Leading with purpose: Perry native dedicates career to helping others

AMES, Iowa – As graduation day nears at Iowa State University, Amos Barrios-Muñoz is preparing to wear two uniforms. One is a cap and gown for the commencement ceremony when he’ll receive a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, and the other is a military uniform for an overseas deployment with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division of the U.S. Iowa Army National Guard. 

Balancing school with military training became second nature for Barrios-Muñoz, who also found time to work as a dietary aid, run a power washing business and volunteer on campus. His family enjoyed him living just 40 miles away from their close-knit home in Perry. 

He first became interested in a career in the field of dietetics when he was a teenager and learned his extended family in Guatemala had health challenges. 

“I learned that proper nutrition could prevent diseases and improve quality of life. So that’s when I got interested in the career, and that’s why I’m here now,” he said. 

Full of passion about learning more, college seemed out of reach. During his junior year of high school, the opportunities he’d heard a visiting military recruiter talk about were sounding more and more exciting—tuition, job opportunities, travel, an active lifestyle and more.

“I thought it was really interesting and a good way to open more opportunities for myself,” he said, and joined the military Sept. 13, 2019. “I thought it was a good way to give back to my community because I was healthy and able to do so.” 

Shortly after high school graduation in 2020, when many seniors were experiencing unknowns as the worldwide pandemic shut down much of the world, Barrios-Muñoz left for basic training in Oklahoma. Shortly after that, he was accepted to study dietetics at Iowa State. 

“With all the things we can and cannot control, I believe nutrition is one of the things we can control to prevent diseases,” he said. “I want to see other people not struggle with that, so that’s why I thought nutrition was a good way to go to help those with what they need.”

Maren Wolff, clinical associate professor in the food science and human nutrition department, saw him sharpen his skills as a student and a leader. Several of her classes offer real-world experiences through partnerships with other ISU programs. 

In nutrition counseling and education methods, students are paired with a staff member from ISU’s Adventure2 wellness program, who act as a patient in nutrition counseling for real health challenges people face, whether it’s accessibility to healthy food, a predisposition from genetics or managing a healthier lifestyle. Much of her classes focus on patient-centered care.

“He took a lot of that to heart,” she said. “You can tell he’s somebody that has a real genuine curiosity and really tries to connect to what he’s learning in the classroom.” 

He also encouraged others to try new things when he hosted a cooking class for 4-H elementary and middle school children in another nutrition class led by Wolff. And in his quest to help others during his time at Iowa State, he also volunteered at Students Helping Our Peers, or SHOP, the student-run food pantry on campus. 

His passion for learning and helping others turned into a commitment to a lifelong career when he was accepted to ISU’s master of professional practice in dietetics program on track to becoming a registered dietician nutritionist. 

“I’m in a position where I can help people with worse circumstances, and I want to give back,” he said.

He’s the first in his family to pursue a master’s degree and said he surprised himself with his ability to conquer his goals and wants to help others do the same. 

 “Just try, you’ll never know what you may surprise yourself with,” he said. 

Contacts

• Maren Wolff, News Service, mmwolff@iastate.edu, 515-294-9231
• Kristin Guess, News Service, kguess@iastate.edu, 515-294-6136