Below are the current student ambassadors for the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program in Nutrition. Feel free to contact one or two of these students to ask questions you may have about the application process, the program, or student life in the Gillings School of Global Public Health.
Monse Garcia
Monse Garcia
Monse Garcia is a junior from Winston-Salem, North Carolina majoring in Nutrition on the Health & Society Track with a minor in Chemistry. Her interest in nutrition developed after volunteering at the Downtown Health Clinic, where she prepared produce bags for pediatric patients facing food insecurity. This experience ignited her passion for community service as she marveled at the impact that food had on these patients since they often encountered barriers, such as time, money, and resources, that prevented them from eating nutritious meals. She believes that “food is medicine”; as a result, it is important to her that people have access to food to improve their overall health. Outside of Gillings, she is a part of UNC Flourish, where she volunteers to cook for patients and their families living in the SECU House. She also had the opportunity to become a Spanish Editor for Andrea Cudd Alemanni, who is the author of a children’s book called Ava Antibody Explains Your Body and Vaccines. In the future, she plans to get a Master of Science in Nutrition and then apply to medical school, where she hopes to become a pediatrician. Her dream is to start a practice, where she will accept any patient regardless of their ability to pay.
Cameron Grant
Cameron Grant
Cameron Grant is a senior from Chatham, New Jersey double majoring in Chemistry and Nutrition Science & Research while minoring in biology. She became interested in nutrition due to her own experiences with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic insufficiency, working closely with physicians and dietitians to achieve proper nutrition. She felt that the Nutrition Science & Research BSPH perfectly encompassed her interests in biochemistry, metabolism, and human nutrition. During her junior year, she worked as a research assistant under Dr. Bustamante-Marin in the Nutrition department. Her independent project focused on finding differentially expressed extracellular vesicle-derived microRNAs in diet induced obese vs. control mice. Her senior honors thesis will focus on characterizing these microRNAs and their effects on cancer cell proliferation and migration. Over the summer, she completed a research internship with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. This project investigated potential associations between dietary factors, such as fat content or high fructose corn syrup, and early-onset colorectal cancer. In the fall, she will continue with the NIEHS as a special volunteer in the Clinical Research Unit. Cameron has experience working as an emergency department medical scribe, volunteering at UNC Hospitals, and is a certified EMT-B. She also serves as a publicity co-chair for the Nutrition Coalition. She enjoys running and is training for her first half-marathon this November!
Samantha Greene
Samantha Greene
samwil@email.unc.edu
Samantha is a Junior majoring in Nutrition on the Health & Society track in Gillings. She is also majoring in Philosophy and minoring in Creative Writing. Coming to UNC from the Metro Washington D.C. area, Sam has a fervent interest in international and domestic nutrition policy, focusing on underrepresented and marginalized communities. She developed an interest in the field of nutrition as both a foodie and being on the receiving end of food insecurity. She hopes to bring her experience in lab research and activism to the food and health policy arena to better advocate for her communities and all those affected by lacking healthcare services. On campus, she dedicates much of her time as the sitting 57th President of UNC’s Black Student Movement, Director of Strategy in The American Mock World Health Organization, Undergraduate Gut Microbiome Researcher in The Carroll Labs housed in Gillings, and Section Co-Coordinator of the Marching Tar Heels Tuba Section. Samantha is passionate about a range of topics both inside and outside the field of public health. She enjoys writing in the fantasy genre and is currently working on a novel of her own. Feel free to contact her about anything surrounding life or the nutrition major!
Sarah Jooste
Sarah Jooste
Sarah is a junior from Chapel Hill, NC, majoring in Nutrition on the Health & Society track, with a minor in Chemistry and Spanish for the Medical Professions. Sarah’s interests in nutrition arose after witnessing the devastating effects of poor diets when traveling to the townships of South Africa with her soccer team. Several years later, she began volunteering at the Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) clinic and observed that language barriers play a huge role in the lack of information on and access to healthy foods. Through her experiences at SHAC, she became ever more committed to understanding the systemic nature of food insecurity. This past year she joined Bull City Fit, where she worked alongside a team of medical students and other undergraduate students, planning dynamic activities that kept the youth participants moving and having fun. This experience critically shaped her perspective of advocacy work through equipping the participants with tools not only to improve their own nutritional health but also to educate their families. Through her nutrition outreach work, she’s developed a passion for improving the nutritional and health statuses of adults and children around the world, aspiring to become a transformative public health practitioner, working to create lasting change in her communities. In her spare time, Sarah loves traveling, exercising, and reading a good book!
Kaustubh Kute
Kaustubh Kute
Kaustubh is a junior from Cary, NC majoring in Nutrition Science and Research. Kaustubh’s interest in nutrition is rooted in a passion for biochemistry and human physiology. In particular, he is curious about globally prevalent metabolic disorders such as type II diabetes and how advanced genetic profiling can be integrated into personalized treatment plans. Before Gillings, Kaustubh did research with adeno-associated virus gene therapy at the Li lab and currently is involved in research on dietary fatty acids and their role in inflammatory pathways at the Shaikh lab. He hopes to gain as much hands-on service experience and theoretical knowledge through the major and apply these lessons to a future in medicine, especially knowing that nutrition is an overlooked facet of a holistic medical education. Outside of the classroom, Kaustubh is an emergency medical technician and is an avid basketball fan, always looking for pick-up games or watching on TV with friends. One day he hopes to combine his love for sports and medicine to treat athletes and weekend warriors alike and promoting supplementing surgical treatment with a balanced nutritional lifestyle.
Ria Patel
Ria Patel
Ria Patel is a junior from High Point, North Carolina pursing double majors in Nutrition (Science and Research) and Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry. Ria’s interest in nutrition can be attributed to growing up in an Indian household, where food is the center of traditional events, holidays, personal wellbeing, and even medicine. At Gillings, Ria has been able to further her passion for nutrition through her research with Dr. Stephanie Martin, where she determines factors that influence the diets of adolescents in Kenya. Outside of Gillings, Ria is an Emergency Medical Technician, volunteer at the UNC Women’s Hospital, and Fundraising Campaigns sub-chair for Carolina for the Kids. Ria plans to study the benefits of preventative and medicinal nutrition through research and a master’s program in nutrition while also pursuing a career as a physician following her undergraduate time at UNC. In her free time, Ria can be found trying new restaurants in the Triangle, going for walks around campus and spending time with her friends and family!
Jayla Russell
Jayla Russell
I am a senior from Toledo, Ohio, majoring in Nutrition Health & Society on the pre-PA track. My interest in nutrition began with my poor relationship with food and subsequent effect on my health as well as rampant food insecurity and poor nutritional/health outcomes in my community. Outside of school I work as a direct support professional and as a caregiver for adults with Alzheimer’s. Through this I have been able to incorporate my nutrition education by developing strategies to increase healthy eating habits within the groups I work with. I am passionate about using innovative methods to increase overall well-being and health. After graduation, I plan to pursue a dual master’s degree in medical science (PA) and public health and incorporate my nutrition education to provide holistic healthcare. Outside of nutrition, I enjoy roller skating, trying new foods, and traveling.
Mia Taylor
Mia Taylor
Mia is a Senior majoring in Nutrition Health and Society, on a pre-PA track. Being from a military family, she attended high school in Asheville, NC while spending breaks around the Destin, FL area. As a former cheerleader and track runner, nutrition education has been a big part of her life since an early age. Her interest in nutrition came from initial interest in disease, and learning what people can do in their daily life to prevent onset of diseases. She also has interest in the links between nutrition and health outcomes in under-resourced populations. Outside of Gillings, Mia is an orthopedic medical assistant, and enjoys sports, reading and iced coffee.
Erin Walter
Erin Walters
Erin is a junior from Wake Forest, NC, majoring in Nutrition Science and Research, with minors in Chemistry and Spanish for the Health Professions on the pre-med track. Her interest in nutrition developed at an early age, inspired by the diverse Sri Lankan cooking she experienced through her mother and grandmother. Throughout high school, she volunteered at the local food bank and served as a Meals on Wheels driver, which heightened her awareness of the prevalent food insecurity issues in North Carolina. At UNC, Erin is a research assistant at the Nutrition Obesity Research Center, where she investigates the role of the MyPlan eating model and its effect on blood glucose regulation in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes. Outside of Gillings, Erin is a Certified Pharmacy Technician, serves as an Undergraduate Learning Assistant for Chemistry, and volunteers at the Community Empowerment Fund and the UNC Cancer Hospital. Aspiring to be a physician, she hopes to promote nutrition education as a means to prevent and treat disease. In her free time, Erin loves to cook, bake, play soccer, and go on walks with her dog!
Ryann Wyse
Ryann Wyse
rwyse@unc.edu
Ryann is a senior originally from Jacksonville, NC majoring in Nutrition Science and Research. Her interest in nutrition peaked in high school after volunteering for an after-school meal program for children in her community. She became passionate about food equity and the intersection between food and health. She is specifically interested in the health impacts of food insecurity on children living in rural areas. At UNC, she became involved with Nutrition Coalition volunteering in CJ’s cupboard housed in Gillings, and last year became the manager of the food pantry. Outside of Gillings, Ryann is a volunteer at UNC Children’s Hospital and worked as a Clinical Research Assistant at the Children’s Research Institute. Ryann plans to attend medical school to become a pediatrician and wants to focus her work on rural communities in North Carolina. She hopes to apply her knowledge of nutrition in her medical career specifically pertaining to children’s growth and development. Outside of academics Ryann enjoys running, traveling, and going to UNC basketball games!
