Welcoming new Nutritional Sciences department head to Cowboy country
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Media Contact: Kirsi McDowell | Senior Communications Specialist | 405-744-9347 | kirsi@okstate.edu
The Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences welcomed Dr.
Norman Hord as the new head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences ahead of the
fall 2023 semester.
Hord comes to Stillwater with an extensive background in nutritional health — as he earned his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. in nutritional sciences from Michigan State University, Clemson University and Purdue University, respectively, as well as a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Throughout his career, he has held many faculty positions across the country, as he spent eight years at Oregon State University, where he was the school head for the Department of Biological and Populations Health Sciences. He most recently served as professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Allied Health where he chaired the Department of Nutritional Sciences.
As Hord embarks on his new appointment at Oklahoma State, he hopes to use his background and experience to help move the nutritional sciences department forward.
ASPIRE magazine sat down with Hord to discuss his new position.
Where are you originally from?
I am a native of Battle Creek, Michigan — the “ready-to-eat cereal” capital of the world — and the first person in my family to get a college education. An interesting fact about my family is my mother was one of 16 children. You may have heard the proverb, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ and I was that child!
What sparked your passion for nutritional sciences?
My interest was sparked while recovering from a wrist injury in high school. As a tennis player, I was devastated to sustain an injury during the tournament season prior to my freshman year of college. The injury prompted me to start reading popular books about nutrition, and through my recovery process, I became hooked on nutrition!
What goals do you have for the OSU Department of Nutritional Sciences?
I look forward to working with faculty, staff and students to maintain and grow excellent programs in our college while making new collaborations in research. I hope to provide support and vision for new initiatives at Oklahoma State University to further our land-grant mission.
Do you have any hobbies outside of your career?
I love spending time with friends and family (especially my grandchildren), working out, reading, going to music festivals, and exploring new cuisines and restaurants.
As a nutritional scientist and registered dietitian, do you have a go-to, healthy meal?
I love oatmeal with nuts, berries and honey for breakfast and salads made from arugula with tuna, hummus, avocado and tomatoes for lunch. My favorite recipe is a white bean chicken chili — the dish is nutritious, high in fiber and spicy!
Photo By: Kelly Kerr
Story By: Sierra Walter | ASPIRE Magazine