Shugart Lecture Series
The annual Shugart Lecture Series brings dietitians and food service and hospitality experts to Kansas State University for the enrichment of student curricula and to provide continuing education for practitioners in the field.
Established in 1975, the lecture series honors the late Grace M. Shugart, former department head in the College of Health and Human Sciences and co-author of Food for Fifty and Food Service in Institutions.
Shugart helped build the profession of dietetics and institutional management throughout the United States, serving as president of the American Dietetic Association. She also was a Medallion Award winner and received the Marjorie Hulsizer Copher Award, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' highest honor.
2024 Shugart Lecture: Vista Suarez Fletcher, PhD, RD
On May 24, 2021, Dr. Vista Suarez Fletcher was sworn in as a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES). As a member of the SES, she serves in a key role providing a link between members of the Federal workforce and Presidential appointees.
Dr. Fletcher is the Regional Administrator for the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Midwest Regional Office in Chicago. In this position, she assumes overall responsibility for the leadership and coordination of all 16 FNS programs and activities within the Midwest Region for seven states. She started her career with FNS in 2010 as the Midwest Region Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Director. Dr. Fletcher also served as the region’s Branch Chief for School Programs and Food Distribution for seven years. In November 2019, she was selected as the Midwest Region Special Nutrition Programs Director.
Dr. Fletcher is a Registered Dietitian and has vast experience working with child nutrition programs at the state, local, and federal levels. At the local level, Dr. Fletcher provided leadership as Nutrition Director in both Memphis, TN and Richmond, VA. She also served as an Administrator for the Orange County Public Schools, Food and Nutrition Services in Orlando, Florida. At the state level, she worked as a Nutrition Consultant overseeing the Summer Food Service Program with the Nevada Department of Education.
Dr. Fletcher completed her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Dietetics and Nutrition at Florida State University. Upon completion of her M.S., she attended Kansas State University where she received her Doctor of Philosophy in Human Ecology with a specialization in Institutional Management in 2000.