Alumni Spotlight: Ellen McEwen - Presenting dietetics and nutrition research at national conference
by Jordana Newman |
Dietetics and Nutrition (DN) alumna Ellen McEwen was selected to share her student research project results at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics conference in Denver, CO last month. She presented An Assessment of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists’ Attitudes and Behaviors in Culinary Medicine and the Role of the RDN and is excited her UAA research is being recognized after graduating last spring.
Name: Ellen McEwen
Hometown: North Pole, Alaska
Graduation Date: May 2023
Degree: Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition
What brought you to the UAA College of Health?
My husband was stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks in 2019. Fortunately, UAA's
dietetics program is online so I was able to jump into classes right away.
Why did you choose the DN graduate degree program?
I was attracted to dietetics because of how broad the profession is. Dietitians can
work in public health, schools, hospitals, clinics, government, private sector, and
more. Currently, I work at Alpine Medical Group in Fairbanks as an outpatient dietitian.
I enjoy this setting because I can work with patients one-on-one to help them achieve
their nutrition goals.
Were you involved in any student organizations while you were at UAA?
Believe it or not, I did not set foot on UAA's campus until a week before my graduation!
While I was in school I volunteered at my local food bank which helped emphasize to
me how important food access programs are. Many people in Fairbanks would be without
food if it weren't for the excellent work of the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.
Did you have any practicum placements or other experiences while you were pursuing
your degree?
My graduate program included supervised practice with dietitians in my community.
My rotations were great exposure to different fields of nutrition, including food
service, public health, and inpatient and outpatient care. I was also able to travel
to Nome for a two-week rotation which expanded my knowledge of nutrition care in rural
Alaska. I also completed a graduate research project which I presented as a poster
session at a national dietitian conference in Denver recently.
What words of wisdom do you have for those who are still considering their options
after high school?
Take your time! You don't have to have your life or career path figured out right
now. School is a great opportunity to explore different options and see what's out
there but there's always time in life to change course.
Do you have a favorite professor and if so, why?
The whole dietetics and nutrition faculty is excellent! They all genuinely cared about
my well-being and were invested in my success.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
Hiking, cross-country skiing, reading, cooking, baking, fishing
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