Vickie A Vaclavik
Vickie Vaclavik Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor and Registered Dietitian (retired) at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas in the Graduate Department of Clinical Nutrition.
She has instructed in Food Science, and Management and Foodservice Operations, as well as in a portion of the community practice component of Nutrition Education. She has also instructed in Nutrition at the Dallas County Community College District, and, until recently, has worked for ten years with a local Culinary Arts Associates Degree program. She has taught for over 25 years. Additionally, she has written Food Science texts and two instructional computer modules on food safety.
Dr. Vaclavik was married for 33 years, until she lost her husband to melanoma cancer in July, 2009. She has three sons. One son now a graduate degree in Sports Management and is employed at a school district. The middle son is a senior in college. He is married and has an infant son. The third son is a sophomore in college. We pray a lot at our house, that is for sure!
Dr. Vickie Vaclavik R.D., has a B.S. from Cornell University, 1975, a M.S. from Purdue University, 1980, and a Ph.D. from Texas Woman’s University, 1989. She has studied Human Nutrition and Foods; Restaurant, Hotel, Institution Management, and Food Science. Dr. Vaclavik is a Registered Dietitian who has taught at the University level since 1982, beginning in Continuing Education at the Dallas County Community College District.
She has taught in various educational settings, and participates in speaking engagements. For example, she teaches Nutrition at the Dallas County Community College District. She has been teaching Food Science, and Management and Food Service Operations at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Department of Clinical Nutrition, since 1984.
In 1992 she became the Senior editor for an existing foods laboratory manual – Dimensions of Food, which is currently coming out in its 7th edition. As well, originally published in 1997, and now in the 3rd edition, and written in Spanish, is Essentials of Food Science, a textbook used at the university level for non-majors studying Food Science.
She has created two computer modules on bioterrorrism through a grant with the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, TX and the Department of Health and Human Services’ HRHS division Specifically, the modules are for training in Food Science and Foodservice Operations curriculum.
In the summer of 2005 she accepted a five year term as Secretary for her Class of ’75 at Cornell. Fun, but no big deal as it was an uncontested run for office and is a very part-time responsibility!
Regardless of the workload, she says that it is important to know that God is good, and that we should live a life without striving! She has learned that we need to tell God what we think of Him (hopefully that we think he is the best!), and not merely tell God what we think we need. Our thoughts and ways are NOT the same as God’s – YIKES!
Personal Story for Vickie A Vaclavik
Early my freshman year in college at Cornell University in upstate NY, one of the girls in my dorm invited me to go visit a hometown neighbor who was a senior and knew a lot about the campus.
While there, the neighbor began to talk about a “religious” topic – “Not for me” I thought! I thought religion was something for church, and that I was already a good person, so I had no need for this conversation. I just smiled a lot and nodded my head to make him think I was interested. After all, it was my friend’s friend, not mine!
Later in the conversation the neighbor referred to a picture containing two circles. The first circle had a lot of randomly listed activities (me for sure! athletics, social clubs, etc.) and a cross, representing Christ, on the outside of the circle. The 2nd circle showed a more orderly arrangement of these activities in the inside and the cross was pictured inside the circle, at the center. These circles really got my attention because they were not “religion” and they related to my life, so I began listening to him.
The neighbor asked me which circle represented my life and I easily responded with “the 1st”, because although my life was full of numerous activities, I knew I had not ever asked Christ into my life. Regarding activities, I just knew that when I was old, sitting in my rocking chair, I would be able to look back over all of the activities in my life with great enjoyment and satisfaction. (I think the “A” for my middle name actually stands for “activity”!)
My friend’s neighbor then asked me which circle I would LIKE to have represent my life, and I said “the 2nd”. At that point it became clear to me that I liked and needed what was represented by the second circle. I liked the order among the activities and realized I needed a personal relationship with Christ to make (and keep) me right with God. He suggested that he could pray with me to ask Christ into my life and I agreed. He gave me a copy of the Gospel of John – written he said, by the youngest Disciple, so I could relate.
Over the next few days I devoured the book! I had no roommates to disturb, so I set the alarm to give me an extra 1/2 hour each morning for reading! Just as I was finding my way around campus that Fall, almost 40 years ago, I was learning more about God. I especially learned that He knew more about me than I did myself. It was great, and very comforting to know that He still cared about me!
Now, years later, I have taught the subject that was my major in college – Foods and Nutrition. I still thrive on activities. My name is on 2 college texts, I have a Ph.D.in Institutional Management and Food Science. I had a wonderful marriage to Frank, the love of my life, for 33 years until he passed away in July 2009 from melanoma cancer. Jesus Christ was the center of our marriage that was full of joy and peace even in challenging times.
Although Frank is gone, I’m confident he is in heaven, and I have peace in my heart and soul that anchors my life. I have 3 wonderful grown children, my first grandchild as well as extended family. I still read the Bible daily, and am assured that Christ is in the center of my life and daily decisions regarding issues such as family, work and relationships. I continue to find the truth in the statement that Jesus made “I came that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly”.
