This Issue's Featured Content
Spotlight on Faculty and Students
Congratulations to the Class of 2023
Alumni Spotlight: Interview with Allison Alvarado
Alumni Updates
EMU Student Outreach: Nutrition Education through ENS
Join us for lunch at the Homecoming Open House!
Dr. Judi Brooks Scholarship Fund
Do You Have an Update for An Upcoming Newsletter?
Spotlight on Faculty and Students
Spotlight on Faculty and Students
Dr. Heather Hutchins-Wiese chaired the following 3 sessions at the ASN Nutrition 23 meeting this past July:
1. Aging and Chronic Disease GEM Forum, Chair
2. Nutrition-Related Factors in Aging and Chronic Disease (Flash Poster Session), Co-Chair
3. Impact of Food-Based Components on Chronic Disease and Older Adults, Chair
Publications and More...
Dr. Heather Hutchins-Wiese and CP and MHSN Graduate, Meghan Pendleton, will be presenting their research posters on Monday, October 9th at FNCE in Denver. They would love to see EMU alumni or students at their poster session.
Poster: Breastfeeding Initiation Rates Did Not Significantly Decline in 2020 Compared to 2019- A Retrospective Cohort Study at a Large Military Hospital. Authors: Heather Hutchins-Wiese, PhD, RD; Shawndra Powell, MS, RD (online MS-CPD student); Olivia Ford PhD, MPH, RD; and Trimble Spitzer, MD (PI at the hospital where data was obtained)
Continued Congratulations to the Class of 2023
2023 Graduates
Coordinated Program in Dietetics
On-Campus Graduates:
Ayah Alomari, Darby Beaulieu, Holly Haddad, Maitham Khanafer, Alyssa Michels, Samantha Paul, Makayla Thompson, Jessica Westra, CeNique Wilson, Meghan Guysinger, Marisa Hardenbergh, Maria Hubbard, Stephanie Johnston, Andrea Martin, Toni McCabe, Jessica Castillo, Brianna Senkus, Sara Smith, Nicole Young
Online Graduates:
Monique Allen, Laura Feldhacker, Nicole Greene, Siana Hoffman, Emily Hoose, Kristina Knaster, Danielle Thibeau, Annie Ayre, Rachel Bailey, Stephanie Caral-Kelly, Allena Chapman, Cassandra Dulworth, Megan Gleespen, Anne Hanes, Courtney Hood, Elizabeth Lotts, Grace Monroe
Master of Science in Human Nutrition
Meghan Pendleton, Madison Ramoie, Lauren Thomas, Alexandra Cameron, and Randa Abdallah (posthumous)
Congratulations! We are so proud of you all!
Alumni Spotlight: Interview with Allison Alvarado
Meet 2022 CP Graduate, Allison Alvarado MS, RDN: Owner of Nutrition With Allison
What have you been up to since graduating from the program?
I am thoroughly enjoying all the free time I have now! I've taken several trips back to Wisconsin to visit family and friends, my husband and I got married in Colorado right after graduation, and I've been getting back into reading for fun. It has been nice to enjoy traveling, hiking, and reading again!
Where has your education taken you since graduating from the program? What have you enjoyed so far since beginning of your career?
While I was studying for the RD exam, I was also taking steps to open my private practice, Nutrition With Allison. Soon after passing the exam, I officially opened my practice and have been seeing clients since! I help clients with disordered eating and body image concerns using the intuitive eating principles and a weight inclusive lens. I've thoroughly enjoyed working with clients from all walks of life and helping them get in tune with their bodies, but also teaching them about nutrition! I also love the creative side of being a business owner, so creating blog posts, newsletters, and social media posts is a fun outlet for me as well.
How has your education prepared you in the start of your career?
I went into this program knowing I wanted to start a private practice one day. In fact, the main reason I applied to EMU was because they had the entrepreneurial aspect to the program. Not only did I get the nutritional knowledge I needed to become a dietitian, I also felt like I received a great introduction to what owning my own business could be like. Between our supervision hours at ENS, our business course, and working with Gina Worful as my specialty practice experience preceptor, I had a good foundation to go off of in the beginning of my career and was given a lot of resources to feel confident in my abilities as a private practice dietitian. Being your own boss requires a lot of self-focus and determination, you'll spend a lot of time googling various things, but if it's something you're passionate about doing, go for it! Another tip for starting your own business is find a good support system of other dietitians through supervision, coworking spaces, or partnerships. Having space to learn from others, support each other through the lows, and celebrate the wins has been super beneficial to my success as a private practice dietitian.
Alumni Updates
2014 CP BS, 2016 MSHN Alumni and Lead project manager of the USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program Grant (FFVP) in the state of Michigan, Callie Gavorek MS, RD, CC, FMP, SNS, received first place in the CAN-DO Challenge by Pacific Northwest Canned Pears. Watch out for her Spiced Pear Sharlotka recipe soon on their website: https://eatcannedpears.com/can-do-challenge/
Julie Andrews, owner of The Healthy Epicurean and 2010 EMU CP MS Graduate, Sweet Pickled Rhubarb is featured in Smart Brief's "Recipe of the Day". Check out this delicious recipe and many more on her website: https://thehealthyepicurean.com/sweet-pickled-rhubarb/
Sarah Pflugrat, MS, RDN, CSCS, 2010 EMU CP BS Graduate received Fit to EmpowHER's 2023 grant to provide equitable access to nutrition education for women and girls in her community!
Sarah Amidon, MS, RDN, 2022 CP MS Graduate, presented her research poster from her thesis research at the ASN conference titled "Use of Betaine HCl with Pepsin in Esophageal Cancer Patient: A Case Report." Check out her Research and Paper Below:
Meghan Pendleton MS, RDN, 2020 CP BS and 2023 MHSN Graduate, defended her thesis, "Comparison of Mediterranean Diet Adherence Across Scoring Systems in U.S. Adults" and will be presenting her poster presentation at FNCE in Denver.
EMU Student Outreach: Nutrition Education through ENS
Join us for lunch at the Homecoming Open House!
We cordially invite you to attend the EMU Homecoming Dietetic Alumni Open House on Saturday, October 7 from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Demonstration Kitchen at 105 Rackham. We will have information on the M.S. in Human Nutrition online degree, healthy choices on the menu, giveaways, and networking. Join us!
For more information, contact Dr. Alice Jo Rainville at arainvill@emich.edu
Dr. Judi Brooks Scholarship Fund
Students, colleagues, and friends of the late Judi Brooks, PhD, RD still fondly remember and envision her teaching in the Marshall Building. She mentored many graduate and undergraduate students in her 23 years at EMU and was more than a professor of nutrition and dietetics. For many, Dr. Brooks was more than a teacher—she was a role model, parental figure, and trusted confidant. Judi brought a very caring and warm presence to her classes and students appreciated her knowledge and encouragement. Judi’s exceptional record of teaching, research, service, and collegiality over the years has enriched and left a long-lasting legacy in the Dietetics program, Human Nutrition program, School of Health Sciences, and the university. Dr. Brooks passed away on Feb. 21, 2022 and is greatly missed by her School of Health Sciences colleagues, university colleagues, students, and alumni.
In April 2022, Dr. Judi Brooks was awarded posthumous recognition as Emeritus Faculty.
A memorial scholarship has been established in Judi's memory to support nutrition and dietetics students. To make a gift of any size visit https://www.emich.edu/foundation/give/index.php?fund=02727 or mail a check to the EMU Foundation c/o Judi Brooks Memorial Scholarship, PO Box 972057, Ypsilanti MI 48197. We are nearing and hope to reach a $10,000 level for an endowed scholarship fund soon.
Thank you for remembering Dr. Brooks and her contributions to our programs and the university. For questions about this fund, reach out to Christa Reid, Director of Development at CReid20@emich.edu.
Do You Have an Update for An Upcoming Newsletter?
Please let us know! We'd love to share updates on employment changes, publications, new opportunities, and other successes. Please provide any updates to Sandy Pernecky, MS, RDN at spernecky1@emich.edu. Thanks for considering!