Sarah Francis - Assistant Professor
It was at the age of 17 after meeting a Peace Corps volunteer that Dr. Sarah Francis, the newest nutrition extension specialist and assistant professor in FSHN, was “first exposed to the idea of nutrition as a career.” After hearing about the need for nutritionists, she had it figured out.
“I instantly loved nutrition as a subject area because it’s not stagnant; it’s constantly changing. It also offers a variety of areas for specialization,” said Francis. Her specialization is older adults, who she sees as often overlooked for nutrition programming, and cardiovascular disease prevention, “because it is applicable throughout the lifecycle.”
It was what inspired Francis to join the Peace Corps. She spent two years in Turkmenistan, working as a community health educator in a village clinic, teaching general health practices. Her latest experiences came from Wyoming State University where she built a program that addressed what residents in a 2 county area wanted and needed and also one that she was excited about implementing.
Francis brings all these life experiences and passions to ISU, where she will conduct research and develop and implement nutrition extension programs. “I was impressed with the type of nutrition education and programming that is being developed and distributed [at ISU],” said Francis, who is also looking forward to conducting research on a broader scale.
Ames has more to offer both professionally and personally than other places she has been, and Francis is most looking forward to the collaborative opportunities at ISU. “In my opinion, the most effective nutrition education programs are those that garner input from a variety of people,” she said.
Stephanie Clark - Assoicate Professor
“My favorite part of academia is interacting with students and seeing them succeed,” said Stephanie Clark, associate professor, of her excitement to be at ISU. “I appreciate the priority that FSHN gives assessment of student learning,”
But the choice to move from Washington State University was not an easy one for Clark. “I knew that I did not want to stay at one place for my entire career, but I could not leave WSU just for the sake of leaving, I had to make a positive career move. I believe ISU is that.”
Clark reignites an old research focus in FSHN, the area of probiotic dairy foods. Her goal is “to bridge the gaps among food quality and shelf life, food acceptability, and human health. And help dispel the myth that healthy foods cannot taste good.”
As part of the resurgence of dairy in FSHN, Clark has brought back the dairy products evaluation team, a competition ISU hasn’t participated in since the 1970s. She regularly has 15 students training twice a week in anticipation of competition in Chicago at the end of October. Clark is also serving the role of Associate Director for the Midwest Dairy Foods Research Center, a project with the University of Minnesota and South Dakota State University.
Milk and cheese has been a passion for Clark since she was young, growing up on a farm that raised goats and made goat cheese. With all the experiences in 4-H and farm knowledge, she studied animal science as an undergraduate. But after taking her first food science course, she was hooked on something she had never heard of. “Not only could I work with animals, but also with milk and cheese!,” said Clark.
Clark has brought all her passion to ISU and is looking forward to collaborating with food science and human nutrition faculty, as well as the fantastic FSHN students. Welcome Dr. Clark!
Afer 35 years, Dr. Mark Love has retired from the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department. He will be missed and we wish him the best!
Dr. Don McNamara will serve as a Collaborating Professor with the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University.
Dr. Murli Dharmadhikari was awarded the position of Courtesy Professor with the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.
