Natalie Masis, MS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Doctoral Candidate, received an SNEB Foundation Student Scholarship at the 2014 Annual Conference in Milwaukee, WI. With an expertise in maternal and child health and school nutrition, Masis says her experience at the 2014 Conference complemented the practices she was then implementing in her field.

“I really enjoyed my time at the SNEB conference in 2014 and most recently in 2016,” she recalled. “I had worked in the community nutrition field prior to coming to the conference and when I attended, it was such an experience to get the research perspective of what was occurring in nutrition education and to meet people of various fields and backgrounds,” Masis wrote.

One stand-out session for Masis was the Student and Professional Networking. She recalls finding the resources she gained and lasting connections she made at conference very rewarding. “Overall, I have great memories from the conference and it has helped me develop relationships, gain knowledge, and become more motivated to further my career in nutrition,” says Masis.

While the Annual Conference specifically was beneficial for Masis, membership with SNEB as a whole provides the research, policy and practice essential to her professional growth. “SNEB membership has helped increase my network to professionals in fields that are similarly related to my work,” Masis said. “I have also gained perspective on different campaigns for school nutrition around the country, along with progress and updates to current nutrition assistance programs in the United States,” she continued. “Additionally, I have been able to gain insight about international nutrition, a field that I am interested in pursuing in the future.”

Masis currently serves as Nutrition Consultant for Head Start in Champaign County, IL and is also a Graduate Assistant at the McKinley Health Center in Urbana, IL.