Why FSU?

Florida State is one of the few schools in the country that offers an advanced degree in Sports Nutrition that combines curriculum from Exercise Physiology and Nutrition as well as the opportunity to complete the Dietetic Internship alongside coursework. Being an NCAA D1 school, it also provides numerous out of the classroom hands-on experiences with top athletes and athletic staff that prepare students at the highest level for jobs after graduation. Also, being from Massachusetts, the warm weather doesn’t hurt!

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I was motivated to pursue a graduate degree because I wanted to further my education in my area of specialty and gain a better understanding of how diet affects athletic performance and overall health. All Registered Dietitians are also now required to have a master’s degree along with completing a Dietetic Internship; FSU allows students to complete the two together.

Importance of your research and work

Sports nutrition is a hot topic in the athletic world right now and is a very fast-growing field. What we eat provides the basic source of energy required to perform at our best, and so much is still unknown about how diet, food, and disease affect this. There is also a lot of controversy in this field as now a days everyone with access to the internet seems to be a “nutritionist” along with the growing number of internet health influencers who have no educational background in nutrition. The more people that are receiving the proper education and becoming Registered and Licensed Dietitians, the more respect the public will have for our credentials and jobs.

Career aspirations

After completion of graduate school and the Dietetic Internship, I will be eligible to take the Registered Dietitian exam. My goal is to work for a professional sports team as a Registered Dietitian while continuing my education to become Board Certified as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Find what you are passionate about and make sure the program is a good fit for you! Graduate school is so much more interesting than undergrad if you are passionate about what you are doing because the majority of your classes will be in your field and you have so many more out of classroom opportunities to supplement your learning. Grad school is a challenge, but being in a program with professors, classes, and at a university that is a good fit for you makes it that much easier.

Accomplishments during graduate career

Bio-Techne STEM Scholarship recipient. FSU Fellows Society member.