2018 Teaching Initiative Award Winner

Jennifer L. Barnes, Ph.D.

Ph.D. in Nutritional Science from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2013)
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Teaching Philosophy

Facilitate student acquisition of the skills necessary to become lifelong learners and effective nutrition practitioners.

The three most valuable attitudes that I bring to my teaching practice are

Enthusiasm and mastery of subject matter, utilizing a variety of instructional techniques and tools, and application of curriculum.

The resource or person that has been the most important influence in my teaching career is

My doctoral advisor, Dr. Kelly Tappenden. Dr.Tappenden is also a registered dietitian and taught several of the same courses that I now teach. Her presence in the classroom captivated and motivated students, resulting in high achievement. I strive to do the same.

The most rewarding aspect of teaching for me is

When students say that they understand the rationale behind nutrition recommendations and how this may change in the face of a disease state or disrupted metabolism. This type of feedback suggests that they are ready to plan nutrition-based interventions for both healthy and diseased individuals with a sound foundation in science.

photo of Jennifer Barnes — “I have the opportunity to help students make informed decisions on food on a daily basis. Further, most of these students also will go on to educate patients and clients of their own, resulting in widespread impact.”