Her Story
About Addalie
Addalie Rivera is a nutrition and health sciences professional and Adjunct Professor at Husson University, where she teaches nutrition courses and contributes to curriculum development. She holds a Master of Health Science in Functional and Integrative Nutrition from Northwestern Health Sciences University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of West Florida, with a minor in Sports & Exercise Psychology. Her interdisciplinary background allows her to approach nutrition through both physiological and behavioral perspectives, with a particular interest in functional nutrition, gut health, health promotion, and evidence-based nutrition education. In her professional work, Addalie is passionate about translating complex nutrition and health concepts into clear, accessible, and practical educational information. Her areas of specialization include functional and integrative nutrition, community nutrition, women's and children's nutrition, gut health, and behavioral health. She is particularly interested in supporting women, infants, and children through community-based nutrition education and hopes to contribute to programs such as WIC in Baltimore County. Her approach emphasizes individualized support, participant-centered care, strong communication, organization, and continued professional learning. Addalie is guided by faith, integrity, compassion, curiosity, and perseverance. She credits her family, mentors, professors, and continued willingness to ask questions and learn as important influences on her professional development. She is also passionate about helping people navigate the overwhelming amount of nutrition information available through social media and believes qualified nutrition professionals have an important role in providing trustworthy, evidence-based guidance. Through education and community engagement, she hopes to make nutrition information more understandable, responsible, and accessible to the people and families she serves. Outside of her professional work, Addalie enjoys cooking and baking and creates recipe and cooking videos through her social media platform, Rivera’s Kitchen. Her videos combine her love of cooking with her passion for making nutrition approachable, showing that recipes found online do not have to be complicated and can be adapted to fit individual tastes and lifestyles. Through Rivera’s Kitchen, she hopes to encourage people to have fun in the kitchen, experiment with their food, and feel more confident preparing meals at home. She believes that cooking can be both enjoyable and an important part of building healthier, sustainable habits.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Addalie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith, the support of my family, strong mentors, perseverance, curiosity, and my commitment to continuous learning. My family has always been an important source of encouragement, while my professors and mentors have helped me recognize opportunities and develop professionally. I am also willing to ask questions and acknowledge when there is more for me to learn. Above all, my faith provides an important foundation for both my personal life and professional journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to not be afraid to create your own opportunities. Your career doesn't always follow the path you originally imagined, and that's okay. Sometimes you have to be willing to try something new, take a chance on yourself, or step outside of your comfort zone. I've learned that some of the opportunities that have helped me grow the most came from being willing to say yes and figure things out along the way.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to be confident, ask questions, remain open to learning, and pursue opportunities even when they do not feel completely prepared. It can be easy to hold yourself back because you believe you need to know everything before taking the next step. My advice is to apply for the position, pursue the opportunity, ask for guidance when you need it, and trust that you will continue learning along the way. You do not have to have everything figured out before you begin.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges in nutrition is the tremendous amount of conflicting and potentially misleading information available through social media. However, I also see this as an important opportunity for qualified nutrition professionals to become trusted sources of information. We have an opportunity to explain nutrition clearly, responsibly, and compassionately while helping individuals distinguish evidence-based guidance from misinformation.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Faith, integrity, compassion, and continuous learning are among the most important values guiding my personal and professional life. Putting God first provides a foundation for how I approach life. Professionally, integrity is especially important because people trust nutrition professionals with information that can influence their health and well-being. Compassion is equally important because every person has different circumstances and needs. I also believe that a nutrition professional should never stop learning and should remain curious and open to new evidence.
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