As president of the Student Dietetic Association (SDA), which has about 60 members, Badger has lots to do to keep everything running smoothly. She wears many hats as president, as a spokesperson for SDA, leading meetings, setting up committees, and developing service projects, to name a few. While Badger stays busy running SDA, she modestly notes that she couldn’t do it without the officers, which she delegates tasks to so that no one gets too overwhelmed.
Badger got involved with SDA after it was recommended to her the summer before college. Most dietetics majors are in the organization, which Badger has been a member of since freshman year. However, Badger did not just step into this leadership position. She was prepared for the role after being secretary of SDA for two years and notes that “it’s nice to finally be at this point.”
The SDA has three main goals that they fulfill through their meeting and events: networking, social, and service. While networking is important in every field of study, it is vital for dietetics majors, who are required to have an internship after they graduate to become certified. Speakers from around the state come to SDA meetings to help students learn more about the field and internships. The organization also has a social aspect, as members get to know each other and a social event is held each semester. In addition, SDA has about three service projects per a semester, including making PB&Js for the homeless in Athens and bake sales at Tate Student Center to benefit projects of the American Dietetic Association. SDA combines different aspects of dietetics to give members a well-rounded experience.
As President, Badger has goals for where she would like SDA to be in the future. Among them, she would like to see more interaction between students on campus and SDA. In addition, she would also like SDA to educate students, both at UGA and around Athens. These goals for the group stem from the reasons why Badger chose dietetics as a major.
Badger chose her major by combining her interest in nutrition with her passion for helping people. With a major in dietetics, she could help lots of people. Badger seems more than satisfied with her major by saying, “I think it was a great choice because I’m happy here.”
After Badger graduates this May, she plans to attend graduate school to get her Master’s Degree of Public Health. While in graduate school, she will also do an internship to become a Registered Dietician. In the future, Badger hopes to work for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide food assistance to low-income areas. She is particularly interested in the nutrition of mothers and children and more preventative nutrition. After she graduates, Badger will continue her leadership and service through her future plans.
