USDA Nutrition and Food Workforce for Underrepresented Students (2023-2026)

 

At the Marilyn Magaram Center, CSUN, we are dedicated to enhancing the skills, knowledge, and career growth of students through comprehensive training and development programs. Our 2023-2026 initiatives are designed to support professional growth, foster collaboration, and drive innovation in the food and agriculture sector.

group of students and faculty
USDA Nutrition Workforce Pathways Fellows tour CSUN Marilyn Magaram Center Facilities and Sequoia Hall to learn about Nutrition and Food Science Programs and opportunities
 
 

Project Objectives

  1. Attract and support students from underrepresented groups to prepare them for food and agriculture careers.
  2. Increase the number of underrepresented students at LAMC who complete the "Nutrition and Food Skills Certificate of Achievement"
  3. Provide information and access to food, agricultural and related careers through collaboration with the USDA FNS, FSIS, and WIC as well as job placement in the field of nutrition with a community partner.
  4. Increase enrollment in and completion of the Associate of Science for Transfer (AS-T) degree in nutrition and dietetics among underrepresented students at LAMC.
LAMC to CSUN

Target Population

Undergraduate students currently enrolled at Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC) are selected as "fellows" based on:

  1. Need (being in underrepresented group and/or financial hardship);
  2. Achievement (past academic, extracurricular activity, and/or work performance);
  3. Personal statement (motivation and commitment to career in nutrition/foods).

Events

9 LA Mission College mentees were able to attend the 2025 California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Conference in Long Beach. Students were able to attend presentations by various professionals, network with other students, and attended a student reception.

Group of students who participated in the CANDAC event 2025

The MMC celebrated the end of the school year with a Pinning Ceremony for students who had completed their programming and internships. The Peer Mentoring Program invited both mentees and mentors to showcase their recipes which they had developed as part of the program.

Two students showing their recipes at the MMC pinning ceremony

 

Each year, student participants of the USDA Nutrition Workforce Pathways Program of Los Angeles Mission College have the opportunity to visit the CSUN’s Marilyn Magaram Center for a tour of their facilities. Students learned about the academic programs CSUN offers in Nutrition and Food Science, student opportunities at CSUN and the MMC, and explored the MMC’s facilities such as the SMART Garden, WIC office, and Body Composition Room. This experience provided valuable experience and inspired the students to pursue higher education in the fields of nutrition and food science. 

group of students in a garden

Mentors

Visetana Ong sitting under a tree

Visetana Ong

 Kimberly Aparicio in front of building

Kimberly Aparicio

  
Pardis Payami wearing a headscarf

Pardis Payami

 Jessica Cabot wearing a white lab coat

Jessica Cabot 
 
Maribel Briones in front of a hibiscus tree

Maribel Briones Gonzalez

 Megan Barcelos wearing a graduate sash

Megan Barcelos

  
Aracely Siordia wearing a white shirt

Aracely Siordia

 Adrian Rubalcava wearing a white shirt

Adrian Rubalcava

  
Beatriz Viduarre holding an apple

Beatriz Viduarre

 Leslie Marquez wearing a black long sleeve

Leslie Marquez

  

Headshot of Ruby Rodriguez and she is wearing a white lab coat

Ruby Rodriguez

 Headshot of Alexandra Duta wearing a white lab coat

Alexandra Duta

  
Headshot of Orlando Monroy wearing a white lab coat

Orlando Monroy

 Headshot of Whitney Gibson wearing a white lab coat

Whitney Gibson
 
Headshot of Rebecca Callo and she is wearing a white lab coat

Rebecca Callo

    

Staff

Annette Besnilian wearing a red shirt

Annette Besnilian, EdD, MPH, RDN, CLE, FAND

 Jenica Smith wearing a yellow shirt

Jenica Smith, MS

 

  
Sheri Barke wearing an LA Mission College jersey

Sheri Barke, MPH, RD, CSSD

 Emely Ordonez wearing a blue cardigan

Emely Ordoñez, BS
 

Possible Job & Internship Locations

  • Consulting Nutritional Services
  • Chef Ann Foundation
  • MEIRxRS Food Smart Strategies
  • Project Angel Food, and more!

Tours

Resources

Publications

Group photo

CSUN Today

Magaram Center Nationally Recognized for Efforts to Promote Diversity in Nutrition Careers

Read More About CSUN Today
People standing with their project board

CSUN USDA Pathway Students Continue to Shine and Persevere

Graduate and undergraduate fellows in the “Pathways to Success” program attended the 15th annual conference for the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) in Costa Mesa, California on March 5th-7th with Annette Besnilian, Executive Director of the Marilyn Magaram Center (MMC).

Read More About Pathway Students
Gold Medal

Pathways to Success Wins National Award at UEDA Summit

We are thrilled to announce that the  Marilyn Magaram Center’s “Pathways to Success” program was selected as the winner in the Talent + Place category for the University Economic Development Association’s (UEDA) 2020 Awards of Excellence!

Read More About Pathway Winning National Award

Get Involved

To learn more about our programs or to participate in upcoming events, please contact us at magaram.center@csun.edu

 

NIFA Logo

This work is supported by Nutrition and Food Workforce Pathways for Underrepresented Students [grant no. 2023-67037-40097] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.