Tuskegee University is mourning the death of Dr. Ralphenia Pace ’67, professor emeritus of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences. Dr. Pace dedicated over four decades of her life to shaping the university’s future and its students. She passed away on Dec. 27, 2024, leaving an indelible mark on the institution and the lives she touched through her unwavering commitment to education and mentorship.

Dr. Pace became the head of Tuskegee’s Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences in 1988 after it split from the Department of Home Economics. During her tenure, she fostered a rigorous training environment for undergraduate and graduate students alike.

In addition to her role as department head, Dr. Pace served as the assistant dean of academic and student affairs within the School of Agriculture and Home Economics. She played a significant role in establishing the Center for Research on Diet.

Dr. Pace was instrumental in creating essential scholarship programs such as the George Washington Carver Alumni Endowed Scholarship and the Richard Allen & Nora Lee Jones Endowed Scholarship. Her efforts ensured financial assistance was available for deserving students pursuing their passion for nutrition and food sciences. Even after retiring, she remained actively involved with her department by serving on the Food and Nutritional Science Advisory Board and contributing scholarship funding during the university’s Annual Presidential Scholarship Program.

Throughout her career, Dr. Pace was recognized for her contributions to research and education. She secured grants from numerous organizations and served as principal investigator and co-principal investigator on various national and international projects. 

Dr. Pace’s memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Greater St. Mark Baptist Church, 3403 Martin Luther King Highway, Tuskegee, Alabama. 

This article sources information from Tuskegee University.