Story by Grace Stetsko
Outstanding graduate of the Colorado State University Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Viri Gonzalez-Huizar (’17), embodies the power of education through her journey from a small town to the heart of nutritional sciences.
Gonzalez-Huizar was born in Jalisco, Mexico, but grew up northeast of Denver. She accomplished her first major milestone when she became the first in her family to earn a college degree, graduating from CSU with a Bachelor of Science in nutrition and food science in December 2017. Yet, her passion for nutrition prompted her to pursue further education.
As the field of nutrition continues to evolve, Gonzalez-Huizar made the decision to return to CSU for graduate studies in food science and nutrition. As a non-traditional, first-generation Mexican woman, CSU provided not only academic support but also crucial financial aid and a wealth of research opportunities.
Gonzalez-Huizar thrived in the graduate program, immersing herself in multiple areas of research within nutrition science. As she transitions to her role as a pediatric registered dietitian at Children’s Hospital Colorado, her diverse research experiences and academic achievements will undoubtedly serve her well in positively impacting the lives of young patients and their families.
Read on as Gonzalez-Huizar describes her CSU experience in her own words.
What obstacles have you overcome to get to graduation? How have you persevered through unforeseen circumstances?
I identify as a DACAmented/undocumented student, and I am one of eight graduate students at CSU. This identity disqualifies me from financial aid programs and most grants, fellowships, and scholarships, making financial support scarce despite my academic accomplishments. I have worked multiple jobs at a time to pay for tuition, support myself, and help my family back home. This experience has pushed me to find my community, defy stereotypes, take initiative in my education, and most importantly, it has pushed me to be resilient and not give up in the face of adversity.
What has helped me persevere are the relationships and mentors I have acquired through my journey in higher education. Even if they didn’t share first-hand experience, they acknowledged the differences in the obstacles a person who is DACAmented/undocumented faces and have fostered opportunities to support me along the way. Additionally, even with a limited understanding of what I do in graduate school, my family’s support, values, and sacrifices are a ringing voice that propels me to push forward day after day. They, as well as my Undocu-United community at CSU, are a driving force in my perseverance as a student and person.
How have your academic experiences here and your professors, mentors, and advisers helped you overcome these obstacles and be successful in your program?
I can’t answer this question without thinking of three inspirational people CSU has gifted me: Dr. Chris Melby, Dr. Alena Clark, and Sylvia Martinez. They have encouraged me to see further than what I believed I was capable of, while creating a space for me to uncover my power through meaningful advice, sharing opportunities, and listening to my story. In many ways, they offered me a second chance in an environment that was foreign to me as a first-generation student in graduate school.
Their mentorship allowed me to demonstrate my potential as a student and enriched my potential as a researcher. Now, I have the privilege to continue learning from them, and I look forward to making a difference for the people who will come after me.
What activities have you been most involved in?
I have been most involved in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students through various student organizations, including my position as a graduate teaching assistant. I am also part of Dr. Megan Mueller’s Systems Thinking for Obesity Prevention (STOP) Lab, where we conduct field research to explore how people experience food insecurity in the Parachute area in Colorado. Additionally, on the weekends, I work as a pediatric clinical dietitian for Children’s Hospital Colorado.
What are some accomplishments that you are most proud of during your time at CSU?
I am most proud to have won the Distinction in Graduate Research in Behavioral and Social Sciences award at the College of Health and Human Sciences Research Day. With the support of my amazing adviser, I am also submitting my thesis project for publication. This will be my first publication, and hopefully, not the last.
These accomplishments have been self-validating and have contributed to silencing my feelings of imposter syndrome in a predominately white field.
What will you miss most about CSU?
I will miss the community I have built in the last two years and the learning environment I have been fortunate to be a part of. I have made lifelong friends, and I have uncovered new passions and goals I did not know I had. I will miss the coffee runs with my peers and mentors, the long nights at the library, mentoring students through classes and projects, and discovering new classes across campus.
What are your plans after graduating?
After graduation, I will pursue a full-time role as a pediatric registered dietitian at Children’s Hospital Colorado. I plan to propel my career toward accomplishing my long-term goal of becoming a metabolic dietitian, working with people with inborn errors of metabolism.
Additionally, my time as a graduate research assistant unveiled my interest in this area of nutrition; therefore, I plan to continue working as a research assistant for the STOP Lab and other faculty in the FSHN department. Lastly, I plan to re-launch my business in community education and partner with organizations in Colorado to create new spaces where people of color can access evidence-based nutrition education.
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
