UW Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health

UW Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Nutritional Sciences offers an undergraduate minor and major (BA), master's (MPH or MS) and doctoral degrees (PhD), and a graduate-level RDN Training program

UW Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program offers an undergraduate major (BA) and minor, master's degrees (MPH or MS) and a graduate-level RDN training program.

UW senior Ryan Koppler chose to study Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health to deepen her understanding of nutrition and i...
06/04/2026

UW senior Ryan Koppler chose to study Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health to deepen her understanding of nutrition and its overall impact on health and well-being, particularly for the people she cared for personally. I was not only motivated to improve my own knowledge, but to help educate others on the importance of foods, and sustainable lifestyles.

“After graduation, I plan to use what I have learned to help various people in my life. This includes my family, friends, and even co-workers at my current job. Nothing excites me more when someone asks me a question related to nutrition and being able to help those around me,“ said Koppler.

My future goals include finding a job within my field that keeps me engaged, excited to show up, and pass my knowledge onto those around me. I also want to travel outside the United States to learn more about European food policies and look into how their nutrition differs from ours.

Read our full Q&A with Ryan at https://foodsystems.uw.edu/profile/ryan-koppler/

UW senior Elvis Chan was inspired to study Food Systems after working as a personal trainer and seeing first-hand how di...
06/04/2026

UW senior Elvis Chan was inspired to study Food Systems after working as a personal trainer and seeing first-hand how diet and exercise could significantly improve a person’s health. His spark for understanding macronutrients, body composition, and good nutrition were a solid foundation, and he hopes to one day pursue a career as a registered dietitian.

“One of the most compelling things I’ve learned in the program is how deeply nutrition is connected not just to individual health, but also to larger systems like culture, access, and public policy. I want to build a career where I can combine nutrition science with real-world application, and use what I’ve learned to help individuals improve their health through sustainable nutrition strategies, “ said Chan.

Read our full Q&A with Elvis: https://foodsystems.uw.edu/profile/elvis-chan/

UW senior Eric Liu chose to major in Food Systems, while also pursuing a minor in business administration. Originally f...
06/04/2026

UW senior Eric Liu chose to major in Food Systems, while also pursuing a minor in business administration. Originally from Guangxi, China, Liu grew up in a region with a rich agricultural heritage and a deep respect for the journey from farm to table.

“In the program, the most striking thing I’ve learned is the realization of the sheer complexity of the hidden food chain. We often take for granted the myriad of socio-economic factors that influence food security. Learning about the resilience of local food systems during global disruptions changed my perspective on how we define efficiency in business—it’s not just about speed; it’s about sustainability and community health,“ said Liu.

“With my background in nutrition and my minor in business, I want to help organizations develop food products or services that are nutritionally dense and environmentally responsible. I believe that the future of the food industry lies in the hands of those who can balance a profit-and-loss statement with a commitment to public health.”

Read our full Q&A with Eric at https://foodsystems.uw.edu/profile/eric-liu/

This week, we will be highlighting some of our senior students in the program who are about to graduate! Our first feat...
06/03/2026

This week, we will be highlighting some of our senior students in the program who are about to graduate! Our first featured student is Vanessa Perez!

Vanessa is a senior in Food Systems and is preparing for a career in medicine. Her longtime interest in nutrition drew her to major in Food Systems initially, but has expanded through the program.

“One of the most compelling things I have learned is how much influence food corporations have on our food system and how we perceive what is “healthy”.

“For example, learning how food companies use marketing and labeling strategies to make ultra-processed foods appear healthy, such as highlighting claims like “reduced fat” or “high fiber” even when the product is still high in added sugars, sodium, or artificial ingredients. Before, I did not fully realize how much these labeling strategies could shape consumer perception and purchasing decisions, even my own,” said Perez.

Read our full Q&A with Vanessa about her experience in the program:
https://foodsystems.uw.edu/profile/vanessa-perez/

A big congrats to undergrad and graduate students in the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program who will be graduat...
06/03/2026

A big congrats to undergrad and graduate students in the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program who will be graduating in 2026! We are so proud of your accomplishments and wish you all the best in the future!

Congratulations to Norma Garfias Avila, recipient of the 2026 University of Washington School of Public Health Outstand...
06/02/2026

Congratulations to Norma Garfias Avila, recipient of the 2026 University of Washington School of Public Health Outstanding Doctoral Student Award in the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program. Garfias Avila is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Nutritional Sciences from Tijuana, Mexico, whose commitment to nutrition science runs through her research, teaching, service, and the way she engages with the program itself.

Norma’s research focuses on culturally relevant nutrition, food access, and the gut microbiome, her dissertation analyzing human trial data on how red and processed meat affects gut flora. She is also a passionate educator and is deeply involved in community-based public health work, including Health Frontiers in Tijuana, Friends of Fronteras Saludables, and several equity-focused initiatives at UW.

As a graduate student, Garfias Avila has an impressive teaching record. She has served as a teaching assistant for multiple undergraduate offerings, guest lectured in graduate student courses, and was appointed as the first PhD instructor of record for NUTR 200 (Nutrition Today), the largest course offered in the School of Public Health, with over 450 students enrolled during her quarter of instruction.

“Norma managed course delivery, led a team of teaching assistants, and built a learning environment that students described as welcoming and engaging, even at that scale. In a class that size, 88% of students reported she was ‘always’ respectful of diverse experiences," said Michelle Averill, FSNH program director. "She was teaching content that included eating disorders and body image. That is hard material to handle well in a lecture hall of 462 and she handled it with care and skill."

“I have worked with many talented graduate students over the years, and what makes Norma stand out is not raw talent, though she has plenty of that. It is that she shows up fully in every part of what our program asks of a graduate student,” said Averill.

Read more at: https://foodsystems.uw.edu/news/2026-foodsystems-outstanding-students-awards/

Congratulations to Carmela Stewart, recipient of the 2026 University of Washington School of Public Health Outstanding U...
06/02/2026

Congratulations to Carmela Stewart, recipient of the 2026 University of Washington School of Public Health Outstanding Undergraduate Student in the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program! Throughout his time at UW, Carmela has dedicated his time to volunteering at the UW Food Pantry, conducting independent research with Dr. Cristen Harris, singing in two UW choirs, and playing percussion in a band. In his role as FSNH student resources coordinator, he has supported undergraduate program engagement, served as a peer adviser, and established the Food Systems Leadership Coalition (FSLC), in which he has cultivated community and built enthusiasm for and connections between numerous student-led groups and community partners throughout Seattle.

Stewart’s leadership with the FSLC led to a series of highly successful events, including two food drive concerts, which combined creativity with service to address food insecurity, as well as a large-scale tabling fair in the Quad that featured 20 different food-related student organizations. Steward was also instrumental in creating social media content to promote engagement around food-related events, ideas, and issues.

Read more about Carmela's numerous contributions and achievements to UW and the Food Systems program this year: https://foodsystems.uw.edu/news/2026-foodsystems-outstanding-students-awards/

Join us Wednesday, June 3 for our final session of the Food and Nutrition Security seminar series! Our special guest is ...
06/01/2026

Join us Wednesday, June 3 for our final session of the Food and Nutrition Security seminar series! Our special guest is Katie Rains, director of Food Systems Initiatives with the Washington State Department of Agriculture who will present, "Reimagining Nutrition Assistance: Future Directions for Food Security Policy." All UW students, staff, and faculty are welcome to attend. Check NUTR400/500 in My Plan for room location. Session begins at 1:30 p.m. Learn more and find links to previous sessions on similar topics at: https://foodsystems.uw.edu/seminar

Congratulations to James Sherrell (MPH ‘23) who is the 2026 recipient of the University of Washington Excellence in Glob...
06/01/2026

Congratulations to James Sherrell (MPH ‘23) who is the 2026 recipient of the University of Washington Excellence in Global Engagement Award! Sherrell is a project manager at Harborview Medical Center's EthnoMed and was nominated by colleagues for leading projects focused on improving health communication and healthcare access for immigrant, refugee, and migrant communities across King County.

At a time when the future of global health is being actively debated, receiving the Excellence in Global Engagement Award is especially meaningful to Sherrell.

"The people who have dedicated their lives to working across language and culture to address some of the world's hardest problems will always be needed because those skills apply everywhere, including here in our own community," he said.

"When our university chooses to recognize this kind of work, it matters," Sherrell said. "It's a signal that we are not walking away from our values or principles under pressure."

Read more about Sherrell’s work with Ethnomed and his experience in the UW’s MPH program. https://foodsystems.uw.edu/news/food-systems-alumni-james-sherrell-receives-uw-excellence-in-global-engagment-award/

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