It's Time for a Refresh���������������������

CAREE J� COTWRIGHT

PHD, RDN

NE DIVERSITY LIAISON

On July 1, 2021, I became the first Black woman in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at the University of Georgia to earn tenure and promotion� I share this not to boast but to claim the accomplishment as a win for the field of nutrition� With this success, I can continue to teach and mentor students and conduct communityengaged research� During the last year, most of us have a heightened sense of the need for more diversity in our field� Although we train registered dietitians in the hallowed halls of higher education institutions across our country, the reality is students of color do not normally encounter professors like me� More specifically, while the percentage of Black dietitians is low (approximately 3%), the portion of Black professors in the Academy is even lower at 1�9%� I mention this because I want to highlight that the need for diversity, of course, extends far past the profession of dietetics�

There is a need for a refresh� After earning tenure, professors are undoubtedly tired� I mean feel-it-inyour-bones tired� New professors know that the first five, six or seven years of their careers, each decision made, each academic endeavor, will soon be judged by peers, colleagues and university officials� It is an arduous process� With the recent coverage of the tenure denial and subsequent approval of Dr� Nikole HannahJones, many were forced to see that the playing field for the promotion and tenure process is not equal for professors of color� As a graduate of the University of Georgia who has the privilege to teach in the department that gave me so much, I relate to why Dr� Hannah-Jones wanted to give back to her alma mater� I relate to her struggle to earn every part of every accolade that she wholeheartedly deserved� As an alumna of the esteemed Howard University, I am overjoyed that students in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications will be graced by the brilliance of scholars like Dr� Hannah-Jones�

Now about that refresh� I willingly seek the opportunity to use my Godgiven creative abilities to empower students, leaders and communities to thrive� I am invigorated to continue doing the work I am blessed to do each day� As I reflect over so many of the moments that allowed me to reach this place, I think about my ancestors and the amazing support system I find in family and friends� I am indebted to mentors like Dr� Rebecca Mullis, who believed a young girl who entered her office in the spring of 2002 could accomplish anything she ever imagined� Not only did she cheer me on from the sideline, but she also passed the baton, even continuing to mentor me after retirement� I am inspired by mentors like Dr� Leann Birch who encouraged me and cultivated the talents she recognized within me� She also gave me space to acknowledge that I was going through tenure while giving birth to and raising my three beautiful daughters with my supportive husband�

As I remove my former cloak and adorn myself with a new shroud of opportunity, I challenge you to think about mentoring a student from a diverse background� If you don’t have time to lend a hand to many students, choose one� There are BIPOC students, LGBTQA+ students and students with exceptionalities who are seeking our mentorship so they can change the face of our field� Mentorship is one way to help develop new entrepreneurs in dietetics that create diverse solutions for diverse communities�

Mentorship is one way to help develop new entrepreneurs in dietetics that create diverse solutions

for diverse communities

I hope you will consider this challenge even if you don’t know where to begin� Follow the example of entrepreneurs like Barbara Storper, owner of FoodPlay Productions, who, upon receiving a call from a young, Black master’s student requesting a nutrition theater internship, responded, “Well, I’ve never had an intern, but come on!” I later wrote and produced the nutrition theater play, “Lil’ Red Ridin’ Thru ‘Da Hood,”as a part of my master’s thesis, and the rest is history� I am in awe of how much change could transpire if we simply say “Come on!” to aspiring dietitians� It’s time for a refresh in our field� Let’s all jump in together� Who knows how big of a splash we will make?

Caree Cotwright, PhD, RDN, is a wife and mom of three precious girls, a food lover and cook, and a childhood obesity prevention advocate� She is passionate about using creativity to promote good nutrition and health� In addition to being a nutrition theater playwright and poet, she practices doing African dance and yoga to be her best self�