Janelle - Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Since her internship, Robert E. Cook Honors College student Janelle Porter has planned to become a registered dietitian. She has been working with Professor Rita Johnson of the Food and Nutrition Department on completing an independent study based on research she conducted in Bolivia.

“I had an internship with an organization called Food for the Hungry,” Janelle said. “I went to Bolivia with the organization and helped it with a study of the local determinants of malnutrition.” Her research consisted of surveying mothers of children between birth and fifty-nine months, who are living in the mountainous and rural regions of Cochambamba.

“The poverty and malnourishment was very shocking and poignant to me. It made me very thankful to live in America but touched my heart in a way that made me desire to use my understanding of nutrition to help people in need. It was great to be able to apply what I had learned in class in a practical setting, especially one like this that had such an important and global impact,” Janelle said.

Janelle made a presentation about her work with Food for the Hungry at IUP’s annual Undergraduate Scholars Forum. The presentation was named Best of Session.

When she’s not busy with dietetics-related activities—she also serves as the president of the Student Dietetics Association—Janelle balances her academic life with various campus ministries and recreational sports. She previously played intramural basketball, and she currently is the president of the IUP women’s ice hockey club.

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