Gabby Rodriguez always had a feeling she would end up at the University of Kentucky.  

As a biology and pre-med senior at Berea College, Rodriguez took a food policy course that changed her mind about her future. After she graduated with her bachelor’s degree, she enrolled at Eastern Kentucky University and began working toward a bachelor’s degree in dietetics.  

When Rodriguez started a full-time job as a community health worker at UK and learned she could take classes for free through UK’s employee education program, she decided to transfer. That’s when she learned about the Accelerated Coordinated Program (ACP) in Dietetics in the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 

Part of the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, the ACP in Dietetics provides students with their undergraduate degree, graduate degree and seven months of supervised practice experience — all in five years.  

“This allows high-achieving students to enter the workforce sooner,” said Liz Combs, ACP in Dietetics director and assistant professor. “The ACP in Dietetics is a high-impact, high-efficiency pathway that offers students a direct, supported and rewarding path to becoming a Registered Dietitian.”  

Since she already had one degree and was eager to start her dietetics career, the ACP in Dietetics seemed like the right choice for Rodriguez. She applied to the ACP in Dietetics and transferred to UK, without yet knowing if she would be accepted into the 14-person cohort. It was a big, scary risk, she said. 

In August 2025, Rodriguez completed the ACP in Dietetics with a bachelor of science in dietetics and a master of science in nutrition and food systems, ready to sit for the national registry exam to become a Registered Dietitian.  

“Everything really worked out just perfectly,” Rodriguez said. “Looking back now, I’m just really, really happy that I did make that step.”  

Making friends, building connections 

One program highlight is the small, close-knit cohort, which creates strong connections with fellow students and faculty.  

“Students receive more personalized mentorship, advising and career guidance, which can lead to stronger confidence and resourcefulness upon graduation,” Combs said. “They often stay in contact with their cohort and have a naturally built network as they start their careers.”  

Rodriguez remembers when her peers were just her fellow ACP in Dietetics interviewees, and now they have spent years together taking classes, sharing internship experiences and becoming friends.  

“It’s people that are going through the exact same thing,” Rodriguez said.  

Even when they scattered across the state for internships, the cohort stayed connected. ACP in Dietetics students complete an internship rotation in each of the three dietetics domains: community, clinical and food service systems management. Rodriguez interned with Community Action Council in Lexington, Norton Healthcare in Louisville and Owensboro Public Schools.   

As a student and intern, Rodriguez was supported financially by the Breeding-Smith Edge Leadership in Dietetics Scholarship and through her roles as an Undergraduate Instruction Assistant and Teaching Assistant. She was also a Bill Gatton Foundation Scholar as a recipient of The Bill Gatton Foundation Dietetics Scholarship.  

Rodriguez said the real-world, hands-on experience she got through her internships will help her on the exam and as she starts her career as a registered dietitian. She enjoyed all three internships so much, though, that she didn’t narrow down which domain she likes the best.  

“It helped me realize that, wherever it is I land, I’m going to like it,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like I’m already prepared to go into that first job as a registered dietitian.”  

Combs said Rodriguez’s “heart for serving others” was the driving force through every part of the ACP in Dietetics. 

“Gabby is destined to do incredible things,” Combs said. “I can fully see her supporting communities and elevating the profession of dietetics wherever she goes.” 

Learn more about the UK Accelerated Coordinated Program at https://dhn.ca.uky.edu/acp.     

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Writer: Bailey Vandiver, bailey.vandiver@uky.edu 

 University of Kentucky alum and former trustee Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton bestowed a transformational $100 million gift to the college through The Bill Gatton Foundation. It is the largest gift to the university in its history. 

Four Pillars of The Bill Gatton Foundation’s gift are (1) Scholarships and other initiatives for Student Success, (2) Companion Animal Program, (3) 21st Century Capital Projects and New Initiatives Fund and (4) Faculty Research and Innovation/Research Challenge Trust Fund Program. 

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services to individuals and institutions that provide equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.