Lizzy Pope, PhD, RDN, G'13

The University of Vermont Alumni Association has named Lizzy Pope, PhD, RDN, G'13, as the 2026 recipient of the George V. Kidder Outstanding Faculty Award, one of the university's highest honors for teaching excellence.

Dr. Pope is an associate professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Undergraduate Dietetics Program. She is also an affiliate of the Food Systems Program and the Osher Center.

A registered dietitian nutritionist and certified intuitive eating counselor, Dr. Pope is widely recognized for combining deep professional expertise with compassion in her work as an educator, mentor, and scholar.

She earned a B.A. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Dartmouth College, a master's degree in Applied Physiology and Nutrition from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Animal, Nutrition, and Food Sciences from the University of Vermont in 2013. Lizzy is a proud Vermonter, having been born and raised in Barre, VT.

Established in 1974, the George V. Kidder Outstanding Faculty Award honors one full-time UVM faculty member each year for excellence in teaching and extraordinary contributions to campus life. The prestigious award commemorates the extraordinary Dr. George V. Kidder, Class of 1922, who served the university for more than 70 years, including as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Pope's research focuses on weight-inclusive nutrition education and the influence of diet culture across social media and popular culture. She is a leading advocate for helping young people develop healthier, more sustainable relationships with food and their bodies. Her current work includes developing weight-inclusive curricula and professional development resources for middle and high school educators, as well as innovative approaches to educating athletes and coaches about sports nutrition that help prevent eating disorders among athletes.

A deeply committed teacher, Dr. Pope is known for her ability to engage and inspire students while fostering inclusive and supportive learning environments. Her teaching has been recognized with several awards, including the Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award (2018), the Prelock Online Teaching Award (2023), and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Joseph E. Carrigan Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching and Advising (2024). She is also actively engaged in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, continually refining her approach to enhance student success.

Dr. Pope's impact is best reflected in the voices of her students, alumni, and colleagues:

"Few professors leave an imprint so substantial that it shapes a student's academic trajectory, professional identity, and personal confidence for years beyond graduation, but that is what Lizzy has done for me and for countless others. Lizzy's influence remains central to how I show up as a professional." - UVM Alumnus

"Dr. Pope has been more than a professor; she has been someone I know I can count on. She takes time to check in, to help students make sense of difficult material, to answer every question thoroughly, and, if needed, to go through an entire exam question by question without ever making you feel embarrassed for asking. Her generosity with her time and energy is extraordinary." - UVM Student

"Dr. Pope is an exceptional educator whose teaching consistently combines subject matter expertise with deep care for student learning and success. She creates inclusive, engaging classroom environments that challenge students to think critically while feeling supported and motivated. Her dedication to pedagogy, mentorship, and continuous improvement exemplifies the highest standards of teaching excellence at UVM." - Linda Prokopy, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Innovative scholarship, warmth, humor, inclusive teaching, and unwavering dedication to her students, this is Lizzy Pope G'13. Sarah Lenes G'10, Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations shares, "Lizzy embodies the values, impact, and spirit that define our outstanding faculty here at UVM. On behalf of the UVM Alumni Association and our 134,000 alumni worldwide, it is our pleasure to honor Dr. Pope as this year's George V. Kidder Award winner and celebrate her this coming fall."