NIU College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) doctoral student, Alexis Briley, was selected as the recipient of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation’s 2021 Commission on Dietetic Registration Doctoral Scholarship. The award includes $10,000 to be used for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Alexis Briley
“I was so excited to learn that I was selected to receive the Commission on Dietetic Registration Doctoral Scholarship from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation,” said Briley, who lives in Greenville, North Carolina. “I am deeply honored and appreciative of the foundation’s support towards my academic endeavors.”
Briley, a single mom who works full-time as a renal dietitian in an outpatient dialysis clinic, is in her third year as a part-time student in the Health Sciences doctoral program at NIU.
“By awarding me this scholarship, the foundation has greatly reduced my financial burden,” Briley said. “This will allow me to focus on completing my course work and work on my dissertation research while preparing for the candidacy exam in fall of 2022.”
Dr. Melani Duffrin, professor of Health Sciences, is Briley’s academic advisor and a champion for her success.
“I want to thank my advisor and mentor, Dr. Melani Duffrin, for her unwavering guidance and support during my doctoral journey here at NIU,” Briley said.
Briley’s doctoral research will target chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (in stages four and five). Her focus will be on developing a nutrition educational software that will serve to improve renal outcomes with a goal of slowing the progression of CKD and advancing the field of dietetics in renal nutrition.
Dr. Beverly H. Henry, CHHS interim associate dean for Research and Resources, said Briley’s award is well deserved.
“I am so glad to hear that Alexis received this support,” Henry said. “We know that her work will continue to contribute to her field with clinical practice and research; Alexis is a great example of how our Health Sciences doctoral students demonstrate excellence in many different arenas.”
Learn more about NIU’s Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences.
