AN INCLUSIVE MODEL FOR DEVELOPING FUTURE NUTRITION, FOOD, AND CULINARY LEADERS (IMODEL)

IMODEL has four objectives.1) Develop leadership skills, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. IMODEL Fellows will participate in structured workshops, mentored experiential learning, team meetings, and one-on-one mentoring that support personal growth and leadership development.2) Prepare for post-graduate opportunities. IMODEL Fellows will participate in workshops focused on navigating academic spaces, preparing graduate school applications, writing personal statements, locating scholarships and awards, building resumes, and asking for reference letters.3) Increase nutrition, food, and culinary knowledge via mentored experiential learning. IMODEL Fellows will work closely with their matched Internship Mentor assisting withi) Hypothesis-driven research examining public health burdens; ii) Community programs that provide resources and nutrition education to food insecure persons or; iii) Community agencies that distribute healthy meals and cooking information to chronically ill individuals.4) Build a community of practice. IMODEL Fellows will be provided opportunities to engage with other Fellows, the PDs, and the Internship Mentors. IMODEL graduates will be invited to the fall virtual symposium, building a community across cohort years. IMODEL Fellows may also network with students and faculty from other experiential programs, allowing them to build community outside their discipline