Fall as a Dietetics Student
As the seasons shift, fall offers a perfect reminder of the connection between nutrition and nature. From pumpkins and apples to hearty root vegetables, autumn brings a bounty of seasonal produce rich in vitamins, minerals, and flavor. For dietetics students, it’s not just about enjoying cozy meals—it’s also an opportunity to practice applying nutrition knowledge in daily life, from experimenting with new recipes to highlighting the importance of seasonal eating for overall health.
Events at Eagle Nutrition Services
Summer 2025 at Eagle Nutrition Services
Highlights from Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Michigan
Fall 2025 at Eagle Nutrition Services
Eagle Nutrition Services (ENS) is a nutrition counseling clinic on campus where students, faculty, and the community can meet with registered dietitians and dietetic students to work on personalized nutrition goals. Did you know that ENS also provides campus events, group cooking classes, and much more? This semester, their dietetic students have created lots of fun recipe videos for the ENS YouTube channel (link), hosted a Halloween-themed cooking class for EMU faculty, and discussed the benefits of pumpkin seeds at the Pumpkins on the Patio event at the Student Center. To view their recipe videos and see more of what ENS does, check out their newly revamped website! (Deepest gratitude for Paul and Deanna from EMU's Web & Digital Strategy, Division of Communications, who worked their magic to make this happen!)
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Students and Faculty
Congratulations to Lea Cane, Dietetics Student SDA President, who was been selected as one of just 10 recipients to receive the UDIM/ Diversify Dietetics Scholarship — a $15,000 award!!! Thank you to The United Dairy Industry of Michigan & Dairy Council of Florida for providing this opportunity!
Our CPD Clinical Coordinator (and alumni), Nick Pomante, MS, RDN, was interviewed about being a dietitian. The interview is published online here, in Wayne RESA's (a regional educational service agency) Career Counseling Newsletter.
EMU Students and Faculty Enjoy a Mid-Afternoon Halloween Celebration October 31, 2025
Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE)
Fall 2025
This year's FNCE in Nashville, Tennessee also provided our alumni an opportunity to present a topic or poster. See below, the diversity of topics and interests of our graduates. Congratulations to Alison, Erin, and Jennifer, for your notable and impressive achievements at FNCE!
- Alison Zoller, MS, RDN, a Clinical Research Associate with Virta Health in Littleton, Colorado, presented a Research and Scholarship Track poster titled: Comparing the Predictive Value of the Dietetic Ketogenic Ratio and Healthy Eating Index for Glycemic Outcomes in People with Type 2 Diabetes on a Well-formulated Ketogenic Diet (co-authors included R. Adams, PhD, C. Roberts, MD, and S. Athinarayanan, PhD)
- Erin Skinner MS, RD, LD, IFNCP, CEO of North Carolina - Thrive Co-Founder - SIBO Academy, co-presented: Functional Medicine Meets Medical Nutrition Therapy for Comprehensive Patient Care (with Melissa Groves Azzaro, RDN, LD and Adair Anderson, MS, RD, LD and planned with The Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine DPG)
- Jennifer Hanes, MS, RDN, LD, in connection with with Mood Matters Dietetics, and as owner of GoYou! Nutrition Counseling, in Texas, co-presented: Healing Through Nutrition: Functional Strategies for Substance Use Recovery (with a pre-recorded presentation from Jodi Jarrett, PhD, LPC, NCC)
More Alumni News!
See below, some additional updates regarding our wonderful alumni.
Sarah Amidon, MS, RDN, LDN, IFNCP, just received notice that her program title, The Genomic Edge, is now a trademark. She is working on getting the program submitted to CDR to be a certification targeted at those who work in the fitness/sports nutrition space to utilize her approach with their own athletes and teams, and is hoping to have an app created. She may be working with the Indiana Fever this off-season, collaborating with her sports RD friend, Lindsay Langford. Sarah currently has had a number of interns/students and is a mentoring leader for the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFNA). She created a reel on Instagram, highlighting some of the statements made to her, or about her and her colleagues in the integrative/functional space: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQK8yMCj_aK/. Additionally, Sarah is co-editing the nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics chapter of the 17th edition of the Krause dietetics textbook with some of her colleagues (Amanda Archibald, her mentor) and two genetic counselors that currently work in the epigenetics/genomics space as clinicians.
Alumni Maitham Khanafer RD, CNSD, has started “The Science Behind” on his LinkedIn page. With this, he plans a series where he breaks down the science and metabolism behind clinical nutrition recommendations. He has been providing reels that help clinicians understand the “why” behind evidence-based practices and offer insights to enhance patient care. In this episode, he utilizes two friends to show the interactions that occur between chronic zinc supplementation, metallothinonein, and iron deficiency
Also, our EMU Dietetics website has a new look. Check it out at this link! (Profound gratitude to Paul and Deanna from EMU's Web & Digital Strategy, Division of Communications, who worked their magic to make this happen.)
Precepting EMU CPD Students
1st Segment of a 3-Part Series about our Preceptors
Below, left: Dayna Popkey MS, RDN (EMU CP alumna and preceptor), Growing Hope Program Director and Abby (second year EMU CP student) during Abby's specialty experience placement at Growing Hope, Ypsilanti.
Elizabeth Smith, Preceptor
Precepting has been incredibly rewarding both professionally and personally. It helps me stay up to date with emerging research and evolving best practices, while also giving me the chance to develop my leadership and mentoring skills. Working with students brings a fresh energy and often leads to thoughtful discussions that benefit everyone involved.
On an institutional level, the impact of students has been a real contribution to our department. They bring new ideas, fresh perspectives, and often notice things we may overlook in our daily routines. Their curiosity and questions challenge us to look at problems from different angles and reconsider long-held assumptions. This not only helps us grow as professionals but also supports a stronger, more dynamic learning environment within our organization.
Benefits of Precepting
by Nick Pomante MS, RDN
Precepting is a critical component of the Eastern Michigan University (EMU) Coordinated Programs in Dietetics (CP), which integrates didactic (classroom) instruction concurrently with 1,000 hours of Supervised Practice Experience (SPE). Preceptors play a vital role in preparing students for entry-level practice as registered dietitians. Simply put, our program would not exist if it were not for our wonderful preceptors. And while precepting holds many benefits for the student, it also holds benefits for the preceptor too.
Precepting offers numerous benefits for both the preceptor and the institution.
- Continuing Education Credits (CPEUs): Preceptors can earn up to 15 CPEUs per 5-year cycle. ACEND also offers a free online training course worth 8 CPEUs.
- Staying Current: Students bring "fresh knowledge on emerging topics and evidence-based practices."
- Skill Enhancement: Strengthens leadership, management, communication, time management, and teaching skills.
- Networking Opportunities: Increases connections with academic institutions and peers.
- Resume Building: Enhances professional profile.
If you’re interested in becoming a preceptor or have questions regarding precepting or the EMU Dietetics program please contact our program’s Clinical Coordinator, Nick Pomante, at npomante@emich.edu.
Merchandise Fundraiser
The Student Dietetic Association (SDA) is excited to announce a new approach to our merchandise fundraiser this fall. We’ve launched a website where you can browse and order SDA merchandise online, with items delivered directly to your doorstep.
The site features a wide selection of EMU Dietetics and SDA-themed items in various colors (and not just clothing). Special thanks to Sequoia Wallace, our Marketing Chair, for leading this initiative and making it possible. You can access the site here: 👉 https://student-dietetic-association-shop.fourthwall.com/ Please note that shipping fees apply and vary depending on your location and the type of merchandise ordered. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps our student organization fund events and initiatives throughout the year. Thank you for your consideration, and we hope you find something you like!
Nada Jawish, Fundraiser & Treasurer, Student Dietetic Association Eastern Michigan University
Dr. Judi Brooks Scholarship
Students, colleagues, and friends of the late Judi Brooks, PhD, RD still fondly remember and envision her teaching int he 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 confidante. She brought a very caring and warm presence to her classes and students appreciated her knowledge and encouragement. Dr. Brook'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 mail a check to the EMU Foundation c/o Judi Brooks Memorial Scholarship, PO Box 972057, Ypsilanti MI 48197. Alternatively, you can reach out to Sarah Grant, Development Director for CHHS, at singerso@emich.edu.
Thank you for remembering Dr. Brooks and her contributions to our programs and the university.
Thank you, Emily Manasian, Dietetics GA, for your support and contributions to this edition of our newsletter.
Dietetics and Human Nutrition graduates ~ please contact us with updates! We'd love to know ~ and will share updates in upcoming newsletters, about employment changes, publications, new opportunities, and other successes. Please provide any updates to Sandy Pernecky, MS, RDN at spernecky1@emich.edu. Thanks for considering!
Credits:
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