Belinda Hoffman is a service-minded individual. From time spent in Uganda to making sure international students feel welcome at Iowa State University, it鈥檚 no surprise Hoffman was named the spring 2022 CALS Council Outstanding Senior awardee.
Hoffman, senior in and , visited Iowa State University as an open option prospective student, knowing she was interested in service and wanted to study abroad. During her visit, she learned about the global resource systems major and talked to faculty and advisors about the program.
鈥淚 loved that it had so many components and programs that would allow me to travel abroad,鈥� Hoffman said. So, she declared global resource systems as her major.
She spent the fall 2018 semester in Uganda, taking part in the . While there, she worked with Nutrition Education Center clients to propose ways to increase yield potential of crops grown in the area. She also experimented with soil health and fertilization methods in demonstration gardens at the Mpirigiti Training Center.
It was while conducting this work she saw the connection between nutrition and agriculture, prompting her to add her second major, dietetics.
Back at Iowa State, Hoffman鈥檚 friend and former student, Alyssa Dougherty (鈥�20 dietetics, global resource systems), encouraged Hoffman to get involved in the campus food pantry, Students Helping Our Peers (SHOP). Dougherty also invited Hoffman to join , a fellowship of international Christians and friends who welcome international students, scholars and their families to Iowa and make them feel at home in Ames.
Hoffman said through her involvement in these student organizations, she has been able to build connections with others and cultivate intentional relationships that will prove beneficial in the future.
鈥淭hings just kept falling into place and I kept meeting these people who encouraged me to get involved in various organizations because they thought they aligned with my interests,鈥� Hoffman said.
Belinda Hoffman traveled to Uganda to take part in the Semester Along the Nile Program. While there, she experimented with soil health and fertilization methods in demonstration gardens at the Mpirigiti Training Center.
Catherine Swoboda, assistant teaching professor in horticulture, said Hoffman鈥檚 passion for serving others 鈥渆xemplifies CALS鈥� mission to enhance the quality of life in Iowa and the world.鈥�
鈥淏elinda鈥檚 whole-hearted dedication to service shapes all she does, wherever she finds herself 鈥� from Iowa State to rural Uganda,鈥� Swoboda said. 鈥淪ince she first stepped foot on campus, Belinda has committed all aspects of her experience in CALS 鈥� academic, leadership and personal 鈥� to service.鈥�
When considering what she is most proud of from her time at Iowa State, Hoffman said it is the unmeasurable things, such as the way SHOP student leaders have come together to expand the food pantry and how she鈥檚 learned to work alongside people from different backgrounds.
鈥淒on鈥檛 underestimate the value of an experience,鈥� Hoffman said. 鈥淚 think the most valuable experiences I鈥檝e had are ones that not everyone has had, such as being in clubs that may not be as popular as others. These experiences have holistically shaped me into who I am today.鈥�
Following graduation, Hoffman said she is going to remain in Ames and 鈥渢ake a breath鈥� before deciding her next step. Ideally, she鈥檇 like to become involved with a nonprofit organization in an area related to service, ministry, nutrition or agriculture.
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