Virginia’s health and well-being starts with strong food and nutrition policy, says Mason Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

tthoma8 — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 15:53:58 +0000

Virginia’s health and well-being starts with strong food and nutrition policy, says Mason Department of Nutrition and Food Studies tthoma8 Thu, 02/15/2024 - 10:53

In This Story

Allison Miner, EdD, MS, RDN

Lilian de Jonge, PhD

"Participating in Legislative Day deepened my appreciation for the role of policy and reinforced my commitment to driving positive change through informed advocacy and collaborative efforts with policymakers and stakeholders.”

Katherine Surette
MS, Nutrition '25

Nutrition and Food Studies students and faculty head to Richmond for Legislative Day.
For names of those pictured, see below.

On January 31, students and faculty in the College of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition and Food Studies took part in the Virginia Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (VAND) Legislative Day. At the Virginia General Assembly 2024 session, faculty, staff, and sixteen students in the Master of Science in Nutrition, Dietetics concentration program met with state legislators to share their expertise and expand lawmakers’ knowledge about food, nutrition, and health.

“Faculty and staff in our nutrition and dietetics programs passionately care about legislation that affects our communities. We want legislators to know that here at Mason, we are professionally invested in the health and well-being of Virginia and that nutrition is at the very foundation of public health. Our work is to improve the health of US citizens; everything we do is to prevent disease, eliminate hunger, and assist with chronic disease management,” said Allison Miner, EdD, MS, RDN, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies.

The Nutrition and Food Studies department recognizes the need for policy to advance access to healthy foods. Miner highlights how Legislative Day exemplifies the role nutrition plays in public health.

“Nutrition-related issues such as making school lunch free for Virginia students, increasing SNAP benefits for older adults, or advocating for grant money to feed low-income Virginia college students are directly related to the health and wellness of the United States," said Lilian de Jonge, PhD, interim department chair.

On the Front Lines of Advocacy and Policy Change

VAND’s mission is to support pending legislation important to progressing both the dietetic profession and food-related health in Virginia and across the nation. Priorities for this year were maternal health data and quality measures, school meals becoming available at no cost to students, and combating hunger on college campuses.

Alongside dietitians, dietetic students and interns, and citizens across Virginia, department representatives pushed for these policies to be prioritized.

By participating in VAND’s Legislative Day, students learned about public policy at the state and federal level, which will have a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of the patients, clients, and citizens they will serve as credentialed dietitians.

“We are educating future dietitians who will go on to careers in private practice, hospitals, government, non-profit organizations, and public policy. Showing students that they have direct access to the legislators who are passing bills that affect everyone has demonstrated the power they have as professionals,” said Miner.

Experiencing Change in Action

Katie Surette, MS, Nutrition ‘25

Katherine Surette (MS, Nutrition ‘25) valued the behind the scenes view of the legislative process. "Participating in Legislative Day provided a firsthand understanding of the intricate relationship between nutrition and policy. This experience deepened my appreciation for the role of policy and reinforced my commitment to driving positive change through informed advocacy and collaborative efforts with policymakers and stakeholders,” said Surette, who is in the registered dietitian concentration.

This was the first year the Department participated in VAND’s Legislative Day, and department leaders are planning for this to become an annual event Mason will attend.

Students, faculty, and staff met with state legislators who represent George Mason University as well as those who represent them where they reside. The legislative priorities for VAND included HB 169 Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures, Task Force (to reestablish), HB 686 School meals; availability at no cost to students, and HB 207 Hung-free Campus Grant Program.

First year students Yu Ting (Helen) Huang, Jui-Ching Li, Toqa Elashry, Arleija Williams, Courtney O'Loughlin, Katherine Surette, Khawlah Kheshaifaty, and Mary Christopher ascending steps of the Virginia State Capitol.

Faculty, staff, and students in attendance included Lilian de Jonge (Chair, Nutrition and Food Studies Department), Sapna Batheja (Director, Dietetics MS Program), Allison Miner (Assistant Professor, Dietetics MS Program), and Allison McKay (Department Manager, Nutrition and Food Studies Department). Mason was also represented by members of the George Mason University Board, The President's Council and President Washington himself.

Students in attendance included Asma Benomran, Marcus Brick, Mary Christopher, Chia (Amy) Chun Chang, Toqa Elashry, Yu Ting (Helen) Huang, Eli Kalman-Rome, Khawlah Kheshaifaty, Jui-Ching Li, Courtney O'Loughlin, Mark Rudich, Kiranjyot Sawhney-Duran, Katherine Surette, Monica Vargas, Arleija Williams.

The group photo at the top of the story includes:

Faculty and staff first-row center: Lilian de Jonge (Chair, Nutrition and Food Studies Department), Allison McKay (Department Manager, Nutrition and Food Studies Department), Allison Miner (Assistant Professor, Dietetics MS Program), and Sapna Batheja (Director, Dietetics MS Program)

Students first row left to right: Asma Benomran, Monica Vargas Marcus Brick

Students second row left to right: Kiranjyot Sawhney-Duran, Eli Kalman-Rome, Mark Rudich, Chia (Amy) Chun Chang, Yu Ting (Helen) Huang, Jui-Ching Li, Toqa Elashry, Arleija Williams (top), Courtney O'Loughlin (bottom), Katherine Surette (top), Khawlah Kheshaifaty (bottom), Mary Christopher (top)

Topics

Nutrition Faculty

Nutrition Staff

Nutrition Students

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

food insecurity

Food and Nutrition

Health Policy and Reform

Advocacy

MS Nutrition

Student's Mission to Enhance Public Health Awareness

John Brandon Cantrell — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 18:16:26 +0000

Student's Mission to Enhance Public Health Awareness John Brandon C… Mon, 04/19/2021 - 14:16

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Public Health

Advocacy

Student Spotlight

College of Health and Human Services Department of Global and Community Health

College of Health and Human Services

CHHS News

Master of Public Health Student, Evelyn Zavala, Educates Others on the Importance of Public Health.

Zavala, a Student Ambassador for This is Public Health, educates high school and college students across the nation on the importance of public health and the career opportunities the field provides.

Evelyn Zavala, Master of Public Health student at the College of Health and Human Services, has a mission to educate others on the importance of public health.

As the This is Public Health (TIPH) Student Ambassador for the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), Zavala informs college and high school students across the nation about the opportunities a public health degree provides.

Founded by ASPPH, the This Is Public Health campaign raises awareness about education and career options in public health through outreach initiatives. To date, the group has over 94 Student Ambassadors from across the nation and has participated in 78 graduate fairs and 31 roadshow events to promote public health education.

“I was inspired to pursue being a TIPH Student Ambassador because I wanted to educate high school and college students about public health and how they can get involved or pursue a career in public health,” Zavala said. “After all, when I was a freshman, I had no idea this fantastic field existed.”

According to Zavala, the primary duties of serving as a TIPH Student Ambassador involve engaging in social media outreach, working on various health education projects, giving presentations to students, and answering questions at public health fairs.

“We get to motivate and encourage other people who don't know about public health and all the opportunities available at different universities,” Zavala said. “It's an incredible networking experience and [participants are] extremely diverse in backgrounds and interests.”

Serving as a Student Ambassador for TIPH has presented Zavala with many professional development opportunities that she can apply to her future career, such as networking and public speaking. She also represents Mason’s public health program, where she reflects on why she chose a public health degree and empowers others to pursue similar degrees.

Zavala feels that public health is still overlooked by most students. “The campaign, This is Public Health, highlights how everything around us is public health but not many people know what public health is until a crisis like COVID-19 or an epidemic is mentioned,” Zavala said.

The experience has taught Zavala the importance of working with other dedicated ambassadors to achieve the same goal of increasing the understanding of public health. “What I have seen from all of the TIPH student ambassadors is that we all do a little to make a huge difference,” Zavala said. “Even in different parts of the country, every little bit counts, and we are moving towards healthier lives for the country.”

In May, Zavala will graduate with a Master of Public Health degree and a concentration in Epidemiology. “After graduation, I hope to continue to serve my county in my role as a Case Interviewer for the Institute of Public Health Innovations, working with the Fairfax County Health Department to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Virginia,” Zavala said. “I hope to see the [COVID-19] response to its end and then move into a federal or other epidemiologist position with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or Emory University in Atlanta, GA.”