Mary Clausen discovered UB’s School of Public Health and Health Professions after a search for a school with an established exercise science program and one that was close to her family in Rochester, NY. Three degrees later, she still thinks of UB as her home away from home.
“While pursuing a BS in exercise science, I became interested in the application of exercise in the prevention and treatment of diseases, and not just in athletics,” said Clausen. She earned a master’s degree in physiology 2009 and then enrolled in the master’s in nutrition program.
“I feel exercise and nutrition go hand in hand, and having expertise and degrees in both fields will be beneficial to my future career,” she said.
With plans to become a registered dietitian, Clausen also completed the Dietetic Internship with Nutrition Advanced Certificate.
In addition to 15 credits of graduate study, the program involved 1,200 hours of supervised field experience throughout a 12-month period in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient and community agencies and university research programs. “I loved the rotations and being able to apply my knowledge in clinical and community settings,” she said.
“I had the opportunity to work with outstanding faculty and mentors at UB, which is one of the main reasons I chose to stay and continue my education here.”