Fall 2017 Food Science and Human Nutrition outstanding grad and first-generation student Allegra Vazquez grew up in Denver and came to CSU after hearing many great things about the Fort Collins community and the beautiful CSU campus. She always knew she wanted to attend CSU, but finding her passion proved challenging.
‘Food is healing’
As an incoming student she studied biological sciences, but a family-related issue inspired her to change her major to nutrition and food science. While dealing with a dietary issue that had a significant impact on her life, Vazquez had an epiphany. “Food is our most basic form of preventative care and healing. If we change our diet, then we change our health, and we change our lives,” explained Vazquez.
During her time at CSU, Vazquez had numerous professors help her find volunteer and work positions that helped her enhance her time at CSU by providing experience in her field of study. She has worked with the Early Childhood Center, the Kendall Reagan Nutrition Center, and the Functional Foods Laboratory. In her work with the Functional Foods Laboratory, Vazquez has been able to study the effects of functional foods on age-related and chronic disease while collecting and processing samples as part of a research project in the lab. She assisted in data analysis and worked directly with the research study participants who came to the laboratory.
Dean’s Leadership Council
In addition, Vazquez has held a position as treasurer, a standing executive team member of the Dean’s Leadership Council, which participates in outreach and community service activities at CSU and in the community. Being a member of the DLC has provided her with opportunities to meet scholarship donors who help fund CSU students, serve as a Senator with ASCSU, and assist in the establishment of the McCubbin Leadership Scholarship. The scholarship seeks to honor College of Health and Human Sciences Dean Jeff McCubbin, his family, and the legacy they have left with CSU.
What Vazquez believes she will miss the most about CSU is working with the College of Health and Human Sciences Dean’s Office. “I have developed many professional skills here,” said Vazquez, “Working with the front desk staff, the IT Help Desk team members, the communications staff, and the development team members has taught me a great deal about teamwork. I will take this experience with me in every job throughout my career.”
After her graduation, Vazquez plans to return to CSU and work toward her master’s in food science and nutrition.
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is a part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
