Rate My Professor D. Coleen Kaiser

D. Coleen Kaiser, MS, RDN, LN, is the Director of the Montana Dietetic Internship and Director of the Hospitality Management Program at Montana State University within the Department of Food Systems, Nutrition, and Kinesiology. As an instructor affiliated with Health Science, she oversees training for future dietitians, providing comprehensive experiences in clinical and community nutrition, foodservice management, and sustainable food systems. Kaiser obtained her B.S. from the University of Minnesota in 1983 and her M.S. in Foods and Nutrition from Montana State University in 1999. She also completed a Dietetic Internship in Nutrition from 1999 to 2000.

In her career at Montana State University, Kaiser has exhibited outstanding leadership in dietetics education, earning the 2023 Excellence in Innovative Service Award for her visionary program implementation and broad positive impact on student experiences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she adapted the internship curriculum by incorporating simulation-based learning to meet required competencies while reducing direct patient contact risks, negotiated customized contracts with sites statewide, enabled intern participation in professional conferences, and conducted on-site visits across Montana to support their growth. She was nominated for the Rufus T. Firefly Award for Innovative Teaching. Her publications include co-authorship of "Public Policy Education: Insights From Graduate Dietetics Students" in the Journal of Dietetics Education (2024), "Visions of the Possible: Student Experiences With Public Policy in Graduate Dietetics Education" in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (2023), and "Biodistribution studies of protein cage nanoparticles demonstrate broad tissue distribution and rapid clearance in vivo" (2007). Kaiser serves on the Steering Committee and Advisory Board for interprofessional education initiatives at Montana State University. Her contributions have reshaped students' approaches to dietetics, promoting innovation and professional excellence.