Prabhdeep Sandha, a doctoral student in the UM Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, is set to present her research at the School Nutrition Foundation’s annual national conference, set for July 14-16 in St. Louis. Photo by Megan Wolfe/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services
OXFORD, Miss. – The School Nutrition Foundation has awarded its Kathleen Stitt Award to Prabhdeep Sandha, a doctoral student in the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management at the University of Mississippi.
“Each year, the Kathleen Stitt Award is presented to one graduate student or faculty member participating in the School Nutrition Showcase,” said Patricia A. Montague, the foundation’s certified association executive.
Sandha will showcase her study, “Perception of School Nutrition Professionals regarding barriers, challenges, solutions and strategies for designing school-specific, HACCP-based food safety plans,” at the School Nutrition Foundation’s annual national conference, set for July 14-16 in St. Louis. The foundation awards the recipient $500 for travel expenses to attend the conference to present.
Sandha, of Jalandhard City, India, has won a number of honors and awards, including the Mead Johnson Nutrition/Research Dietetic Practice Group award for research and the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management’s Outstanding Graduate Student Award. Besides her research interest is food insecurity, she has been working as a graduate assistant for the Institute of Child Nutrition for the past two years.
“If there was a magical formula to replicate Prabhdeep, we would use it in a heartbeat,” said Aleshia Hall-Campbell, the institute’s executive director. “As ICN’s first doctoral graduate assistant, she has set a very high standard for future doctoral students working with us.
“Prabhdeep is a diligent worker who is extremely bright, which is evidenced by her receipt of several national awards and honors. It has been a true pleasure working with her, and we appreciate and value her contributions to our organization.”
ICN is a federally funded national center housed on the Ole Miss campus that is dedicated to applied research, education and training and technical assistance for child nutrition programs.
Sandha’s mentor is David Holben, professor of nutrition and hospitality management and director of the Office of Food and Nutrition Security.
“Ms. Sandha is a hard-working and high-achieving student,” Holben said. “She is collaborative and bright. It is refreshing to work with the student of her caliber and one that pushes me to learn each day. She is deserving of this award.”
Sandha is looking forward to presenting her research and is grateful for the opportunity to attend the conference with help from this award.
“As a Ph.D. student interested in school nutrition, this opportunity will not only upsurge my career trajectory, but will help offset travel cost to the conference,” she said.
Sandha recently accepted a position as a graduate instructor and will be developing and teaching a senior-level dietetics and nutrition class, Orientation to Child Nutrition Management, in the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management.
The School of Applied Sciences, home of ICN and Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, offers professional preparation programs that integrate academic study, clinical training, creative research, service-learning and community outreach, leading to the development of leaders whose professional endeavors will improve health and well-being.