NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – What began as a teenager’s dream of becoming a veterinarian, or even an underwater welder, ultimately led Dr. Veronica Oates to a nationally recognized career in nutrition, public health, and higher education.
For Oates, the national accolade represents decades of steadfast dedication to improving community health outcomes and expanding educational pathways for future nutrition professionals, especially students from underrepresented communities.
“I was always interested in nutrition,” Oates said. “Looking back now, I know this is what God ordained for me.”
Her journey into academia and public health was anything but standard. Growing up in Washington, D.C., she initially gravitated toward veterinary medicine and underwater welding due to a love of swimming. The turning point came at Cardozo High School, where science teacher Lucy McCorkle required every student to submit a science fair project.
Oates chose to analyze the saccharin content in consumer products. Her study earned runner-up honors at the D.C. Science Fair before winning top place the following year, earning her a spot at an international science competition in Puerto Rico.
“I really believe that was the catalyst,” she recalled.
She earned a full scholarship to North Carolina Central University to study biology. However, taking an elective nutrition course reignited a lifelong interest inspired by her grandfather, who frequently reminded her that “we’re supposed to eat to live and not live to eat.” Following her undergraduate work and immunology research, Oates realized that dietetics perfectly combined her scientific curiosity with a desire to combat health disparities.
Since joining TSU in 2008, Oates has made student success and institutional growth her primary focus. A cornerstone of her work at TSU has been developing academic pathways that allow students to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees in nutrition while preparing to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) without having to leave the university.
Her mission remains focused on increasing diversity within the field, ensuring that underserved communities are served by culturally competent dietitians.
“My goal was never to win awards,” Oates said. “It was to expose people to nutrition and reliable health information.”
That mission, she noted, is more critical today than ever before amid a flood of social media diet trends and automated AI health advice. “There are so many misconceptions,” she said. “Everybody is different. What works for one person may not work for another. That’s why we need credible health professionals in nutrition.”
While honored to receive recognition from her national peers, Oates insists her greatest fulfillment comes from watching her students thrive.
“We have some really good students at this university,” she said. “They just need the opportunity.”
Featured Photo: Dr. Veronica Oates, a professor at TSU since 2008, has made student success and institutional growth the focus of her academic career. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)
