Theresa Mazza has had a remarkable journey. From sous chef creating recipes and menus for celebrities, athletes and high profile clients to entrepreneur and brand ambassador with stops along the way to complete her Bachelors of Science in Health Promotion and a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Then it was on to get her Masters of Public Health. Theresa was proud of these accomplishments and yet something was missing.
Theresa came to PVCC to pursue her passion: nutrition. She enrolled in the Associates of Applied Science in Dietetic Technology to become a Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR). She says, “My time at PVCC is literally why I do what I do now. The number one thing our professors conveyed was to always be professional and make connections.” Theresa made a good impression on one of the preceptors and she recommended Theresa to her neighbor, a registered dietitian that needed social media support. What began as a part-time hustle blossomed into Theresa starting her own business all from a connection she made during her time in this program. She shares, “To say my life has changed for the better because of this program is an understatement.”
Theresa appreciated the diversity of the students in this program. “I learned so much from my fellow students.” She had not thought of including the need for more education around foods from different cultures. “MyPlate and dietary recommendations are based heavily on the American diet and don't showcase foods from different ethnicities and backgrounds. The students in my classes opened my eyes to a lot of things in the field of nutrition.”
Theresa strongly advocates for PVCC, “The professors and staff are all professional, knowledgeable and amazing humans. I could not have imagined doing this degree anywhere else.” The connections Theresa made at PVCC surpass those from other educational institutions she had degrees from.
One of the highlights of her experience occurred during the community rotation for the dietetic technology practicum. Theresa developed a webinar series that included students and faculty from dietetics, nursing, exercise science and EMT. This five-part series focused on diabetes management for community members and the fitness center. “I loved putting together the slides and presenting my expertise on nutrition and diabetes. You could tell it really helped the people watching and there was always an amazing turnout.”
Among a host of wonderful professors, Tricia Montgomery “went above and beyond to ensure we would have the best interning experience possible during the pandemic. She designed fun and creative ways for us to hit our competencies and she was always there when we needed her. She has become a friend and colleague and has helped me with finding preceptors for my upcoming dietetics degree.” Additionally, Lori Anonsen and Margie Tate were great influencers during Theresa’s time at PVCC and beyond. “Margie and I connected over my background in public health and we all treated each other like humans vs. teacher/student. Lori has been so supportive of my unconventional journey post-graduation. She supports my entrepreneurial spirit and is the first to brag on me and I truly appreciate that.”
Theresa is currently completing a Master’s of Science in Applied Nutrition.