Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** according to the international…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** according to the international confederation of dietetic associations, registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNS) apply the science of food and nutrition to promote health and to prevent and treat disease to optimize the health of individuals, groups, communities and populations. RDNS work in healthcare facilities, community and public health settings, corporate wellness programs, pharmaceutical companies, food and nutrition-related businesses and industries, and professional sports programs. The bureau of labor statistics predicts that the job market for RDNS will grow nationally by 11% between 2018 and 2028. The current national workforce of RDNS is predominately white and female, 80% and 92%, respectively. Research has found, however, that patients prefer healthcare providers of their own race and ethnicity, likely because these providers are more culturally sensitive and offer care in ways more reflective of the patient's background. Furthermore, sociocultural factors also drive food choices and preferences. Regardless of the work setting, an increasingly racially and culturally diverse population has produced a vital need to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts for the RDN workforce. The nationally accredited idaho state university (ISU) BS in dietetics program prepares students for the graduate-level education required to become an RDN. To help meet the increasing demand for RDNS, ISU is expanding the program to the diverse, population-dense treasure valley of idaho. Currently, students majoring in nutrition and dietetics are predominantly caucasian females. ISU is well situated to engage the hispanic/latino and native american populations in our state and increase the interest among males in the profession. Within the 5-year grant cycle, ISU plans to recruit, engage, retain, and mentor 5 scholars, including prospective students born male at birth, and/or with hispanic/latino or native american race/ethnicity. Employing program-level and university-wide resources, high school and transfer student recruitment and selection efforts will be multi-tiered, ongoing throughout the year, and evidence-informed. The program is planned for completion in eight semesters or four academic years. The curriculum is infused with experiential learning experiences. ISU has multiple existing programs to help retain, support, and mentor a future pool of diverse BS in dietetics students. With this funding, ISU aims to diversify the students in this program, thereby diversifying the dietetics profession.