Flemmie P. Kittrell was the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in nutrition. Her research focused on such topics as the levels of protein requirements in adults, the proper feeding of black infants, and the importance of preschool enrichment experiences for children.
You can learn more about her by watching this seminar video from her alma mater, Cornell University. (seminar begins at the 0:1:07 mark)