Summer in Michigan
Summer in Michigan is a season of vibrant energy and natural beauty. The state comes alive with lush green landscapes, warm sunshine, and outdoor adventures. From the pristine beaches of Lake Michigan to the towering dunes of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, there's no shortage of scenic spots to explore. Michigan’s many lakes offer opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing, while charming small towns host festivals, farmers markets, and outdoor concerts. Whether you’re hiking through forests, enjoying fresh local produce, or simply relaxing by the water, summer in Michigan is a time to soak up the beauty of the Great Lakes State.
Faculty and Program Updates
Longtime beloved EMU Dietetics and Human Nutrition Researcher and Professor Retires: Retirement Reflections by Dr. Alice Jo Rainville, PhD, RD, CHE, SNS, FAND
It’s been a joy and privilege to work as a professor of nutrition and dietetics for the last 35 years. I began my Eastern Michigan University position in 1997, and I’m honored to end my career here. I’ve been able to teach, guide, support, and mentor over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students. I have developed general education courses and new dietetics courses, led the effort to endow the Dr. Judi Brooks Scholarship through the Foundation, and served in many university and professional committee roles. I’ve also mentored faculty and student organization leaders. My research studies and funding have brought recognition and prestige to the university and made a positive difference in school nutrition programs and communities. In retirement I will always think back fondly on my time as a professor at Eastern Michigan University and the many students and faculty I’ve had the pleasure to work with.
Eastern Michigan University professor leads effort to better characterize the impact of protein on lifespan: Dr. John Carbone, PhD, RD
Eastern Michigan University professor leads regional initiative to reduce food waste: Dr. Heather Hutchins-Wiese, PhD, RD
Congratulations, Dr. Heather Hutchins-Wiese, PhD, RD for receiving the Marshall Award for Service! The Everett L. Marshall Award for Faculty Excellence, established in 1998 by Dean Elizabeth King, initially recognized excellence in advising by a CHHS faculty member. In 2004, the award was expanded to include scholarly/creative activity, service, and teaching as meritorious categories. The award is made possible by a gift from Dr. Marshall, who devoted 41 years of his life in service to EMU and retired as the Dean of Academic Records and Teacher Certification in 1979. He was known as an advocate for students and a mentor whose advice and assistance helped many to complete their education. The purpose of the Marshall Award is to recognize excellent professional performance of CHHS faculty and full-time lecturers. Applicants demonstrate their exceptional achievements in their chosen category, with emphasis on outcomes and impact upon students, the college, the university, the community, and/or the profession.
Current EMU Clinical Coordinator and 2 times EMU alumni Nick Pomante, MS, RD, was elected to the MiAND Nominating Committee for 2025.2026.
Current EMU Senior Lecturer and co-Director of the EMU CP Sandy Pernecky, MS, RDN, was elected to an MNDI (Michigan Nutrition Dietetics Institute) Trustee position for 2025 - 2028. The mission of MNDI, is that of dietetics student scholarship support for advancing dietetics in Michigan. Donations can be provided at this link.
If you live in Michigan, and are a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, you receive free membership to MiAND. Renew your annual membership today!
Events
Graduation 2025!
Student Highlights
EMU Students attend Legislative Day with MiAND
Student Dietetic Association
A specialty speaker panel featured dietitians working in maternal infant health, sports nutrition, and oncology nutrition.
Alumni Updates
Alex Root, MS, RD
Alex Root, MS, RDN, LD, U.S. Air Force Veteran, Owner of Rooted In Dietetics LLC, and current EMU CP preceptor, along with Tess, second year EMU MS CP student and SDA marketing chair and newsletter editor, onsite during National Nutrition Month.
Michelle Buggs, MS, RD
Michelle Buggs, MS, RD, graduate of the EMU CP 2025, has been appointed to the Michigan Board of Dietetics and Nutrition. This is an impactful board that will be moving forward with the historic process of licensure for dietitians in Michigan, for the first time in Michigan's history.
Alumna Interviews and Where They Are Now
EMU Campus CP and Human Nutrition MS Alumna Cassie Whiddon, MS, RDN
Cassie Whiddon, MS, RDN is an alumna of Eastern Michigan University. She graduated from EMU’s CP with a BS in Dietetics in 2008, then graduated with a MS in Human Nutrition in 2017. Cassie started her career as a clinical dietitian in a small clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is currently with the same company – Compass Group – which is the largest food and support in the world. Since January 2019, she has been working with DTE as a wellness manager for a corporate wellness team. She loves that she has the opportunity to improve skills in project management and innovation. This is something new compared to her previous employment in healthcare before. Cassie is one of EMU’s amazing preceptors as well, and she precepts 4-5 students a year. She strives to give back to incoming dietitians and loves teaching new students.
In addition to her current position as wellbeing manager for Eurest, she works with Nourish part-time, which is a telehealth counseling company. Here, she works 1-on-1 with patients across the country. There are clients she has now that she has been working with since she began in September.
Furthermore, she was recently elected the President-elect of the Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MiAND), and she is grateful this opportunity. She has been volunteering with MiAND since 2013 and is excited to start leading the board and supporting the committees and chairs. Her role will include running board meetings, working with the finances, and helping the teams to navigate challenges. One of her goals is to work on a licensure in Michigan. Additionally, she wants to work on policy and advocacy.
Cassie stated she loved being at EMU for both her BS and MS degrees and was thankful for the education Eastern gave her. With the coordinated program, she was able to learn from books, studies, and doing the work in the real world. She was impressed with how EMU’s faculty kept up with the current practice and taught her up-to-date information.
Cassie said, “The field of dietetics is, to me, one of the most exciting and important fields out there. Things are ever-changing and dietetics is always interesting with new information. Prepare to keep learning, because there are so many different opportunities. There are more opportunities than there ever were to be able to do what you love and make a positive impact on the public.”
Thank you, Cassie, for your information and time!
EMU Distance-Online MS CP Alumna Darlene Bellers
Darlene Bellers, MS, RDN, CSOWM (Certified Specialist in Obesity & Weight Management), Lecturer II, Registered Dietitian, and Student Dietetic Association (SDA) Advisor is the clinic director for Eagle Nutrition Services (ENS). In her position, she does managerial tasks, sees clients, and precepts students. She loves all aspects of her position and enjoys the opportunity to work with new, incoming students each year.
This is her 7th year at EMU, and she was excited to provide information about the about equipment that was acquired by ENS in late 2024. The equipment, Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA for short) and resulting data from it, provide understanding of total body composition as well as how diet can reflect body composition. Clients will return multiple times to get scans done to track their health. Appointments have been steady for DEXA scans since the beginning of the year. In general, facilities like hospitals provide bone density information, but not total body composition, so EMU is able to offer a service that is not often an option for clients.
Regular clients (those who come for DEXA scans once or twice a year) are now able to see the changes that they are making to their diets and health habits in real time by participating in the DEXA scans. Both students and those in the community can schedule a DEXA at EMU.
Darlene also provided an interview during EMU's 101st Homecoming celebration in 2022, which you can check out here.
Thank you, Darlene, for your information and time!
EMU Distance-Online BS CP Alumna Jennifer Wagner
Jennifer Wagner, RDN, LDN, who also is a seasoned personal chef and recipe developer, and is a 2022 graduate of EMU, who went into the clinical world in pediatrics right after graduation. She recently moved into a company called Gennev, where she is lead dietitian for the Florida market and works with patients and on the administrative side. Gennev is a healthcare start up company that focuses on women’s healthcare. In 2022, they were acquired by Unified Women’s Healthcare, which now has 900 clinics in the U.S.
Gennev focuses on perimenopause, menopause, weight loss and management, and nutrition and lifestyle for women. Currently, Jennifer is 1 of 8 dietitians on the team that covers the US. She transitioned from a general dietitian to a lead dietitian in Florida and they are opening a new arm called Florida Women’s Care, which will be focused on establishing a connection with local clinics in Florida. Jennifer will manage the dietitians and the patient care in this new role.
Jennifer was also recently quoted in Eat This, Not That!
Thank you, Jennifer, for your information and time!
Contact Us With Your News (and Thank You!)
Newsletter Updates?
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!
And Thank You!
Thank you to all of you who have reached out with content for our newsletters this year! You are very much appreciated this content provides insights for those in or connected with our CP as well as those looking to fulfill their dreams of becoming a dietitian.
Many thanks also, to Emily Manasian, BA, EMU General Clinical Psychology Master's Program student, who has been our GA (graduate assistant) this year, and has provided support for our newsletters for 2024.2025 academic year, especially including our interviews!
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 visit EMU Foundation "Make a Gift" or mail a check to the EMU Foundation c/o Judi Brooks Memorial Scholarship, PO Box 972057, Ypsilanti MI 48197.
We are excited to share that we have reached our goal of $10,000 donated! At the same time, we encourage all to continue to donate to support our EMU nutrition and dietetics students.
Thank you for remembering Dr. Brooks and her contributions to our programs and the university.
Credits:
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