UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A new class recently provided 34 Penn State nutritional sciences students the opportunity to experience a large-scale professional conference, attending with more than 10,000 registered dietitian nutritionists and nutrition industry leaders at the annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in Philadelphia.
The conference, sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and held from Oct. 26-29, was the largest meeting of food and nutrition experts who convene to address key issues affecting health globally.
The course, NUTR 497: Professional Development in Nutrition, was conceived by Mary Dean Coleman-Kelly, associate teaching professor and director of the undergraduate dietetics program in the Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences.
When developing the course, Coleman-Kelly sought to integrate classroom instruction and real-world learning opportunities.
“My goal was to explain how attending a large professional conference can help their training and to teach students how to create a plan to maximize their time while on site. I wanted them to understand how to effectively communicate with other professionals,” Coleman-Kelly said.
“Students spent four days hearing about the latest findings in nutrition research, education, management and leadership, and public health while alongside nutrition and dietetics professionals who share the same passion for nutrition as they do. Being engaged and interacting with professionals at a major conference allowed students to realize the endless possibilities their degree affords. For some, it opened their mind to opportunities they never knew existed.”