HOW MY PASSION BECAME MY CAREER

Healthy living is my greatest passion, and I have made it my mission in life to educate as many people as possible about the ways in which they can take their health into their own hands by changing the way that they nourish their bodies each day. As a licensed professional, I am trained in helping people to achieve this goal while being thrifty and mindful in the process. Being a Black woman from the Caribbean, I am especially excited about helping other women of color to make peace with their relationship with food and their body.

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My life journey started in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, where I was born and raised. Like many Virgin Islanders, I opted to pursue my post-secondary education on the mainland. I obtained my bachelor's degree in nutrition from Cornell University, and then proceeded to obtain my master's degree in health sciences from the University of Puerto Rico. Throughout my education I always found ways to get involved in community outreach efforts and talk to disadvantaged populations about health. Talking with people outside of the academic circle showed me just how much nutrition myths abound, and how a simple conversation could shift a person's understanding of what healthy eating really means. Living in Puerto Rico also helped me to strengthen my language skills and broaden my audience. To this day, I've been told that my Spanish still has hints of sabor Boricua. 

Not one to grow weary of learning new things, I decided to continue my education and prepare myself for a career in research, teaching, and clinical practice by attending Loma Linda University and enrolling in their combined PhD/RD program. I earned my RD license in 2020 and completed my PhD in 2021. My research was primarily focused on deciphering the complex relationships between functional foods and cognitive function throughout the lifespan. My other research/clinical interests include autoimmune disorders and integrative medicine. 

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Outside of nutrition I also love Latin dance, weight lifting, and reading novels about mystery and enlightenment. Follow me on Instagram @yellowcedarnutrition to learn more!