Ouachita student awarded Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship

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November 22, 2021 - MacKenzie Hall

Latina Robinson of North Little Rock, Ark., a Dietetic Internship graduate student at Ouachita Baptist University, is one of two recipients of a $25,000 Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Foundation.

The scholarship was established to advance inclusion, diversity, equity and access for dietetics students to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the field. The $25,000 scholarship is for the 2021-2022 academic year to support students as they pursue dietetic careers.

“I was delighted and appreciative to receive the AND Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship. I honestly could not believe that they chose to select me out of all the other applicants in the nation. What a blessing,” Robinson said. “It is amazing to know that AND believes in me and what I intend to do within my community.

“I knew Ouachita’s dietetic internship program would teach me the necessary competencies to help develop a confident disposition,” she added. “I love the program's community concentration and public health aspect, which fully embodies my core value of becoming a registered dietitian.”

Robinson said she hopes to continue pursuing her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Ouachita and become a registered dietitian to provide resources and care for minority communities, where the prevalence of diabetes has a severe impact.

“My vision is to provide the public with the right tools and resources to prevent the disease within minority groups,” Robinson said, adding that she wants to “inspire and motivate minorities in the nation into defeating this dreadful disease.”

“Latina is an excellent student in our Dietetic Internship. She aspires to own her own business and work in a rural setting with people who have been impacted by diabetes,” said Holly Kyzer, instructor and director of the Dietetic Internship program at Ouachita. “She has a big heart and wants to give back to her community. I expect great things from Latina.”

Ouachita’s Dietetic Internship is one of only seven faith-based post-graduation nutrition programs in the nation, and Ouachita will launch its new M.S. in Nutrition in May 2022, with applications open now. For more information on these programs, visit obu.edu/dietetics/gradprograms or contact Holly Kyzer at kyzerh@obu.edu or (870) 245-5546.

Photo by Abby Blankenship