Dietetic Internship Newsletter
In this Newsletter, Issue XIX:
Welcome New Junior Dietetic Interns, Fall 2025!
Letter from the Director and Assistant Director
Hello preceptors, faculty, interns and alumni, and welcome to the 2025 edition of the UMaine Dietetic Internship (DI) Newsletter! As the fall semester gets underway, we look forward to connecting with you and sharing program news and updates. First, we would like to extend a special thank you to all of our preceptors across Maine! Your dedication, knowledge and leadership plays a vital role in the success and growth of UMaine’s dietetic interns. We would also like to welcome aboard several new rotation sites, including the New England Cancer Specialists, University of Maine’s Nutrition Education and Eating Decision Lab, and the Peter Alfond Prevention & Healthy Living Center through MaineGeneral Health. We’re ecstatic that our interns have the unique experience of working with each of you.
We are also happy to announce several changes that our program has recently undergone. UMaine’s DI has moved all coursework to 100% online, with supervised practice remaining in-person. We’ve also reduced our credit requirements from 34 to 30, while still maintaining the high quality education that you’ve come to expect from UMaine’s DI. Both of these initiatives result in major cost savings for prospective interns.
Another exciting change is the development of an Accelerated Program in Food Science and Human Nutrition. This program supports students who are ambitious in beginning their dietetic graduate coursework early, specifically during their junior and senior year. The Accelerated Program is for undergraduate students who have maintained a strong academic standing, exhibit outstanding nutrition-related work & volunteer experience, and have a clear vision for becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist. See our newly renovated website for prospective timelines & more details.
Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of hosting our virtual annual site coordinator’s meeting & our dietetic internship advisory board meeting. We informed preceptors, site coordinators and advisory board members on the shift to a fully online master’s degree, the aforementioned Accelerated Program and our efforts to expand our marketing via social media (follow us on our new instagram and LinkedIn!).
To show our appreciation for all that our preceptors do, UMaine’s DI hosted its first virtual job fair. Undergraduates, graduate students and registered dietitians were invited to connect with potential employers and learn about open nutrition-related positions. We are grateful to be able to collaborate with our outstanding site coordinators and their organizations to help shape and support Maine’s dietetic workforce. Thank you to all who participated!
With more good news, we’d like to congratulate all of the wonderful interns who have completed their internship during the 2024/2025 year. Jilleon Farrell, Chesley Ferris, Emalee Harrington, Darcy MacLean, Kara Murphy, Kayla Raymond Jennifer Spann & Hannah Stevens – you’ve all made the UMaine DI program extremely proud. We can’t wait to hear about the strong impact you make on the profession. We would also like to congratulate Dr. Mona Therrien-Genest on her recent retirement from her role as UMaine’s Dietetic Internship Director. She’s been pivotal in the success of countless registered dietitians & we couldn’t be more excited to now have her as one of our preceptors!
Finally, we would like to thank all of our alumni. Your contributions as past interns have helped make our program what it is today. We’re cheering you on in everything you do & remember to keep in touch with us! We’re excited to hear from you and hope you find the alumni updates in this newsletter enjoyable and informative. Thank you for your continued support of the UMaine DI Program. As always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions. Have a wonderful fall!
Warm wishes,
Kayla Gayer & Julie Milan
Semi-Annual Pinning Ceremony
In November 2024 and July of 2025, we recognized UMaine’s graduating interns at the Semi-Annual Pinning Ceremony. Family, friends, and faculty gathered for the celebration. Interns received their certificate of completion and RDN pin (to be worn after passing the RDN exam). Congratulations, and thank you to all of our preceptors and faculty who support our interns!
Chesley Ferris, Darcy MacLean, Hannah Stevens
Kara Murphy, Jilleon Farrell, Jen Spann, Emily Harrington, Kayla Ramona
Interns in the Field
Darcy MacLean, Hannah Stevens, and Chesley Ferris in their clinical, community, and food service management rotations.
Congratulations on their completion of the Dietetic Internship this July 2025!
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Amelia Sullivan’s Doctoral Research
What is the topic of your research, and why did you choose to pursue this area?
My research focuses on improving nutrition security among rural adolescents by designing and evaluating a theory-driven school-based intervention aimed at increasing fruit intake and reducing fruit waste. Adolescence is a critical period for establishing lifelong dietary habits and living in the most rural state in the nation, adolescents in Maine face unique challenges that make this work especially important.
Would you give a brief summary of your research, including some background information, methods and major findings?
My dissertation, HEALTHY (Helping Early Adolescents Live Their Healthiest Youth), is a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental study conducted in rural Maine middle schools. The intervention involved an eight-week educational smoothie taste test program guided by the Social Cognitive Theory and Behavioral Economics. Data collection included skin carotenoid levels (Veggie Meter) to assess fruit and vegetable intake, lunch tray photographs to analyze food consumption and waste, student surveys, focus groups, and interviews with the school nutrition directors. While I won’t delve into the specific outcomes, the results have been overwhelmingly positive and support HEALTHY as an effective and promising program.
What are some limitations and implications for your research?
As this study was conducted in rural schools across Maine, it limits the generalizability of the findings to schools nationwide. Furthermore, skin carotenoid levels are reflective of carotenoid-containing food intake (fruits, vegetables, and milk); therefore, the score does not reflect total fruit intake but rather indicates trends in consumption. Despite these limitations, the research demonstrates that theory-driven, school-based nutrition interventions can be effective and sustainable in rural settings, offering a scalable model for similar communities aiming to improve fruit consumption and reduce waste.
Based on your findings and a review of the current literature, what advice or recommendations would you give to the general public?
I recommend that communities and their schools collaborate to increase the availability and appeal of fruits and vegetables in environments where adolescents eat and learn. Simple strategies, such as incorporating smoothies made with local and seasonal produce, can motivate adolescents to consume more fruits. Additionally, educating students about the negative impacts of food waste and ways they can contribute to reducing it is essential for both their health and environmental sustainability.
Have you submitted your research for publication (if so, what journal?), or are you in the process of writing an article for publication?
I currently have one manuscript under peer review and plan to submit a second in the coming months.
When do you plan to graduate? What degrees/credentials do you currently hold?
I graduate with a PhD in Food and Nutrition Sciences in May 2026. I currently hold a Master of Science degree and am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
Public Policy Update
Junior Interns at the MAine Academy of nutrition and dietetics Annual legislative day
Brigette Williamson, Alicia Credit, Francesca DiBiase, Lydia Roy, and McKenna Smart
Each year, UMaine’s Dietetic Interns collaborate with the Maine Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MAND) Public Policy Panel. Our Dietetic Interns attend monthly meetings, stay informed on local and national nutrition-related policies, and have the opportunity to network with legislators and registered dietitians nutritionists (RDNs) across the state. As a result, they become strong champions for policies that support the well-being of others, as well as for the profession.
Junior interns celebrated National RDN Day (March 12, 2025) by participating and helping to organize the MAND Annual Legislative Day. Together, junior interns and Public Policy Panel members connected with legislators at the State House to discuss the benefits of the Dietitian Licensure Compact. Leading up to the event, junior dietetic interns and RDNs submitted written testimony in support of the compact, which was used during a public hearing. Although the bill died in committee, our interns gained first-hand experience in supporting legislative initiatives that increase access to care and further our profession. We are looking forward to working with the incoming class of junior interns to reintroduce the legislation later this year.
Additional Public Policy Panel Initiatives include hosting multiple webinars to inform MAND members about Academy policy initiatives, providing rule suggestions to the dietetic licensure board, and representing MAND at the National Nutrition and Dietetics State Summit. In terms of policies, Public Policy Panel members advocated for the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act, Farm Bill Expansion, and the protection of funding for the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program.
To learn more about the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics key policy initiatives, visit here. Interested in joining the Public Policy Panel or learning more about policy? Email me at maineandppc@gmail.com!
Congratulations to Maine Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MAND) Conference Awardees from The University of Maine!
Lily Brickman
Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year
Bryn Kubinsky
Outstanding Dietetic Student (Undergraduate)
Alumni News
Listed according to program start date
Class of 2021
Amelia Sullivan recently received first place recognition in the “Nutrition Education for Children Division Student Poster Award” competition at the annual Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior conference.
Lily Brickman received her certification as a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC).
Class of 2020
Brooke (Adams) Hardy and her husband recently became new parents!
Leigh Neptune recently received her PhD in Human Nutrition from UMaine and is now the Senior Director of the Center for Wabanaki Research, Knowledge, and Innovation.
Class of 2011
Kristine Kittridge, MS, RD, LD, CNSC is happy to announce that she and her partner of 6 years, Cole Sanford, got engaged on Labor Day weekend of 2024. The engagement came one week after Kristine started working on her Doctor of Clinical Nutrition at Rutgers University. Kristine is also excited that their marriage will officially make her stepmom to Cole’s son Corbin (10 years old). They look forward to their wedding over Labor Day weekend in 2026. Congratulations, Kristine!
Class of 1998
Marybeth Judy “donated a kidney in April 2025 to a stranger In Pennsylvania. This is called a non-directed donation. Maine Transplant was able to put together a 5-person kidney chain, which means 5 people received kidneys. There are 100,000 Americans waiting for a kidney.” “I’m almost 70 years old, and I was able to do it! Go to kidney.org and search living donor kidney to find out more. I’m back to doing all the things I love including hiking and running. So grateful I got to donate.”
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