MSU Denver

About this Grant

The Department of Nutrition was awarded a Post-baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (POHA) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) and nutrition professionals around the country serve a diverse population. However, approximately 91% of RDNs are white females. The POHA-Denver grant focuses on encouraging students from diverse backgrounds and those with interest in serving diverse populations, to pursue post-baccalaureate study here at MSU Denver.

At MSU Denver, the POHA-Denver Program aims to diversify the field of nutrition and dietetics through many avenues including:

  • Conducting outreach to students in high schools, community colleges and in baccalaureate programs
  • Providing financial support to help students navigate barriers to participating in post-baccalaureate degree programs
  • Hiring diverse support staff to fuel the grant efforts and to provide advising for current and prospective students
  • Offering financial-literacy training focusing on credit, budgeting and loan payback
  • Development of an annual conference focused on diversity in dietetics and health care
  • Promoting cultural intelligence among faculty, students, staff and practitioners in the field
  • Offering a proactive approach in specialized advising when working with POHA scholars

Department of Nutrition's POHA Staff

Meet the members of the POHA team!

Torro

Jessica Torro

POHA Grant Program Manager

[email protected] 303-615-1672
Nutrition Headshots

Rachel Sinley, PhD, MPH, RDN

Chair | Associate Professor | POHA Co-PI

[email protected] 303-619-0990
View More: http://nicoledawnphotography.pass.us/msu-denver-nutrition-dept

Melissa Masters, PhD, RDN

Professor | Nutrition Graduate Program Director | POHA Co-PI

[email protected] 303-619-0990

POHA-Denver Diversify Nutrition Scholarship & Stipend Program

Become a POHA Scholar

As part of the POHA-Denver grant, the Department of Nutrition offers students enrolled in a nutrition graduate program at MSU Denver the opportunity to apply for an annual $5,000 POHA-Denver Diversify Nutrition scholarship or stipend program.

Scholarship and Stipend Program Application Information

Events Sponsored by POHA

POHA-Denver Annual Conference

POHA-Denver hosted the Second Annual Nutrition Diversity Conference: Cultural Humility Insights & Strategies for Inclusive Care & Education. We invited you to learn from nutrition professionals in action. Nutrition experts provided education and insight on diversity measures and cultural humility in the field. Thank you all for attending!

Save the Date for our 3rd Annual MSU Denver-POHA Nutrition Diversity Conference!
September 8th, 2023

If you are interested in being a sponsor please inquire below to get in contact with our POHA Grant Program Coordinator.

 

POHA FAQs

Connect with Us

Want more information?

For more information on the POHA-Denver Diversity Grant, please contact the Department of Nutrition. Click below to send us an email!

Email Us

Department of Nutrition

Phone:
303-615-0990

Office Location:
West Classroom 240

Office Hours:
8:00am – 5:00pm

Mailing Address:
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Department of Nutrition
Campus Box 33N
P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362