Calling all former students: Share your story

We know our graduates go on to do incredible things – from working with communities, to conducting research to pursuing clinical careers – and we want to hear about it! Whether you are pursuing another degree or chasing the career of your dreams, share your story with us.

We would love to showcase your success and highlight where you are now and what you've been up to since your time in Aggieland.

Email Serina DeSalvio with your story at serina.desalvio@ag.tamu.edu

Nutrition Ambassadors kickoff year with cooking class

Undergraduate Research Scholarship recipients
announced for Fall 2025

The Department of Nutrition is proud to support four undergraduate students through Undergraduate Research Scholarships. These students submitted thoughtful and well-written research plans for this semester and we are so excited to see what they accomplish.

Awardees include Alina Tang, Arya Kordia, Anishka Ande, Wyatt Porter.  

Fall 2025 Departmental Kickoff: We popped off!

Thank you to our students, staff and faculty who joined us during the first week of classes for our kickoff event, which featured a build-your-own-lemonade stand and lots of popsicles.
 
We were thrilled to see so many familiar faces and to welcome new ones in the Norman E. Borlaug Building. For those joining the department for the first time this fall, we hope you felt at home at our kickoff. And for those returning, we are glad to have you all back!

Department welcomes 19 new graduate students

We are excited to welcome 19 new graduate students to the Department of Nutrition: seven doctoral students, seven Master of Science students and five Master of Clinical Nutrition students. 

Orientation week included talks from Visit College Station, Destination Bryan, and our research faculty, along with a field trip to the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas for our doctoral students.

Third-year doctoral student Shan Xu recently published a review article in the Journal of Translational Autoimmunity titled “Redefining Multiple Sclerosis Therapy through Microbial Immunomodulation and Epigenetic Control.”

Xu, a member of Dr. Jim Song's lab, highlights emerging approaches that integrate microbial immunotherapy and epigenetic regulation to advance treatments for multiple sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune disorder also known as MS.


This review article is available online here.

A collaborative effort between scientists at Indiana University, MD Anderson, and Texas A&M – including scientists in Dr. Robert Chapkin's research group, such as Alfredo Erazo-Oliveras pictured here and co-author of this work – produced a study published in the Biophysical Journal.

The research uncovered a novel link between plasma membrane restructuring and the progression of colorectal cancer, and the potential for diet-based intervention to mitigate the effects of oncogenic genes.


This study can be accessed online here.

Members of Dr. Robert Chapkin's research group, including co-author Destiny Mullens pictured here, contributed to a study recently published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which focused on dietary supplements' (specifically, soluble corn fiber and fish oil) effects on human gut microbiome.

The study found individuals who took fiber and fish oil supplements had substantially different gut microbiome compositions. The findings also suggest potential protective effects against tumor formation and progression when individuals supplement with fiber and fish oil.


Access this paper online here.

The Department of Nutrition is excited to welcome Kimberly (Kimmy) Polleri, M.S., as a senior lab coordinator for Cater-Mattil. Polleri has a master’s degree in clinical laboratory sciences-molecular diagnostics from Tarleton State University. 
She previously worked in the Texas A&M School of Public Health, where she supported research efforts and enjoyed collaborating with a dynamic and passionate team.

Outside of work, Polleri is an animal lover. She shares her home with rescued dogs and cats and enjoys spending time with them at the park, on walks and at the beach. She will serve as the main point of contact for all Cater-Mattil labs, and we are excited to have her start this new chapter with us!

Giving to the Department of Nutrition

The quality of education for nutrition students at Texas A&M University is shaped by the invaluable contributions of a high-quality educational team. This includes not only faculty and staff but also donors, advisory committee members, guest speakers, industry leaders, internship supervisors, employers, community partners and many others. Together, they enrich the student experience and support the department's mission to advance the field of nutrition.

You can support the Department of Nutrition by making an endowed gift, which provides lasting support, or by contributing a non-endowed gift for immediate use toward a specific purpose. Your generosity plays a critical role in fostering student success and innovation in the field of nutrition.

About the Department of Nutrition

The Department of Nutrition at Texas A&M University is committed to providing students with an exceptional education that equips them with the knowledge, skills and expertise to excel as leaders in nutrition, health and food systems. Our students receive a comprehensive, science-driven education that prepares them for careers in health care, clinical nutrition, research, public health and more.

We offer a range of programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees, minors and certificates, to help students expand and tailor their educational journey. With guidance from our experienced faculty and staff, who bring cutting-edge research and real-world expertise to the classroom, students are supported every step of the way as they prepare to address the complex challenges in the field of nutrition.

aglifesciences.tamu.edu | nutrition.tamu.edu 

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