Meet the Interns

ANNA
Email: anna.acre11@gmail.com 

Hi my name is Anna Acre, I am from Greenbrier Arkansas. I Graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with my Bachelors of Science December 2014 and plan to graduate with my Master’s Degree and Dietetic Internship completed August 2016.

I enjoy working out, anything active, and being outdoors. I have recently picked up a new hobby for exercise and have been kickboxing for about 5 months now! I try to spend as much time as possible with family and friends and always look forward to the days I can relax or work at home on my parent’s farm.

Growing up on a small family owned and operated beef cattle farm I have always had a great appreciation for food and agriculture. My background in high school included many Ag. and science related classes so I knew I would want to incorporate this into my degree choice. Being part of a family that has many health care providers from Nurses to Occupational Therapists and even a Registered Dietitian, choosing a career in healthcare was always in the back of my mind as an option but I wasn’t sure what that would look for me in college. In undergrad I enrolled in a few nutrition classes and suddenly realized I had found a degree that encompassed all of the things I loved, including farming, food, service to others, and health care!

CHELSEY

Email: ctowery1@cub.uca.edu
Hi y'all! Like many other interns, I was also born and raised in the great state of Arkansas. I am married and have 2 cows, 7 chickens, and 8 pigs. My husband and I love to travel and are total foodies ( We adore food!) We are very active with our church and love to serve others. We trust that we have been blessed in order to be a blessing to others. 

 I started my college career studying Nursing. Shortly after gaining my CNA certification, I realized that I did not want to be in the field of nursing my whole life. I quickly switched to the field of dietetics. I graduated in December of 2013 with my Bachelors of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics.  Soon ( 4 months) I will graduate with my Masters in Family and Consumer Science with and emphasis in Nutrition and Dietetics. Then I can sit for my RD exam to complete my RD credential.

Advice: Meet people where they are. Whether that be in the realm of nutrition and dietetics, or life in general. As a nutrition professional I come in contact with all different kinds of individuals, with all different kinds of stories. I have learned throughout my dietetic internship that everyone is struggling with something. Though food is essential for our bodies to have energy, it is often used as compensation for other things. Some people are social, and emotional eaters and food may sometimes be the stumbling block in someones journey. It is my goal to meet my patients and clients where they are in their journey to effectively encourage them to live a healthier lifestyle. 

DEIDRA
Email: deistrom86@gmail.com 

Howdy from Arkansas! I am a born and raised Arkansan. I originally started my college career studying English Education at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA). During my last year of school some would say I became “burnt out” and did something crazy, I dropped out! I took two years off and during that time I worked for a museum in Flagstaff, AZ and traveled a lot of the west coast. That is when my love for nutrition and preventative medicine grew. I came back to UCA during the summer 2013. I completely switched gears and went from a BA to a BS in nutrition. I graduated May 2015 and was accepted into UCA’s Dietetic Internship, along with graduate school. Since then my passion has grown for community nutrition and preventative care. I want to get kids interested in the food they eat, the way its grown and how its prepared. Let's get people back into the kitchen. Show that eating healthy can be done on a budget and that it can be delicious! 

DONNA
Email: donna.t0001@gmail.com
Portfolio: TBA

Hey, y'all! I hail from Alabama and graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics. Good nutrition is vitally important, but I believe overall wellness is the key to achieving a truly healthy, happy life and that it even holds the power to save lives. After all, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" (Hippocrates).

My piece of advice: None of us are perfect so no need to aim for perfection. Rather, try following the 80/20 rule, which aims for 80% healthy choices and 20% splurge, which allows us to indulge a bit without the guilt. On that note, workouts do not always have to be long or sweaty. Just by walking for 10 minutes at least 3 times per day, you are still reaping many of those health benefits. Remember: the only bad workout is the one that didn't happen. Keep up the good work, everyone, and happy healthing!


HALEY
Email: hbarnes6@cub.uca.edu

Hello everyone! I was born and raised in a tiny, tiny town called Celina located in Middle Tennessee where I completed half of my undergrad at Tennessee Tech University. I moved to Arkansas a little over two years ago and transferred to UCA where I finished my degree. Originally I started college as a Dental Hygiene major, but after taking my Basic Nutrition course I fell in love with the subject and quickly changed my major. I enjoy cooking, the outdoors, and when I’m home enjoy time with my family and spending time on the beautiful Dale Hollow Lake.

My piece of advice is that moderation is key! If we label certain foods as off limit then we tend to crave them even more. We should let ourselves enjoy food, instead of thinking of it as a strict regimen. If you would like a cupcake every once in a while, treat yourself! It is important to just know your limits and watch your portion.

KAYLEIGH
Email: khunter3@cub.uca.edu

Hello! I was raised in Cabot, Arkansas! I spend most of my free time crafting, antiquing, or planning my upcoming wedding!

I began my journey at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), as a Pre-Occupational Therapy (OT) major, right after I graduated from high school. After changes in the OT program, I had to choose a new major for my undergraduate degree before I could apply for OT school. So I chose to explore the field of nutrition! When I began, I thought it would just be one stop on the way to my final goal of becoming an occupational therapist. However, it didn’t take long before I figured out that I loved learning about how nutrition affected the human body and I decided to stick with it! I am so glad that I was introduced to nutrition at UCA and that I have been able to continue my education in nutrition to become a Registered Dietitian (in only 5 more months!!)

My piece of advice: I believe that it is more important to focus on the foods that you should be eating, instead of the foods that need to be avoided. Nutrition should be a positive part of our lives, especially since our culture revolves around food! I want to be able to teach people how to incorporate healthy foods for an overall healthy lifestyle! I also feel that it is important to emphasize the significance of teaching our children about eating well-balanced meals and making healthy choices so that those habits will stick with them for life!

KIM
Email: ksimcox1987@gmail.com

Hello! I am a native Arkansan, and like some of my fellow interns, I too, am a nontraditional student. I went to the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) right after high school but quickly decided that college was not right for me at that time. After slowly acquiring my associate degree at Arkansas State University-Beebe, I returned to UCA and received my B.S. in Nutrition in December 2014. With the overwhelming amount of people having diet-related diseases, I believe it is important to use my skills and knowledge to inform the people of our community ways in which we can prevent these health issues.

"There is no diet that will do what healthy eating does. Skip the diet. Just eat healthy" -unknown. In place of restricting major food groups or following fad diets, focus on eating a well-balanced meal full of whole, nutritious foods. If that means making several changes, you may likely give up before you even get started. Instead, focus on small measurable changes and recognize your victories!

LINZIE
Email: lhorney1@cub.uca.edu

Hey guys! Unlike many of the other interns I am not originally from Arkansas. I was born and raised in a small town called Macomb, Illinois. I graduated from Western Illinois University, which is in my hometown, with a B.S. in Family & Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Dietetics. I didn’t begin my college career with a dietetics major, I switched the second semester of my freshman year after taking an introduction to nutrition course. By changing my major early in college, I was able to graduate in three years.  After finishing my degree I moved to Conway for my internship and graduate school. 

My nutrition advice is find what works best for you to eat healthy. The same foods and meals don’t work for everyone, and that’s okay. Find ways to slowly incorporate healthy items into your daily routine and then it will become natural. If you jump in feet first it can be difficult to maintain that lifestyle.

SHELBY
Email: spierceall1@cub.uca.edu

Hi, everyone! Thank you so much for coming to check out our blog. 
I am a born and raised Arkansan from Central Arkansas. I am very involved in the Girl's Ministry at my church in Conway, AR and love cooking for friends, being outside (preferably in a hammock or swing), eating carbs, mani/pedis, and watching movies.

I graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in May 2014 with my B.S. in Dietetics/Nutrition. During my time at OBU, I was guided, mentored, and prepared to fulfill my purpose, both in dietetics and in the world. At graduation, all OBU grads are given the charge to become "difference makers" and that is exactly what I plan to become, both in my dietetics practice and wherever else God calls me.

I am deeply passionate about eating disorders. I believe that they are all-encompassing diseases that require treatment from the inside out, including psychological treatment and nutritional treatment, as well. In my opinion, ED's are mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. By involving all four components in the treatment process, I believe ED's can be controlled and managed, giving survivors a second chance at the life they are called to live. 

I am beyond thankful for this journey to which I have been called. I pray that I can impact individuals to make lasting changes in their lives, through my dietetics practice, and realize their fullest potential to become all they were created to be.

TAYLOR
Email: tgarrett3@cub.uca.edu

Hi there! Like most of the other interns, I am also an Arkansas native! I have lived in Cabot my whole life and when I graduated from high school I went to college at the U of A in Fayetteville with an undeclared major. It didn't take long for me to end up back home where I finally chose a major and commuted to ASU Beebe to earn my two Associate degrees. After I finished my basics, I headed to UCA where I pursued a career in nutrition and dietetics. During this time, I worked as a Nutrition Assistant at Saline Memorial Hospital and developed a love for helping patients! I received my B.S. in Family & Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Nutrition and Dietetics in December of 2014. 

While working towards my M.S. and completing the dietetic internship, I have learned a lot about proper nutrition and want to share my knowledge with others. The internship has opened my eyes to an area that pulls on my heart... Once I complete my internship and become a RD, I would like to work with the geriatric population. These individuals also need and deserve good nutrition. I have spent a lot of time in nursing homes with my granny and have learned that everyone has a story, no matter how old they are. I get joy out of helping the elderly and genuinely like being around them. I hope that one day I can inspire other nutrition students to have an interest in this area as well!


VINNIE
Email: vsuha1@cub.uca.edu

Thanks for checking out our blog and for learning more about us interns!  

I'm a nontraditional student who came back to school to study nutrition in his late 20's.  Yup, I took the long road, but I'm sure glad I did because it took me that long to figure out what I truly loved!  As a graduate of UCA with a degree in nutrition and a minor in psychology, the mind's role in eating and behavior is what interests me most in my field of study.  

I am a firm believer in the role mindfulness has in nutrition, that counseling and therapy are hugely important tools in changing the way we think about our eating habits, and that small, measurable changes are the more important steps a person can make toward meaningful, significant change.

I hope to use my skills as a future RDN to assist others with weight loss, better eating habits, and disordered eating.


WHITNEY
Email: whitneymarie0087@yahoo.com
Hello!  I was born and raised here in Arkansas and I have never lived in any other state.  My favorite things to do during my free time consist of crafting, shopping, baking and wedding planning.  I also really love being outdoors.  My fiancé and I own a house in Conway with our four dogs: Trevor, Saydee, Grant, and Oliver.

I started my college career at Arkansas State University at Beebe where I received my Associates in Science.  From there I attended University of Central Arkansas and graduated with my B.S in Nutrition in 2013.  After graduation, I began slowly working on my Masters in Nutrition and worked full time at Conway Regional Medical Center.  My passion for nutrition lies within wellness.  Anyone and everyone can be healthy with small steps towards a larger goal.  This can include switching one ingredient in the cake you love to bake or parking a little further from the door to get those extra steps in.  It’s the effort you put in day after day that makes the difference.