by The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University is undergoing a strategic transformation. The changes are based on the principles of equity and impact and aim to make nutrition education more accessible, advance research on current global issues, and expand the school’s reach.
“High-quality, evidence-based, equitable nutrition information is more important now than ever,” Christina Economos, dean of the Friedman School, tells Food Tank. Founded in 1978, the Friedman School describes itself as “the only graduate school of nutrition in the United States” and has a decades-long history of innovation in nutrition science and policy.
This transformation is intended to build on this legacy and enable the school to meet the challenges of a new era and meet the increasingly complex needs of people around the world, describes Economos.
To promote equity in nutrition education, The Friedman School focuses on accessibility and helps ensure its educational offerings are accessible to a broad range of students. According to Economos, the goal is to “open its doors as wide as possible and expand access to the incredible work we do here to people around the world.”
In addition to its on-campus Master of Science (MS) in Nutrition program, the Friedman School now offers an online MS in Nutrition, allowing students worldwide to pursue their degree on a part-time or full-time basis. The Accelerated MS program enables bachelor’s students to earn a master’s degree while completing their bachelor’s degree. And for professionals who want to deepen their nutrition knowledge, the school has introduced continuing education courses, micro-credentials and certificates of completion.
As the school develops new ways to earn a degree in nutrition, Economos strives to provide students with an experience that “feels truly robust, rewarding and connecting.”
To maintain rigorous academic standards and community building, Friedman offers live and interactive seminars, networking opportunities that accommodate time zones, and a range of experiential learning opportunities around the globe.
The school also develops and strengthens institutional partnerships and creates double degree and summer research programs with universities in countries such as Taiwan, the Philippines and Thailand. Economos said the hope is to introduce new groups of students to the Friedman School, its faculty and expertise, and to give Friedman students access to other institutions.
She describes that incorporating a variety of lived experiences into dialogue and problem solving enriches learning opportunities for students and continuous development for teachers.
Recognizing the need to evolve as global issues change over time, the school is refocusing and expanding its four core research themes. Sustainable Food Systems for Human and Planetary Health examines food systems solutions that support both human health and environmental sustainability. Nourished Communities Around the Globe examines malnutrition and the complex challenges that arise from food insecurity. Food and Nutrition Equity for All covers food justice issues including food is medicine, federal nutrition programs, community-based obesity prevention, and data analytics and AI. And Nutritional Wellbeing Across the Lifespan examines chronic illness and how diet and eating habits influence health and well-being.
These research topics, last updated in 2016, were designed to build on the strengths and expertise of Friedman faculty. The aim is to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and secure extensive funding to support global initiatives, explains Economos.
In parallel with these changes in education and research, the Friedman School is expanding its impact by improving its digital presence. The school’s new website was designed with digital accessibility in mind and provides users with an intuitive experience when exploring the school’s educational programs, research, and resources.
At the heart of this transformation is the School’s desire to build an equitable global community dedicated to advancing nutritional science and policy.
Dean Economos envisions the Friedman School as a place for people who care about improving the world through food and nutrition. She also hopes to create an inclusive environment where people can “bring their authentic selves to their work when they are here and their own way of impacting the world when they leave.”
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Photo courtesy of Mikael Kristenson, Unsplash
