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.

Click here to review Metropolitan State University of Denver Department of Nutrition Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement 

Department of Nutrition's POHA Staff

Meet the members of the POHA team!

A photo of POHA grant manager, Jessica Toro.

Jessica Torro, MS, RDN

POHA Grant Program Manager

[email protected] 303-615-1672
A photo of professor, Dr. Rachel Sinely.

Rachel Sinley, PhD, MPH, RDN

Professor | POHA Co-PI

[email protected] 303-619-0990
A photo of professor, Dr. Melissa Masters.

Melissa Masters, PhD, RDN

Professor I POHA Co-PI

[email protected] 303-619-0990
A photo of POHA assistant and tutor, Karli Hunton

Karli Hunton

POHA Assistant

[email protected] 303-619-0990

Spring 2024 Scholars

Headshots of Spring 2024 POHA Scholars

A photo of POHA scholar, Sarah Yuan, MS

Sarah Yuan, MS

Dietetic Intern

A photo of POHA scholar, Alexandra Chavez

Alexandra Chavez

Graduate Student

A photo of POHA scholar, Taylor Bargas

Taylor Bargas

Graduate Student

A photo of POHA scholar, Ben Rodriguez

Ben Rodriguez

Graduate Student

A photo of POHA scholar, Kaprice Collins

Kaprice Collins

Graduate Student

A photo of POHA scholar, Lorena Martinez

Lorena Martinez

Graduate Student

A photo of POHA scholar, John Simmons, MS

John Simmons, MS

Dietetic Intern

AW Headshot’23

Anna Woolslager, MS

Dietetic Intern

A photo of POHA scholar, Carmen Walburn-Perez

Carmen Walburn-Perez

Graduate Student

A photo of POHA scholar, Natalie Ramos, MS

Natalie Ramos, MS

Dietetic Intern

A photo of POHA scholar, Chris Salinas

Chris Salinas

Graduate Student

A photo of POHA scholar, Holly Mitchell

Holly Mitchel

Graduate Student

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

POHA Tutors

Please email us at [email protected] or call us at 303-615-0990 to schedule a FREE 1-hour long appointment. Our amazing tutors can do one on one personalized sessions and/or group sessions.

Krystal Welp

Krystal Welp

POHA Tutor and Graduate Student

[email protected]

2024 POHA Speaker Series

Schedule of POHA speakers

POHA-Denver Annual Conference

Thank you to all that attended the 4th Annual Virtual Nutrition Diversity Conference on September 6th, 2024! For those that attended, please log back into your attendee portal to access recordings of sessions you may have missed (closes October 6th, 2024). We hope to see you next year for the 5th Annual Virtual Nutrition Diversity Conference!

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 254

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