Eastern Carver County Schools Dietitian Recognized

The University of Minnesota recently recognized Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA) member Roxanne Williams, Director of Nutrition Services at Eastern Carver County Schools, for her efforts in training future health dietitians.

Williams was one of five recipients of the STAR Award, presented at the University of Minnesota - School of Public Health (SPH) Community Partner Awards ceremony on Wednesday, November 1.

The awardees at this event are representative of the large community that contributes to the education, training and guidance of future public health leaders at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Williams has been a registered and licensed dietician for over 40 years, a part of MSNA’s statewide efforts for decades, working to ensure that all children have access to healthy meals and nutrition education.

“Throughout my career I have enjoyed teaching, training, and mentoring students and helping people who work in the school food service arena progress to new jobs,” said Williams. “I have so enjoyed working with the University of Minnesota graduate students in the Public Health Program and capturing a few students to enter the field of school food service is rewarding. I have a passion for school food service and I enjoy sharing what I have learned throughout my 40-plus years in the business with others.”

Over the past four decades, Williams has provided nutrition leadership in six school districts and at the Minnesota State Department of Education. Since the inception of the coordinated masters program in 2008, Williams has served as preceptor and mentor to students every semester. Williams was nominated by her colleague, Aida Miles, the Director of Coordinated MPH-Nutrition Program at the University of Minnesota.

“Students consistently rate Roxanne as one of the best preceptors and mentors they have had during their training,” said Miles. “She takes the time to orient them, gives them tasks and projects that challenge them, takes them to meetings and conferences, answers their many questions and supports them in their future careers. She sees student training and development as a welcome responsibility, as she knows that she is training the next generation of practitioners. As a program director who continuously seeks the assistance of professionals to train and mentor students, I can say that Roxanne exemplifies what giving-back to the profession is all about.”

In addition to her current position, Williams has held the title of Director of Food Service at the Burnsville, Eagan, Savage School District; Account Specialist at Upper Lakes Foods Distributor; Director of Food Service at Cambridge Schools; Equipment Sales Representative at North Star Agency; School Nutrition Supervisor at Hopkins Schools; Supervisor of Food Services at Minneapolis Public Schools; Assistant Director of Child Nutrition Programs at Anoka-Hennepin Schools and Child Nutrition Specialist at the State Department of Education, Food & Nutrition. Williams graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and dietetics from Mankato State University and a graduate administrative and clinical internship from the University of Kansas Medical Center.

“We could not be more proud that Roxanne Williams has been recognized for her hard work. She is a truly dedicated school nutrition professional, with over 40 years of knowledge and experience to share. She continuously goes above and beyond, giving back to the future members of our professional community,” Wendy Knight, 2017-2018 President of the Minnesota School Nutrition Association.

About the Minnesota School Nutrition Association

The Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA), founded in 1956 as a state-wide association with local chapters, is a non-profit association of over 3,000 members who work to ensure that all children have access to healthy meals and nutrition education in Minnesota. For more information about MSNA and upcoming events, please visit www.mnsna.org.