News

Dietary Manager program celebrates students' certification

The UA-PTC Dietary Manager program at the UA-PTC Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute (CAHMI) proudly announces the students from the 2021-22 school year that passed the national Certified Dietary Manager exam:

• Darby Diffy
• Savannah Robinson
• Cynthia Wyman Bookwalter
• Tashina Blessing
• Latoya Shelton
• Kiana McAdoo
• Miles Lowe

Passing the Certified Dietary Manager exam gives program graduates a national certification that is highly valued in the workplace. All nursing homes, retirement centers and hospitals must have a CDM on staff to get federal funding.

Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals (ANFP) has granted full approval to the Dietary Management hybrid training program offered through the UA - Pulaski Tech’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute. The certificate program is listed on the ANFP website as an approved program. The Dietary Management program was designed to use the ANFP curriculum and includes a 150-hour internship.

“I thought I would retire from social services in my sixties, that was in my written life plan,” said CAHMI student Latoya Shelton, who chose the program after working 15 years as a Social Worker. “I could consider a small cafe in a small town at that point. Then 2020 came and my family and I reached the apex of multiple health issues. I was weighing in at over 330 pounds. My mother’s Alzheimer’s had also progressed and complementary and supplementary healthcare was required.

“After prayer and research into what foundational changes we could commit to, we altered our nutrition. I grew closer to understanding food as a cornerstone of good health that is within our locus of control during the process. I believe every community and generation should have access to delicious nourishment despite barriers. I’m happy to live my life contributing to that mission.

“So began my incredibly awkward fun filled journey to health-food-loving pastry chef-in-training. I always loved food, I just called in 2021 to see if we can make it official.”

Pictured: UA-PTC CAHMI student, Latoya Shelton