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 nutritionist who helped develop a diet and exercise program for American astronauts is retiring
from her teaching duties at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Bonnie McDonald, a native of Quitnam, Miss., came to UW-SP in 1964 from the Medical College of Georgia, where she was a
research associate on the faculty of the department of medicine. A professor of home economics, she earned her undergraduate
degree at the Mississippi University for Women, a master's degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Ph.D.
from Texas Woman's University.
While studying for her doctorate in Texas during the late 1960's, Ms. McDonald worked on a project for the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, studying the effects of zero gravity on human bone minerals. She was involved in the
research for more than two years under the guidance of Garvin Medal Winner Pauline Berry Mack, whom McDonald describes as
"one of the most outstanding NASA scientists." The diet and exercise regimen, which McDonald developed to help prevent
significant mineral loss, has become part of the astronauts' routine.
At UW-SP Ms. McDonald was instrumental in the development of the food and nutrition curriculum, which retired home economics
chairperson Agnes Jones describes as "one of our strongest programs." Ms. Jones credits Ms. McDonald with being a "generous
contributor to scholarships and the Bessie Mae Allen Fund," and says she was responsible for obtaining federal funding for the
Coordinated Dietetics program on campus.
Some of her career experiences include teaching high school home economics; serving two years in the U.S. Navy Women's
Reserve; acting as an assistant human nutritionist at the University of Tennessee; working as a research participant with the
Oak ridge Institution of Nuclear Studies; serving as a foods and nutrition specialist with the University of Florida and the
Florida State University; and working as a therapeutic dietitian at Emory University hospital.
Ms. McDonald, who has been on leave from the university for the past year due to ill health, is living with her sister in
Demopolis, Ala. She plans to return to her own home in Orange Beach, Ala., as soon as her health permits.
She would like eventually to be able to travel and to become involved with some kind of international nutrition program,
because, as she says, 'feeding mankind is still one of the world's major problem."
Stevens Point (WI) Journal, pg. 8
Wednesday, July 21, 1982
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