Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** alabama is among the top few states…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** alabama is among the top few states in the prevalence of chronic diseases, attributed to high poverty rate, low education attainment, and a shortage of food and nutrition professionals, especially in the west central region. There is a growing demand for a better trained workforce in the integrated field of food science and human nutrition to alleviate these public health issues in this region of alabama. The long-term goal of this project is to enhance the capacity for education and research in food and nutrition sciences across the west central alabama region by fostering multi-institutional collaborations and integrating resources to empower current and future workforce. In the planning phase, our short-term objectives are to 1) identify potential institutional partners by surveying their curricular offerings, organizing campus visits and strategic meetings, and 2) host an education and research symposium in food and nutrition sciences. This project aligns with multiple HEC program goals, including:1) to attract and support undergraduate and graduate students in national needs areas;2) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more institutions; AND3) to increase the number and diversity of students who will pursue a degree in food and nutrition sciences. This project is the first ever initiative to establish multi-institutional partnerships in food and nutrition sciences education in the west central alabama region. Training more food and nutrition professionals, especially those from underrepresented groups, will have a direct benefit on improving the healthcare outlook and health of the residents in alabama and beyond.