Nutri News September 2022

17
2. What is a message that you would like
the public to know about the importance
of nutrition?
What I would like the public to know about
nutrition is that eating healthy foods in the
right amounts along with physical activity is
critical for growth and development and can
help to prevent certain diseases such as
diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and
certain cancers.
3. What is the role of dietitians in
supporting the health of people in our
community?
Community dietitians assess the nutritional
needs of specific groups of people and develop
programs and resources that promote healthy
food choices that are easily accessible.
4. What drew you to pursue a career in
dietetics?
What drew me to pursue a career in dietetics is
my love of planning meals and wanting to
educate people on the relationship between
nutrition and certain diseases.
5. In the field of dietetics, what do you
feel has been a big challenge that you
have had to overcome?
A big challenge that I had to overcome was
during the pandemic I had to move the food
labs online. This was a challenge because food
labs are a hands-on course. However, I
overcame this challenge by recording the
experiments so the students could have the
same experience.
6. What advice do you have for students
pursuing a degree in dietetics?
My advice for students pursuing a degree in
dietetics is that the field of dietetics is a
rewarding career in that you will be the
nutrition expert helping to change people’s
lives.
7. What’s your favorite part about being a
professor?
My favorite part about being a professor is
working closely with the students in the food
lab because I can give more individualized
attention in helping them learn important
skills.
8. Can you tell us a fun fact about
yourself that many people may not
know?
Growing up, I learned how to play the piano,
played the clarinet, and was in the marching
band in high school. I presently play handbells
in my church.