Savannah Hobbs is a doctoral student in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Colorado State University. She is a full-time graduate research assistant and part-time graduate teaching assistant in the department. Hobbs is also currently a dietetic intern with various rotations including a hospital and with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Can you tell us where you are from and what you are passionate about?
Hi! I have lived all over, but grew up in Nebraska. I am passionate about connecting people with the resources that they need to live happy and healthy lives.
What attracted you to CSU?
I was drawn to CSU by the cool collaborative work being done in the fields of nutrition and public health!
Why did you choose your field?
As a Ph.D. student, I actually came to the field of nutrition from different fields. I was a social worker and teacher prior to coming to nutrition, and I chose this field because I think public health and access to healthy food is so important for overall well-being!
So far, what has been your favorite experience at CSU?
So many favorite experiences at CSU! I have loved being a part of my lab, the Graduate Student Council, and the Growing Food Security program.
How/why did you apply for your internship?
The dietetic internship will allow me to gain practical experience in the field of nutrition and become a registered dietitian. It seemed like the best way for me to gain skills in clinical nutrition and nutrition counseling along with programmatic planning to provide nutrition and public health resources to as many people as possible.
What does an average day at your internship look like?
There are three specific rotations that I fulfilled as a part of my internship. One rotation was in the hospital setting, another rotation in kitchen management at a hospital, and the final rotation was at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (though it was all online due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Every day looked differently depending on the rotation that I was in!
How are you applying what you’ve learned from your course of study to your current position?
The skills I have learned in program planning, intervention development and evaluation, and research to reach populations and plan health interventions during my internship.
What is the biggest lesson that you will take home from this experience?
The knowledge gained in the field of nutrition and how important it is for health.
What do you hope to accomplish in your career?
To become a professor and guide students in public health and wellness while conducting research that helps people gain access they need to health resources.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
It can be difficult to find internship opportunities that are affordable or to pick out the right internship for you—reach out to professors or other students who can help find solutions!
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences
