Alumni and Friends

Paola Babb is the Community Engagement and Child Nutrition Manager at Hunger Free Colorado, where she supports communities to increase access and participation in Child Nutrition Programs. Hunger Free Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization founded in 2009, connects families and individuals to food resources and fuels change in systems, policies and social views, so no Coloradan goes hungry. Paola was a DREAMer and has experience convening the voices of those most impacted and with lived experience. She worked for WIC for several years, and most recently managed the Food Pantry at Growing Home a non-profit in Westminster.

Paola Babb

BS in Nutrition and Dietetics Alumni Update - Paola Babb '15

In my journey to become a nutrition professional, the MSU Denver Nutrition Department played a vital role in my success today as a Nutritional Health Coach. In my time as an undergraduate student at MSU Denver, the Nutrition Department provided me with the tools I need to effectively help clients reach their health and wellness goals. Earning my Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics provided me with a well-rounded education in nutrition. The classes I successfully completed from community nutrition to my senior seminar class prepared me for teaching nutrition classes and how to evaluate and effectively contribute to the health of my community. Medical nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling prepared me with the skills to recommend dietary and lifestyle change and perform motivational interviewing and explore behavior change in my coaching sessions. One of the most rewarding and exciting parts about what I get to do as a health coach is working with clients one on one to improve their health and get them excited about making lasting and meaningful changes to their diet and lifestyle. The world of nutrition is dynamic, and I enjoy furthering my nutrition education through earning continuing education credits each year. Supporting community partners, such as businesses and health care providers, to collectively improve the health of people in the community is another exciting facet to my role as a Nutritional Health Coach. My success as a nutrition professional all began at MSU Denver.

Candace White

BS in Nutrition and Dietetics Alumni Update - Candace White '17

Jonathan Padia is a Professional Research Associate with the University of Colorado. He found this career option during a two-week rotation in his Dietetic Internship. Jonathan's advice for someone who is thinking about becoming an RDN is to network as much as possible! The local organizations of Denver Dietetic Association (DDA) and Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (CAND) are a great place to start. These organization offer conferences and networking opportunities for students.

Jonathan Padia

BS in Nutrition and Dietetics Alumni Update - Jonathan Padia MS, RDN '13

“Earning a nutrition minor with my psychology major provided me a well-rounded and holistic approach to mental and physical health. Nutrition is such an important feature of health and wellness that any degree can benefit from it.”

Jared Kahler

Minor in nutrition, 2014