Food Science and Nutrition

Memphis Bancroft is in the accelerated master’s program within the food science and nutrition degree program, which allows student’s to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in just five years. Bancroft is a senior, which means she is close to finishing her undergraduate degree while getting a jumpstart on her master’s degree.

Jan. 30, 2023

Finding the Perfect Degree

When Memphis Bancroft made the decision to pursue a food science and nutrition degree at the University of Missouri she didn’t realize the real-world application of what she was studying would be so immediate. When Bancroft chose the degree program her mother was on a very restrictive diet due to a colon cancer diagnosis. “With the effects of surgery we had to find food that fit the bill and wouldn’t cause more issues,” Bancroft said. “Her diet was really tough – she really couldn’t have much fiber, protein or dairy. I was taking what I was learning in the classroom…
A capstone course within the food science and nutrition degree program, the Food Product Development (F_S 4970) class allows students to integrate the various disciplines of food science to create new food products. This semester, students were tasked with creating a Kansas City-style barbeque sauce, which is typically sweeter in nature. That food product focus wasn’t random – Sonja Derboven, licensing director at the University of Missouri, asked Andrew Clarke, an associate professor, if there would be an interest in having the students take on such a project before the semester began, with the goal of potentially taking one sauce to market in the future.

Dec. 17, 2022

A Tasty Experience

Food science and nutrition students spent the fall semester developing a variety of barbeque sauce flavors.
Amy Marek is an academic advisor for students in the nutrition and exercise physiology, and food science and nutrition degree programs.

Sep. 26, 2022

CAFNR Advisor Spotlight: Amy Marek

How rewarding is it to work with students in the Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences? The most rewarding part of the job is getting to know each student and helping them create their own path to graduation. Being the academic advisor for two degree programs, it can seem like student meetings and emails are endless but it’s all a part of the job. It’s worth it to ease a student’s mind with a quick meeting or responding to their email if they are having concerns or needing advice. I will admit it’s hard when students graduate because I…
Chloe Bilyk spotlight.

May 9, 2022

Senior Spotlight: Chloe Bilyk

Bilyk will graduate with a degree in food science and nutrition.
Maya Johnson has taken part in two different internship opportunities during her time at MU, including one with ICL Food Specialties. Johnson has also conducted undergraduate research during her time in the food science and nutrition degree program. Photo courtesy of Maya Johnson.

Feb. 16, 2022

An Important Degree Program

In May, Maya Johnson will graduate with a food science and nutrition degree from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). It will actually be Johnson’s second Mizzou graduation ceremony. Johnson is a graduate of the Mizzou Academy High School program. She spent her senior year of high school in the program, earning her diploma during a ceremony at Memorial Union. “This program gave me a lot of freedom and allowed me to set my own pace as I completed my high school degree,” said Johnson, who is also minoring in hospitality management. “I had…
Growing up in a town of less than 300 people, Elizabeth Gunter’s graduating class at DeKalb High School consisted of just 15 students. Coming to the University of Missouri, with enrollment above 30,000 students, was a big change of pace. The MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) made that change much easier. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gunter.

Sep. 28, 2021

Feeling Right at Home

Growing up in a town of less than 300 people, Elizabeth Gunter’s graduating class at DeKalb High School consisted of just 15 students. Coming to the University of Missouri, with enrollment above 30,000 students, was a big change of pace. The MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) made that change much easier. “It was definitely a little intimidating being in a lecture hall with more people in it than my entire town,” Gunter said. “However, through CAFNR I was able to meet so many students who had that same rural background who felt the same way. Having…

May 10, 2021

Senior Spotlight: Jordan Duenckel

As a senior in high school, Jordan Duenckel knew that he was going to continue his education at the University of Missouri – what he didn’t know was what he was going to study. As Duenckel searched through the MU course catalog, an interesting entry caught his eye. “As I was flipping through, I noticed food science and nutrition,” Duenckel said. “I love to eat, so studying food seemed fun. Science was my best subject in high school, so when I saw something that combined the two, I thought I would give it a go.” To go along with his…