Rooted in Louisiana’s rich Cajun food culture, Jean-Pierre Enriquez, University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s new nutrition specialist for southern Nevada, is eager to explore the diverse and often overlooked food traditions of the greater Las Vegas area. With a focus on youth, he aims to develop culturally relevant nutrition programs that help young people connect with their heritage while building healthy eating habits. 

Enriquez, an assistant professor in the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resource’s Department of Nutrition, will conduct research as part of his appointment in the University’s Experiment Station. He will collaborate with other youth-focused Extension programs to help southern Nevada youth make food choices that go beyond taste and availability. His forward-thinking approach includes reconnecting young people with ancestral food traditions and involving them as co-creators of solutions that reflect their experiences and cultural values and help them build a sense of ownership in their health. 

Enriquez, who was born and raised in Ecuador, first experienced differences in food culture as an international student in Honduras and later in the United States. Through those experiences, he gradually came to understand the deep interconnection between food and culture, especially in his efforts to maintain his own cultural identity and find comfort in unfamiliar food environments. 

“When I first left Ecuador, I didn’t realize how much food was tied to who I was,” Enriquez said. “Trying to navigate unfamiliar meals while holding onto my own traditions made me see that food isn’t just about nutrition – it’s about memory, comfort and identity.” 

Enriquez’s professional path has taken him from community-level to statewide and international nutrition initiatives. As a graduate assistant at Zamorano University in Honduras, he helped coordinate nutrition and health outreach classes grounded in sustainable and cultural food patterns. He later collaborated with Extension agents at the University of Louisiana AgCenter’s Artificial Intelligence Research Center to support the statewide Flavors of Health initiative, which merges Louisiana’s food traditions with chronic disease prevention by evaluating culturally informed, data-driven health interventions that honor traditions and help participants take charge of their own health. His work focused on healthy lifestyle programs such as Break Up With Salt and Dining With Diabetes to help adults manage chronic illnesses. 

“Jean-Pierre brings a fresh, culturally grounded perspective to nutrition education that is crucial for engaging diverse youth populations,” said Chris Pritsos, interim chair of the Department of Nutrition, associate dean of research and director of the Experiment Station. “His expertise in combining data-driven research with respect for cultural traditions makes him an ideal leader for expanding Extension’s impact in southern Nevada. We are excited to see how his work will strengthen community health and empower the next generation of leaders.” 

Enriquez earned a doctorate in human nutrition with a minor in kinesiology from Louisiana State University. He also holds a master’s degree in sustainable agriculture and a bachelor’s degree in food science and technology, both from Zamorano University in Honduras.