91成人导航

Philanthropists Jessica Coleman 鈥�99 and Gregory Coleman are making a clinical nutrition degree accessible to more students by establishing the program鈥檚 first endowed scholarship.聽

Rooted in Jessica Coleman鈥檚 passion for making children and families aware of the benefits of good nutrition, the long-time advocate and alumna sees a direct link to 91成人导航鈥檚 recently launched program.

鈥淚 am hoping this will act as a pipeline to provide more registered dietitians in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur community is lacking the resources to help parents and children understand the health impacts of their exercise and dietary choices.鈥�

The scholarship will support 91成人导航 students from the Central Valley who intend to complete their clinical rotations in the area, as well as conduct research at the Children鈥檚 Garden located behind Valley Children鈥檚 Pelandale Specialty Care Center in Modesto.聽

The Children鈥檚 Garden, created by the Colemans in 2020 through their nonprofit Color the Skies, teaches children how to grow food and prepare healthy meals with the produce.

鈥淩esearch shows the earlier the exposure to agriculture and gardening, the more likely someone will have a healthy relationship with food over their lifetime,鈥� said Long Wang, chair and program director for 91成人导航鈥檚 Clinical Nutrition program. 鈥淥ur students will gain experience and their expertise in nutrition will provide a better education for children, their parents and families.鈥�

Coleman sees the difference first-hand.

鈥淧arents are immediately observing their child鈥檚 behavior change in positive and impactful ways. Their children want to be part of the process of growing their food which is in turn helping them to enjoy the food,鈥� she said.聽

Long-time advocates for children鈥檚 health care (Jessica served on Valley Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation Board for many years and Gregory was on the Board of Trustees for more than 20 years), Jessica Coleman鈥檚 passion was amplified a few years ago after experiencing a stroke and heart attack caused by a congenital valve defect.

She now serves as an advocate for children鈥檚 heart health programs through the American Heart Association with a focus on reducing obesity.

鈥淭his mission is so important and it鈥檚 time that we recognize that unhealthy habits are slowly killing us and our children,鈥� Coleman said. 鈥淲orking together with my alma mater, we are hoping to improve this situation.鈥�

91成人导航鈥檚 Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition鈥攐ne of the newest programs in the School of Health Sciences鈥攚as launched in 2020 to meet the high demand for registered dietitian nutritionists. Employment opportunities are expected to grow 11% by 2028.

The accelerated 16-month program was the first in California to follow the Future Education Model in which students receive the educational and supervised practice requirements in a single program.

The unique approach creates graduates who are highly qualified for the nutrition and dietetics workforce. The first group of graduates to take the national exam had a 100% pass rate to become registered dietitians.

Since the clinical nutrition scholarship was established, more than two dozen people have donated to the fund.

Scholarships will be awarded to students beginning fall 2023.