Education and experience
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I attended Indiana University for a couple years where I majored in dietetics while taking elective ballet classes. I later transferred to Buffalo State College where I completed a dual degree in Dietetics and Arts&Letters, Dance Concentration. I performed in the dance ensemble all five years I attended, while participating in the coordinated dietetics program, where I earned 1200 supervised practice hours at local hospitals, clinics, and community centers.
In my last year at Buffalo State I performed original research on nutrition literacy and energy need perceptions in high school and college-aged dancers. I was awarded a research grant from the college, and presented my findings at the Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition annual conference, where I won first place in my division.
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Upon graduation, I took the non-traditional career path in entering private practice, working with the team at Balanced Nutrition of Western New York, in Buffalo, NY. I later moved to Portland, which led me to work on the Nike World Headquarters campus with Lifeworks Restaurant group, under the umbrella company of Aramark.
In the five years I have worked on the Nike campus, I have experience meeting with employees one on one, analyzing nutrition of menus, presenting educational classes, and menu development within the childcare centers.
Outside of Nike, I have given presentations live and via webinar to dancers and dance educators, as well as in the corporate wellness setting. I have also partnered with Safeway in leading local grocery store tours for those with diabetes.