Emily Baker holds a B.S. in Nutrition from 黑料网 and a M.S. in Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University. She has been a registered and licensed dietitian nutritionist in Ohio since 1999, and is an active member in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as the Greater Akron Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Featured Faculty spotlights EHHS professors who share their background, experiences, interests, and advice for students.
Q: What subject(s) do you teach?
I teach nutrition classes for dietetic interns as well as the course 鈥淲orld Foods鈥 for undergraduate nutrition students.
Q: What inspired you to follow your chosen path of study?
Growing up, my grandmother was a dietitian and I always loved to visit her in the hospital where she worked at as a child. Her job seemed so 鈥済lamorous鈥! Both she and my mom always made eating healthfully a priority growing up, but as a kid I took that for granted. As I grew older, I was attracted to the field of healthcare, and it was my grandmother that encouraged me to look at the field of dietetics. Helping people achieve greater health through the food they eat was very appealing and the rest is history!
Q: What's one of your favorite memories from your student days?
The comradery that I shared with other nutrition students. It was always great to have a group of people to have fun with and commiserate with who truly understood what you were going through academically.
Q: What do you think every student should experience in college?
Self discovery! College is more than just acquiring knowledge. It is a time for every student to really discover who they are apart from their upbringing and what they are truly capable of in the future.
Q: What academic or career advice would you give to students?
I would encourage every student to take full advantage of everything college has to offer and not be afraid to challenge themselves. Getting out of your comfort zone is where you will grow the most as a person and future professional- so embrace every challenge that life and your future career may bring! You may not love every class that you have to take during your time at Kent State, but every course will help develop you as a person as well as a professional in the future.
Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I love to see students and interns succeed in college and beyond. I consider it an honor to be a small part of every student鈥檚 and intern鈥檚 overall life journey. There is truly nothing more professionally fulfilling than to see a student or intern grow over the course of their undergraduate/graduate studies, and then go onto to be a successful professional.
Q: How do you contribute to student success?
I approach my work at Kent State with a very student-focused approach. I try to create a classroom environment that is warm and welcoming so that students feel comfortable coming to me with their questions and concerns. No matter how busy other aspects of my professional life might be, the needs of students and interns will always come first.
Q: What would students be surprised to learn about you?
My grandmother was a dietitian during a time in history when women were not widely present in healthcare, and she really encouraged me to pursue that path in college.
Q: What is the best and most challenging thing about being a teacher?
The best part of my job is getting to see students and dietetic interns grow in their knowledge, confidence, and skill during their time at Kent State. The greatest reward as an educator is to see former students and interns thrive and succeed in life after college, as well in a field they love and knowing you were a small part of that.
The most challenging aspect of my job is setting a healthy work/life balance. I fully admit that I am a work in progress in that area!
Q: How do you show your school spirit?
Every Friday I am on campus is always a Blue and Gold day!