Dana: Laguna Niguel tutor

Certified Tutor

I recently graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a Master of Science in Nutrition. Concurrently, I completed my dietetic internship with a concentration in research applications at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, which is the second oldest dietetic internship program in the nation at a certified Level I Trauma Center with over 1,000 patient beds. Prior to that I completed my bachelor's degree in nutrition at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) where I graduated as the Outstanding Senior in Academic Excellence of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences. I was in the Honor's Program at Cal Poly which provided an excellent opportunity to tutor and mentor students who recently started the program. I also worked as a lab assistant at Santa Maria Community College where I had the opportunity to tutor students who were learning about human anatomy. Additionally, I enjoyed studying with other nutrition majors to answer their questions on the coursework and collaborate to develop a deeper understanding of the material. My favorite subjects to teach are clinical nutrition and metabolism, as I find it fascinating to consider how certain health conditions can be improved by making small alterations in someone's dietary intake. I am passionate about helping students because I want to aid others in obtaining the feeling of pride and satisfaction when their hard work pays off. I also like helping students feel more confident about their skills and knowledge when taking tests. As a tutor, my first goal is to assess the general knowledge of each student to find out where they may be lacking information or experience. After I know where the student sits in terms of knowledge and I know where they need to be for success, in terms of their course syllabus or the outline of the RD exam, I can lead them to the information they need to find success. In a field of study like nutrition and for the RD exam, it is as important to have a firm understanding of dietetic principles as it is to have confidence in your understanding and critical thinking skills. Aside from dietetics I enjoy spending time with friends outdoors, hiking in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with my dachshund and my husband, as well as visiting local restaurants and breweries.