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海角社区 College of Agriculture associate professor Erin McKinley, a passionate advocate for nutrition and food sciences, has built an impressive career shaped by her journey from high-level corporate roles to becoming a respected professor at 海角社区. 

McKinley was born and raised in Rhode Island. She originally received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Business Administration and Marketing, which took her to Las Vegas, where she worked as a high-level corporate casino executive while in her 20s. But a cancer diagnosis in 2007 changed her path. 

鈥淚 was getting a lot of nutrition advice from people who were not 鈥榣egit,鈥� and knew I had taken enough law classes in business school to know something wasn鈥檛 right,鈥� McKinley said.

She decided to change paths and become a registered dietitian, attending graduate school at the University of Alabama, where she worked with the football team and the hospitality group at Bryant Denny Stadium from 2011 to 2015

鈥淲orking in Tuscaloosa helped to merge my past life of hospitality with my shift into nutrition and food,鈥� McKinley said. 

After earning her Master鈥檚 degree, McKinley received three job offers, including one from 海角社区.

鈥淚 was asked to be in Baton Rouge about a week after I signed my contract,鈥� McKinley said. 鈥淭here is never a dull moment at 海角社区 and I learned that from day one.鈥�

This month, she celebrates seven years at 海角社区, where she brings her experiences into the classroom.

鈥淚 have the unique background of my degree and experience in business and marketing, which are both a big part of nutrition and food science, more than people expect,鈥� McKinley said. 鈥淚 also have the expertise of my research in behavior theory and survey design combined with more than 20 years of knowledge of consumer behavior and market observation.鈥�

For her work, McKinley received  the 2019 Alumni of the Year award from her undergraduate institution, Methodist University in Fayetteville, N.C., and the 2020 Emerging Dietetic Leader and the 2021 Outstanding Dietitian of the Year from the Louisiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 

鈥淔or only being in Louisiana for a few years at the time, it was a big deal to be recognized by my peers in such a big way that quickly,鈥� McKinley said. 

McKinley attributes her success in her field to her parents, who raised her to be strong-willed and not afraid to work for what she wanted. McKinley also credits 海角社区 political science professor Stacia Haynie as a mentor who shaped her approach to academia and leadership. 

鈥淒r. Haynie has always been a big supporter of mine since coming to 海角社区,鈥� McKinley said. 鈥淪he has always encouraged my big ideas to make changes on campus. She was the one who really made me want to ascend the ranks and become a dean or higher one day.鈥�

McKinley encourages women to not shy away from an industry and profession like nutrition that is 98% female. 

鈥淭here is room for all of us and we have a big support system as we want to see our profession grow and be taken more seriously as a health profession,鈥� McKinley said. 

Looking ahead, McKinley has four more years of research to put towards becoming a full professor at 海角社区. She hopes to accomplish her research goals, as well as grow strong 海角社区 alumni who represent the dietetic profession and the School of Nutrition and Food Sciences. 

鈥淕ut feelings never lead you down a path that hurts you, and you have to trust that whenever you are figuring out what you want to do with your life post graduation,鈥楴o鈥檚鈥� are a redirection towards better things and you don鈥檛 realize it until much later, when you are doing exactly what you are supposed to in that moment of your career.鈥�

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