Supporting Diversity Pilot Study

Study Overview

The Supporting Diversity Focus Group Interviews aim to understand the educational, research and mentoring experiences of Black, Indigenous and Persons of Color (BIPOC) undergraduate students interested in nutrition research to address those lived experiences through the development of a nutrition research mentoring program. This follows a hermeneutic-phenomenological study approach, with four focus group interviews conducted with undergraduate BIPOC students. Using community-based participatory research approaches, member-checking sessions were conducted with study participants and co-authors to ensure interview quotes and emerged themes reflect participants’ realities.

This is a project by the Academy Data Science Center, conducted jointly with Diversify Dietetics. Funding support has been provided by the Academy Foundation through a grant by the National Dairy Council.

Recruitment

Fifteen participants were interviewed in four focus group interviews in September 2025. Participants were recruited to this study via this flyer. The emerged themes from the interviews are being iteratively refined.