Professor Corinna Walsh obtained her BSc (1990), MSc (1992), and PhD (1996) degrees in Dietetics at the University of the Free State (UFS). She is currently a full professor in the School of Allied Health Professions Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the UFS and serves as Chairperson of the Nutrition Society of South Africa (NSSA).
Prof Walsh started her career as a dietitian in 1992, when she was appointed as a community dietitian in the House of Representatives. Between 1993 and 2001, she worked as lecturer and senior lecturer in the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Sport at the Central University of Technology. In 2002, she accepted a position as Senior Lecturer in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the UFS; she became an Associate Professor in 2008 and was promoted to Professor in 2017.
Throughout her academic career, Prof Walsh has been involved in research relating to nutrition and health epidemiology, which has contributed to a greater understanding of both infectious (HIV/AIDS) and chronic lifestyle diseases in the Free State.
Currently an NRF C3-rated researcher, she has initiated and led large-scale research projects on nutrition and epidemiology, obtaining grant funding in excess of R3 million. She has published widely, both nationally and internationally, authoring or co-authoring 53 peer-reviewed research papers, 4 chapters in books, 30 published conference proceedings, and 1 report for the office of the presidency.
Prof Walsh has mentored numerous master’s and PhD students from South Africa and Africa (Ghana, Lesotho, Kenya, Ethiopia, Botswana). She is a well-respected member of the Faculty of Health Sciences, uniting colleagues from various disciplines and professions through her research projects. In addition, she serves on numerous committees with great wisdom, enthusiasm, and commitment.
As board member of the AIDSMO Trust, she is involved in community-engagement projects for Lebone Land, a care centre for children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. She serves on the editorial boards of the South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the open-access research journal, Heliyon. Apart from her involvement in extensive service-learning activities, she is also a member of the ImpENSA project, which was commissioned by the European Union to collaborate on nutrition education globally.
She has received the Nutrition Society Best Young Scientist Award and the Association for Dietetics Community Dietetics Award. She serves on the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences and is a council member of the Nutrition Society of South Africa. Between 2005 and 2010, she served on the Board of the Medical Research Council, gaining valuable experience in health research and research administration.
Prof Walsh is recognised nationally and internationally as an accomplished researcher, scholar, and philanthropic community-oriented member of society. The UFS is privileged to have staff members of this calibre and professionalism who embody the mission and values of the institution.