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Dr. RoseAnna Holliday

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Shields 203B
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Education Information

Education

B.S.  Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Idaho
M.P.H. Public Health/Epidemiology, University of Minnesota
Ph.D.  Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut

Registered Dietitian, Commission on Dietetic Registration
Licensed Dietitian, Idaho State Board of Medicine
Board of Directors, Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics 2022 - 2024
House of Delegates (HOD) Director, Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
 

Background/Personal Information

Dr. Holliday grew up in Twin Falls and graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1988. She obtained a Bachelors degree from the University of Idaho in Dietetics to become a Registered Dietitian.  She later completed a Masters in Public Health at the University of Minnesota and recently received her doctorate in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut.   Dr. Holliday believes that participation in higher education is critical for everyone.  She has over thirty years experience in all aspects of nutrition and dietetics from working as a clinical dietitian to formulating public policy and working in the public relations industry.  She worked in media relations for Fleishman Hillard International Communications in Kansas City and as a spokesperson for the Midwest Dairy Association. While working on her doctorate, she also worked for the Connecticut State Department of Education as a Child Nutrition Consultant. Dr. Holliday’s research includes one of the first published papers regarding the availability of a la carte foods in public schools while her dissertation focused on the development of a survey instrument to facilitate behavior change surrounding iron deficiency anemia. She has presented her policy/advocacy work at the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics in Houston, TX (2011)  as well as Chicago, IL (2017).  This extensive work consisted of building relationships with key policy and decision makers throughout Idaho which culminated in legislation passing regarding the importance that nutrition plays in the health and well being of Idahoans as well as increasing Idaho's scope of practice as part of the dietetic licensure bill.  She has recently been elected to serve as House of Delegates (HOD) Director and Board member for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  A past president of the Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, she served as Idaho's affiliate Delegate to the Academy for six years prior to being elected to the Academy's Board of Directors. She is also active in St. Luke's hospital as a member of the system board (Quality, Safety and Service Excellence Committee) representing the Magic Valley and the Community Board of Magic Valley.  She is a past Chair and long standing board member of the St. Luke’s Magic Valley Health Foundation. She is married to her husband Scott, an ER physician at St. Luke’s Magic Valley and Wood River, and are parents to two adult sons, Christian and Kevin.  

Teaching Philosophy

Below is Dr. Holliday's teaching philosophy written for her ALLH 220 - Fundamentals of Nutrition (face-to-face and online) students.

After over 10 years of working full-time as a registered dietitian in various settings ranging from clinical to community-based, I decided to obtain a doctorate in nutrition so I could teach nutrition in a university setting.  I felt that with a strong and diverse workforce background, followed by an advanced degree in nutritional sciences, would prove valuable in the classroom.  My goal is to not only teach nutrition, but bring it to life by immediately applying the concepts to your situation.  I also feel that I can augment and enhance your understanding of nutrition with my “real world” experience in five different states (the reason for state hopping is another story)! My goal is for you to take the “book knowledge” coupled with my work “real life” experiences in nutrition and immediately start applying these concepts to you or your families eating habits.  I want to encourage you to embrace the statement: healthful eating habits last a lifetime. 

It may seem cliche, but you should challenge yourself to learn something new every day.  Learning does not only take place in the classroom. In fact, most learning takes place outside of the classroom.  Take advantage of every learning opportunity.  Critically analyze nutrition books, fad diets, movies, reports from the news media.. everything around you.  You will quickly find that almost everything is connected.  The more you learn, the quicker you will realize this.  Interaction and application are essential to learning. Talk through ideas.  Make them relevant to your life.  Decide what you will do with your new knowledge.  If you don't use it, you'll forget what you learned.  

 

Finally, don't base your learning on a grade.  While an "B" might be easily achievable for some students, it might be a real struggle for others to earn that grade.  While I have to be objective in my grading, you should strive to be subjective in your evaluation of your own learning.  Did you receive a "C", but learn a lot?  If so, you succeeded.   

 

It shouldn't be a surprise that my goals for the course align with my teaching philosophy.  If you're already read the welcome letter, you know that my overall goal is for this course to change your life.  That's a big goal.  

 

I believe that students learn best when subject matter is immediately relevant.  I, therefore, try to make the course as student centered as possible.  I want you to create your own learning experience.  Part of my job is to help you develop the skills to do that.  We will focus on critical thinking skills and the application of nutrition knowledge to real-life problems.  With these skills and a basic understanding of nutrition, I am confident you will take what you’ve learned and make it applicable to your life.  

 

I will help guide you through the course and will always be available to answer questions.  I will share some stories and key learnings from my previous experiences, but will keep this to a minimum and relevant to the topic.  Again, the course isn't about me; it is about you!  I am always working to improve the course.  If you ever find a mistake or if a link doesn't work, please let me know right away.  

 

I sincerely hope that you all enjoy the course and do well in it! 

 

A Final Note:  This course is part of your education.  If you decide that you are just going to do the minimal amount of work to pass with little effort and engagement, there is not much that I can do about it.  I am asking you now, though, to not do that.  Your college education will impact your life in ways that you could never imagine.  Take advantage of every single minute, every lesson, every opportunity.  I know that you are busy, and I am willing to work with you so that you can succeed.  Do me a favor: give me your best effort!