walks, and spend time with/volunteering in my faith community. I love being outdoors, and I prioritize getting as much Colorado sunshine as possible. Food has been my passion since high school, which developed through trying out new recipies to accommodate my many dietary restrictions. My personal food journey is what inspired me to pursue nutrition, showing me the the powerful impact that food and nutrition education have on overall health and well-being.

What I Hope To Do

I am drawn to nutrition work because of how individualized it is, and how direct the benefits are on people’s lives. My primary interests focus on women’s nutrition and health, specifically in global nutrition as well as holistic medicine. I am pursuing both interests during my time at CSU through an independent study with a holistic dietitian and through my thesis work, which is an international nutrition intervention in Zambia. These experiences are shaping my vision of my future career, which involves owning a homestead outside of the United States. I plan to host nutrition interventions on my property while simultaneously running a remote holistic nutrition private practice. The nutrition interventions I hope to run include self-efficacy in food choices, farm-to-table cooking workshops, and education on the benefits of regenerative organic agriculture. Through my private practice, I plan to guide women across all life stages in understanding the needs of their body and how they can best support it. I believe this work is impactful because it would provide me the opportunity to make a difference in my local community, while also giving me the flexibility to apply my interests in holistic nutrition counseling to women beyond my physical proximity. I see a significant disconnect between individuals, food, and their bodies, which is a gap I hope to help bridge through my work of community-focused education and holistic nutrition care.

A Personal Thanks

I am so honored to be chosen as the 2026 recipient of this award. This scholarship is incredibly helpful to my research and thesis trajectory, and provides me with much assurance that I have the resources necessary to carry out my thesis without much worry of financial burdens. I am so grateful that my work has been recognized as significant, and supported by the generosity of this organization and the donors involved. This scholarship is truly making a world of a difference to me and I am excited to continue parterning with the Africa Center and representing CSU in the mission of making a sustainable difference in Africa. Thank you so much for the support. I am sincerely grateful.