University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

NEWS RELEASE

CSUN’s Marilyn Magaram Center Supports Education Through
Student Internships and Community Outreach

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Aug. 16, 2007) — Housed on the first floor of Sequoia Hall, the Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics provides an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in the field of nutrition and dietetics. The gateway between curriculum and application, students flock to the center for faculty-led experience in cutting edge research and community outreach.

"The purpose of the center is to provide an auxiliary organization to the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences that can support research, community service and education specific to food science, nutrition and dietetics," said Tom Chen, director of the center. "We provide this opportunity for students to gain practical experience outside the university. They get the chance to make contact with the consumer and the community at large,"

"Our goal here is to find as many ways to help students succeed," said Annette Besnilian, associate director of the center. "The internships we offer usually lead students to progress to the next step toward becoming a registered dietician." Besnilian said the center offers a variety of internships to students. "Every semester we have about 11-14 interns. We also offer a stipend, a certificate of completion and 1-3 units of class credit."

Internships vary between hosting the educational "Brown Bag" film series, providing individual diet analysis, assisting with lab research, and meal preparation and food service production internships at the Child and Family Studies Center on campus.

Founded in 1991, the center was conceived to memorialize the contribution of graduate student and faculty member Marilyn Magaram, who was influential in her vision for expanding the university’s efforts in the field of nutrition and dietetics, said Chen.

"After her tragic death, Marilyn’s husband contacted me about doing something suitable to remember her by. The center was an obvious choice," he said.

As a part of being a springboard for student success, the center conducts important research and leads community awareness projects, said Christine H. Smith, chair of the advisory board for the center.

"Our earliest years were devoted to the study of folate and vitamin B12, since little was known about the amounts in food and the importance of these vitamins on the body back then," said Smith, who is also a retired professor in food science, nutrition and dietetics. "The purpose of the research was to update and expand the USDA database on food composition."

Over the years, the center has contributed research in new food product development, caloric and fat reduction, food composition, vitamin stability assessments on food and beverages and the effect of food processing and packaging on flavor and food nutrients.

Mirroring national concern, the contemporary focus involves childhood fitness and nutrition. "Many of our projects relate to childhood obesity awareness and prevention," said Besnilian.

During the summer, the center held a cooking class for kids, where graduate students teamed up with renowned chef Cecilia deCastro to create a fun learning experience for elementary age children. Children learned nutrition basics and how to prepare healthy snacks and meals.

Besnilian said future plans are to continue along the current path of community outreach expansion and innovative research.

"We have this event called the Nutrition College Bowl, which has reached many universities across the pacific western states," said Besnilian. The plan is to take it nationwide.

Besnilian said the center holds professional educational conferences and works with many like-minded community organizations, holding events and workshops in nutrition and weight management.

"Professional organizations and businesses are happy to collaborate with us because we have the expertise. We actually started overseeing the North Valley Family YMCA with their weight management program," said Besnilian.

"Our vision for the future is to remain dedicated to providing current and complete nutrition and lifestyle information to enhance the knowledge and health of the community," said Besnilian. "Anything new that comes by, we will try it."