Mizzou Department of Nutrition & Exercise Physiology

FNES scored big at the 2026 Graduate and Postdoctoral Awards Reception!

Congratulations to our outstanding award recipients:

🏆 John Cullen, NEP PhD candidate, was honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award.

🏆 Lilli Caldwell, recent graduate of the Coordinated Master’s Dietetics Program, was recognized for attending the AAAS CASE Workshop in Washington, D.C.

🏆 Darius Miller, Administrative Support for FNES, recieved the Graduate Support Staff Award.

We are incredibly proud of these achievements and the dedication, excellence, and leadership they represent. Please join us in congratulating John, Lilli, and Darius on their well-deserved recognition!

Senior Spotlight 🌟

Today we are highlighting NEP student, Allison David!

Allison’s future plans after college are “To stay at Mizzou and stay 3 more years to get my Doctorate in Physical Therapy.”

Allison’s favorite memory is “Performing a blood locate test with Dr. Padilla and Dr. Credeur in front of the whole class!”

Allison’s advice to future tigers is “Get involved! Say yes! Get out of your comfort zone, meet new people, apply for the position; college is what you make of it!”

We are so proud of you Allison and wish you the best!

Senior Spotlight 🌟

Today we are highlighting current NEP student, Addison Quintana!

Addison’s future plans are to “Attend Cleveland University in Kansas City and pursue my Doctor of Chiropractic degree.“

Addison’s favorite memory is “Winning Homecoming with my sorority 2 years in a row! Truly an unforgettable experience getting to celebrate Mizzou’s greatest tradition alongside my best friends. All the hard work and late nights paid off at announcements, seeing our impact on the community and hearing our name called first. Getting to relive that experience for a second year was even more special. I can’t wait to come back and experience Homecoming again as an alum!”

Addison’s advice to future tigers is to “Be a friendly face! One of the hardest parts of coming from out of state was not knowing anyone and realizing everyone was going through the same thing changed my perspective. I had to step outside my comfort zone and put in the effort to talk to strangers in my dorm, sorority, and classes. Something as simple as a smile can make someone’s day. Now I can barely walk through campus without running into someone I know. The people who once felt like strangers have become me closets friends and made my college experience so special.”

Congratulations Addison, we know you will do great things!

Senior Spotlight 🌟

Today we are highlighting current NEP student, Chris Strathman!

Chris’s future plans are to “Attend Lindenwood University for the athletic training masters program.

Chris’s favorite memory is “Rushing the field after beating K-State in football!”

Chris’s advice to future tigers is to “Branch out! Putting yourself in uncomfortable situations because it will make you grow. Also, live in the moment, and be where your feet are!”

Chris, we wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors and are so proud!

Senior Spotlight 🌟

Today we are highlighting current NEP student, Sydney Bell!

Sydney’s future plans are “Apply to PA school and move to Kansas City to continue my education. Long-term, my goal is to return to the rural community that has helped shape who I am and practice family medicine there. My husband is pushing his dental career, and together we’re excited to eventually build our lives and serve in the community he grew up in. Growing up on my family farm has given me a deep appreciation for the people and values of rural life, and i’m eager to give back in a meaningful way.”

Sydney’s favorite college memory is “Hard to choose just one favorite memory because there have been so many meaningful moments. Some highlights include spring break trips, weekly dinners with friends, and cheering at football games. I also loved participating in Global Brigades trip, directing a summer camp at the church camp I grew up attending, and getting married this past November. Each of these experiences has played a special role in shaping my college years.”

Sydney’s advice to future Tigers is “Soak up every moment - time truly flies by faster than you expect. Get involved in activities and communities you’re passionate about, and focus on building meaningful relationships, because the people and connections you invest in will shape your college experience and stay with you long after graduation.

We wish you the best Sydney! We are so proud!

Senior Spotlight 🌟

Today we are highlighting current NEP student, Kadence Shipers who is graduating in May!

Kadence’s furthers plans is “To attend University of Missouri - St. Louis School of Optometry to earn her Doctor of Optometry degree and purse a career focused on patient-centered visual care.”

Kadence’s favorite college memory “Would have to be all the relationships I’ve gained while serving as President of Tigers for a Cause. Watching our program grow and seeing other students give back to the community in meaningful ways has been one of the most rewarding parts of her college experience.”

Kadence’s advice to future Tigers is to “Say yes. Say yes to opportunities that challenge you, to experiences that push you outside of your comfort zone, and to people who motivate you. There are so many things that will shape path. So, be bold. Be you. Be great.”

We wish you all the best with your future endeavors Kadence! We are so proud!

Senior Spotlight 🌟

Today we are highlighting current NEP student, Mathew Kimaku who is graduating this May!

Mathew’s future plans are “To return back to Kansas City after graduation to apply to Medical Schools around the country!”

Mathew’s favorite college memory is “Repersenting Mizzou as a top 10 royalty candidate. Of course this was a great honor but I truly treasure it because of the incredible relationships I got to deepen thoughout the experience and was able to be apart of so many great efforts to serve the community through the blood drive, day of service, and canning drive. This all culminated on Homecoming Day, when my parents and other family members attended their first Homecoming at Mizzou, making my Mizzou experience feel complete.”

Mathew’s advice to future and current Tigers is “Dont every feel like you have to have all the “right answers” as you go throughout Mizzou. There is so much pressure in our lives from expectations of perfection with no mistakes. Don’t ever believe that lie. Enjoy where you are and continue trying your best. There’s no “answer key” to life, so finding your own path will always be unique. Try new activities, look into different career opportunities or involvement spaces. There is so much Mizzou has to offer, so don’t hesitate to embrace it all!”

Good luck with your future endeavors Mathew! We are so proud!

Meet the FNES Ambassadors!

FNES ambassadors are student leaders who are proud to represent our division in a positive and energized manner.

They have some exciting events planned for this Spring, stay tuned! 🖤💛🐯

This year’s Cardiovascular day was nothing short of amazing. It was a day full of collaboration, insight, and competition!

A little Nutrition & Exercise Physiology highlights from the event:

PhD candidate Marc Augenreich, of Dr. Jaume Padilla’s lab, won first place in the Graduate Student Scientific Poster Contest 🎉

PhD candidate Alexa Krause, of Dr. Scott Rector’s lab, won the M. Harold Laughlin Scholarship 🎉

PhD candidate Cecile El-Borgi, of Dr. Jacqueline Limberg’s lab, won the FlashTalk competition 🎉

Additionally, Dr. Daniel Credeur, Associate Teaching Professor, gave a lecture titled “Sit Less, Learn More: Translating Movement and Vascular Health Research into Classroom Practice.” We also had many students present scientific posters and give FlashTalks at the event. 🎉

We are incredibly proud of our students, faculty, and trainees, for all of their hard work and dedication! Swipe through to see some gems from the event. 💎

📸: Ben Stewart, NextGen Precision Health

New research alert! 🚨 Check out how Dr. Katherene Anguah and team are tracking how the gut microbiome repopulates after a colonoscopy, and how diet, especially fiber, plays a big role in recovery 🍎🔬

We are incredibly proud of Dr. Anguah and all of her labs hard work. Dr. Anguah is incredibly detailed, organized, and is a testament to the type of tenacity and hard work that our faculty strive for. ✨

Read the full story: https://cafnr.missouri.edu/stories/mizzou-researchers-track-gut-microbiomes-repopulation-after-colonoscopy/

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