Diymond Walker Dietetic Student Spotlight

Graduating senior Diymond Walker has found a host of ways to share her interest in healthy eating with fellow students and the community through our Fresno State Food Science and Nutrition Deparmtent classes and outreach programs. Besides helping lead the Bulldogs in the Grocery program the past year, she has also helped collect data about its reach and effectiveness as part of a $500,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant. The student-led, public tours give shopping, money-saving and cooking tips to include vegetables and fruits more easily in meal planning.

She has also served Fresno State students through its Student Nutrition Dietetic Association club, African American Programs and Services office, athletic department student nutrition program, and another USDA program (helping students facing obesity and student insecurity issues to improve their long-term health). 

Learn more about the Fresno native and first generation college graduate who looks forward to the Bulldog post-graduate dietetic internship and graduate program in the fall (on her way to becoming a registered dietician) in this recent interview.

 

Q: Why did you choose to attend Fresno State, and how did you pick your major?

“I chose Fresno State because I grew up hearing how great of school it is. Its legacy is something the Central Valley takes pride in and I wanted to be a part of that. My choice to study nutrition was pretty spontaneous. I took an online career quiz, and nutrition was one of the top results. I enjoy food so I thought it would be interesting to learn how to eat healthier. My appreciation for the field grew with every class I took. I’m happy that my decision to study nutrition led me down the path that I’m on.” 

 

Q: Which classes & faculty members have had the biggest influence on you while at Fresno State and why?

“The cooking labs were memorable, and I learned techniques that I still use in my own kitchen. The faculty at Fresno State has been supportive during my more challenging classes. Dr. Lisa Herzig and Professor Erika Ireland have been great resources during my academic career. Their patience and encouragement also led me to new opportunities on campus. Professor Ireland helped me secure a position with Fresno State Athletics last year. Dr. Herzig guided me through the transition of becoming the student coordinator for Bulldogs in the Grocery Store. It’s a student-run program that provides free grocery tours to members of the community. This program really helped boost my confidence when it comes to public speaking. It also helped me explain core nutrition concepts in ways that everyone can understand. I think that these will be important skills to have when I become a dietitian.” 

 

Q: Have you been involved with research on campus, and how will it benefit your career path?

“I used to keep track of our tour patterns for Bulldogs in the Grocery Store (BIGS). Initially, I documented this information to measure our success rate. Last summer I had the opportunity to use my data to expand BIGS. I worked with Fresno State faculty to write a proposal for a United States Department of Agriculture grant that funded the Food Science and Nutrition Department with a $500,000 grant. So far I’ve assisted with writing nutrition-focused literature reviews, recruiting and screening participants for eligibility. I also get to use the hands-on skills I learned in my senior dietetics classes, such as collecting anthropometric data.” 

Q: Describe the research, and issues it’s addressing, and how it will benefit industry or the community?

“Our team is studying the effect that a comprehensive nutrition intervention has on Fresno State students who are overweight or obese. We provide free cooking classes, nutrition education and grocery tours in the hopes of reducing their risk for nutrition-related diseases. Some participants even receive free groceries and genetic testing to see what metabolic abnormalities they’re at risk for. There’s also a collaboration with the Student Cupboard to enroll participants in the CalFresh program. This is such an amazing opportunity to positively impact the health of Fresno State students and reduce the rates of food insecurity. Also, I really appreciate how much the faculty wants nutrition and dietetic students to be involved in the research. There are juniors who are scribes during the screening process, seniors that collect anthropometric data, and graduate students who are using this project as their thesis. ” 

Q: Describe any internships you've done at Fresno State, your responsibilities, company department, and how it has prepared you for your career path?

“I’m so excited to say that I will be a part of Fresno State’s combined dietetic internship and master of science program this fall! It’s a huge milestone in my academic career because it puts me one step closer to becoming a registered dietitian. It’s a competitive program that only accepts 11 students each year, so I’m very grateful to be selected. Last year I also had a fun experience being an intern with Fresno State Athletics. I worked under a sports dietitian with its Student Athletic Nutrition Program. I assisted with creating nutrition labels, body composition analysis and preparing nutritious snacks for game day. It was great to work with diverse sports teams towards a competitive goal.”

 

Q: Are you a part of any other clubs/organizations at Fresno State and involved in any noteworthy activities?

“I was the treasurer of the Student Nutrition and Dietetic Association (SNDA). This organization is a chance for dietetic students to find volunteer opportunities, listen to guest speakers in the field and create partnerships on campus. I transferred to Fresno State in Fall 2020, so it was hard to network or find friends on campus due to COVID. One of the best parts about SNDA was connecting with other students in my cohort.” 

“Another campus organization that I have been involved with is the African American Programs and Services (AFAM) at the Cross Cultural and Gender Center. AFAM organizes the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration. I had the honor of participating in last year’s event by reading a poem. I was a little nervous because a lot of people were attending the event, including President Sàul Jiménez-Sandoval. I’m glad I had this experience to get me out of my comfort zone and work on my public speaking skills.”

Q: Have you received any scholarships related to campus, the Jordan College or Ag One?  

“Last semester I received the Helena Kennedy Memorial Scholarship that was funded by the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This scholarship is reserved for Fresno State students who are pursuing the dietetics field. I was so fortunate to be 1 of the 3 students to receive this scholarship last year.” 

Q: Have you overcome any challenges to get where you are today that have shaped who you are?

“My biggest challenge was that I’m a first generation college student. I didn’t personally know anyone that graduated college so I had to fumble through my first few semesters. At some point I dropped out of school for a while to assess if college was right for me. My parents, Deon and Erika, were shocked at this decision but supported me nonetheless. I needed time to figure out how to be more proactive rather than reactive when it came to school. When I re-enrolled in college I decided to be more intentional about how I spent my time; I didn’t want to just be here to get a degree. I wanted to say “yes” to new opportunities, meet new people and really get involved on campus. This mindset pushed me to become a stronger and more responsible student.” 

 

Q: Are there any other interesting notes about yourself that you would like to include?

“A fun fact about myself is that I play Tetris almost every single day. I have the highest Tetris marathon score in Clovis.” 

 

Q: What's your potential next career step(s), and what field and / or company would you like to work for after graduation?

“My goal is to become a registered dietitian (RD). I plan on returning to Fresno State to complete a master of science and a dietetic internship. Afterwards, I’ll take the registered dietitian examination to obtain my RD credentials. The great thing about dietetics is that there’s so many fields I could work in. I’m interested in a lot of areas, but ultimately I see myself in a position of mentorship or teaching.”