TWU Nutrition and Food Sciences Department

"No one is free until we are all free." — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 🕊️✨

In honor of Juneteenth, Texas Woman's University and the Department of Nutrition & Food Sciences are closed today, Friday, June 19.

Originating right here in Galveston, Texas in 1865, Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Today, it stands as a profound celebration of freedom for all of us. 🇺🇸❤️

We invite our entire TWU community to use this day to pause, reflect, and remember the profound suffering and ultimate sacrifices of those who paved the way for the privileges we share today.

🗓️ Note for Students & Faculty: We will return to normal university operations on Monday, June 22.

Our passports are stamped and the kitchens are fired up for a week of global flavor! 🌎🥢

Yesterday we were so excited to kick off our Food as Passport Summer Culinary Camp! Over this multi-day experience running through Friday, our campers are "traveling" to different regions of the world to explore the unique ingredients and rich food traditions that define each culture.

Throughout the week, these young chefs are getting hands-on experience by:
🔪 Mastering essential kitchen skills & food safety
🍉 Taste-testing vibrant new ingredients
🧠 Discovering how cultural identity shapes our diets
🥗 Preparing simple, healthy dishes inspired by global cuisines

Beyond the recipe book, they are diving into the science of balanced nutrition, practicing mindful eating, and exploring the fascinating intersections of food, culture, and health.

We are so proud of our campers' curiosity and creativity in the kitchen this week! 🦉🔬

🍽️✨ | Alumni Spotlight

Meet Leon Van, a proud TWU Nutrition & Food Sciences alum, who is now an Associate Research Chef at Pilgrim's.

🧠 TWU Roots:
• Degree(s): BAS Culinary Science and Food Service Management, 2023

🥗 What They’re Doing Now:
“My work involves defining and creating culinary gold standards, curating recipes and menus that are relevant to current trends, and travel with our sales teams to various food shows and military bases.”

💬 Reflecting on his time at TWU:
“The classes at TWU, such as Principles of Food Science and Food Product Development, helped prepare me in understanding the role of a research chef and how cohesive teamwork is required when working in a large organization.”

We are to see our alumni fuel change everywhere they go. 🩷🦉

🍽️✨ | Alumni Spotlight

Meet Lauren Howard, a proud TWU Nutrition & Food Sciences alum, who is now an Technical Supervisor at Galdisa USA.

🧠 TWU Roots:
• Degree(s): BS in Food and Nutrition in Business and Industry, 2020

🥗 What They’re Doing Now:
“A day typically involves coordinating lab activities, ensuring quality standards are met, reviewing test results, troubleshooting issues, and supporting overall team operations. My current role is technical supervisor. My duties consist of overseeing the quality lab team and assisting the technical manager with tasks.”

💬 Reflecting on her time at TWU:
“The TWU Food Science and Nutrition program greatly helped me with my professional journey through giving me extensive knowledge and practice in food safety, manufacturing, and business practices. The knowledge I gained helped me advance in my career, and still helps me to this day.”

We are to see our alumni fuel change everywhere they go. 🩷🦉

🥕 From the soil to the skillet!

🍳 Know a young chef who loves to get creative in the kitchen? Join the TWU Department of Nutrition & Food Sciences this July for Farm to Fork: From the Ground Up! This isn't your average cooking camp. Over 4 immersive days, campers will:

✨ Master professional knife safety and culinary skills
🐝 Meet a local beekeeper and explore pollinator science
🌱 Upcycle kitchen scraps into delicious, zero-waste meals
🍯 Bake rustic berry galettes, craft garden flatbreads, and more!

Join us as we blend science and sustainability right into our kitchen adventures, making every day an educational and tasty experience! 🌿

🗓️ Details: July 13–16, 2026 | Mon–Thu | 9 AM – 1 PM
👥 Who: Open to ages 9–15
💰 Cost: $325 (all ingredients & materials included)

🚨 Space is strictly limited to 18 participants! Secure your child's spot today: 👇
https://twu.edu/nutrition-food-sciences/summer-nutrition-and-culinary-camp/ (Link in our bio! 🔗)

In honor of Memorial Day, Texas Woman's University and the NFS department are closed today, Monday, May 25th. 🇺🇸✨

Today, we pause to remember and honor the brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

🗓️ Note for Students & Faculty: We will return to normal university operations tomorrow, Tuesday, May 26th.

Have a safe and meaningful holiday, Pioneers. ❤️🦉

🍽️✨ |

Meet Jo Sissons, MS, a proud TWU Nutrition & Food Sciences alum, who is now a Senior Food Scientist at Griffith Foods.

🧠 TWU Roots:
• Degree(s): B.S. Nutrition emphasis in Nutritional Sciences, 2018
M.S. Food Science and Flavor Chemistry, 2021

🥗 What They’re Doing Now:
"I am a Senior Food Scientist at Griffith Foods, a global food manufacturing company operating in over 30 countries, working in Alsip, IL USA. As part of the North American R&D Seasonings Team, I lead product development projects and technical initiatives to design innovative and proprietary seasoning products.

💬 Reflecting on her time at TWU:
“The TWU NFS program fostered my creativity and refined my scientific approach through a disciplined practice which has proved to be essential for developing novel food products in a competitive industry.”

We are to see our alumni fuel change everywhere they go. 🦉❤

Feeding curious minds! 🧬🍔🧪

We recently welcomed a fantastic group of high school students from Slidell High School to our TWU food science labs!

There is nothing quite like watching young minds light up when they see how science applies to the food they eat every day. It was an absolute pleasure introducing them to the world of food science, sharing what our department does, and showing them why is the perfect place to build their future. 🦉✨

From the lab coat to the career—the future of food science looks incredibly bright! 🥽🔬

🍽️✨ | Alumni Spotlight

Meet Thùy Phạm, MS, a proud TWU Nutrition & Food Sciences alum, who is now a R&D Scientist - Analytical Chemistry at Keurig Dr Pepper.

🧠 TWU Roots:
• Degree(s): BS in Nutrition and Food Science in Business and Industry, 2022
MS in Food Science and Flavor Chemistry, 2023

🥗 What They’re Doing Now:
“I design and execute stability and shelf-life studies to evaluate product integrity under varying environmental and storage conditions. My work involves applying advanced analytical techniques and data-driven modeling approaches to characterize chemical changes over time, assess degradation pathways, and ensure product quality and consistency. I also leverage chemistry data modeling to generate predictive insights that support formulation optimization, process validation, and evidence-based decision-making across product development pipelines.”

💬 Reflecting on her time at TWU:
“At the TWU Nutrition and Food Science program, I was able to develop my skills in performing expert analysis of food components and packaging materials, which has allowed me to excel at performing my professional responsibility.”

We are to see our alumni fuel change everywhere they go. 🩷🦉

Reflecting on an incredible industry visit! 🥽✨

Last week, our NFS department took a deep dive into the world of food innovation at PepsiCo in Plano! 🥤

We were honored to have our Department Chair and Dean Catrine (College of Health Sciences at Texas Woman's University) join 12 of our standout students (9 undergrads and 3 graduates) for this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour.

From R&D to large-scale production, seeing "classroom science" applied at a global scale was a game-changer for our Pioneers. It’s experiences like these that bridge the gap between being a student and becoming a professional. 🔬🦉

A huge thank you to the PepsiCo team for your continued support and for hosting such an inspiring day! 🤝