Featured Article: Season of Thanks

Eager. Caring. Passionate. Driven. Curious.

These are only a few words that describe a Friedman Student. Being the only institution of its kind in the United States to offer an M.S., M.A. and Ph.D. through innovative, interdisciplinary programs in the field of nutrition, our students contribute to a wide range of research, community projects, policy initiatives, and international aid as they emerge as future leaders in nutrition science and policy. The Annual Fund  provides a critical stream of funding for areas of greatest need, such as Student Finacial Aid. Endowed scholarships and financial aid funds enable outstanding students who otherwise would have difficulty financing their graduate study to benefit from a state-of-the-art education at Tufts.

Below are five student stories that detail the impact financial aid has made to their study at the Friedman School. Your generous support makes their dreams possible. Please make a gift today, click here to give.

Alicia Harvie
Agriculture, Food and Environment Program
"The internship requirement for the AFE program allows us to see these academic concepts at play in the real world. This past summer, I worked with Organic Valley Family of Farms, headquartered in the tiny village of La Farge, Wisconsin. Organic Valley is a cooperative of over 1,300 organic farms who market dairy, eggs, meats, and a variety of produce. As a mission-driven “uncorporation,” Organic Valley employs a model that represents a profound shift away from most food businesses today. It is owned by all 1,300 of its farmers, who commit to environmentally sound, organically-certified agricultural practices while providing strong incomes that keep family farmers in business, and hence, caring for the land. Because of my education and experiences at the Friedman School thus far, I found myself well-equipped for the roles Organic Valley needed me to fill."
Read More about Alicia's Internship

Jessica Jones-Hughes
Combined Dietetic Internship/Master's Program
"As part of the MS program, students are required to do a research-focused project on any nutrition-related subject. I am interested in the international nutrition field and decided to focus my research project on community nutrition. The incredible faculty at Tufts connected me to HelpMercy International, a small NGO founded by a Tufts Medical student that provides support to a resource-poor hospital in rural Zambia. In November 2007, HelpMercy helped to fund a nutrition intervention that provided seeds and agriculture education to HIV/AIDS affected households."
Read More about Jessica's Balancing Act

Biz Morris
Food Policy & Applied Nutrition Program
"Beyond the scope of the classroom, there are many great opportunities to enrich my education, from Wednesday Seminars, to attending the Friedman Symposium (Nutrition Agenda 2008 and Beyond), and sitting in on guest lectures such as the one by Walter Robb, Co-President and Chief Operating Officer of Whole Foods. The breadth of these experiences, alongside the excellent professors in the classroom, reinforces each day that not only am I blessed to be here, but this is the best place to be. I am only starting to contemplate potential summer internships - another interesting program that sets Friedman apart."
Read More about Biz's Experiences

Jesse Roberts
Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition Program
"I am currently working with the John Hancock Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition, where I hope to gain more exposure to community-based participatory research. This type of research was used in the Shape Up Somerville study which aimed to bring energy intake and expenditure into balance by working at multiple levels within the community to increase opportunities for physical activity and the availability of healthy foods at school, at home, and in the neighborhoods. Next semester I will start research in one of the many labs at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA). I have also been able to volunteer at the Sharewood clinic, the student-run medical clinic of Tufts Medical School, in order to gain further experience in the clinical environment."
Read More about Jesse's Research

Mulondo Ssenkaali
Master of Arts in Humanitarian Assistance Program
"Even though I am only three months into this program, the experience has already been wonderful. The MAHA program is designed with only three core required courses with the remainder being electives that I am free to choose as I wish. I have only completed one of the core course so far-Humanitarian Assistance in Complex Emergencies. This has enabled me to sample and experience other nutrition based courses from the Tufts Boston Campus but also from the wonderful courses at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. The opportunity to cross-register at other prestigious institutions and universities such as Brandeis and Harvard is also a huge bonus to my learning and experiences."
Read More about Mulondo's Exposure to Tufts