Her Story
About Jennifer
I've been in the nutrition field for about 18 years, driven by my passion for pediatric nutrition. I believe school nutrition is the biggest way to improve childhood nutrition as a system. What I find most impactful about my role is influencing the nutrition of children for a lifetime, hoping to improve it by including more whole foods, fruits and vegetables, and buying local. Beyond the long-term impact, I focus on feeding children currently and making sure they have the fuel to get through their day and learn. Throughout my career, I've had wonderful mentors, including a manager at Children's Hospital who I still look up to for her ethical work and the great care she provided. I've also had mentors through school nutrition who helped me get started and taught me to always put the child first, whether they're a patient or a student, and to remember that child you're taking care of essentially first.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jennifer
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received from my mentors, both from when I was at Children's Hospital and through school nutrition, is to always put the child first. Whether they're a patient or they're a student, always remember that child that you're taking care of, essentially, first. If you always keep that student's safety and their well-being your number one, you really can't go wrong. You're always making the right decision that way.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If you always keep that student as your top priority, their safety and their well-being your number one, you really can't go wrong. You're always making the right decision that way. I always try to make the right decision, the thing that in your heart you know is the right thing to do. I always think of what I would want for my own children and my own family, just the best that I could do. I also always like to learn from any situation, not be defensive, but always take everything as a learning opportunity and try to listen. I always try to listen more, not just to hear, but to listen and have empathy of what anybody is trying to give me with their feedback.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is definitely one of my top values because I think that's so important. I always try to make the right decision, the thing that in your heart you know is the right thing to do. I always think of what I would want for my own children and my own family, just the best that I could do. I always like to learn from any situation too, not be defensive, but always take everything as a learning opportunity and try to listen. I always try to listen more, not just to hear, but to listen and have empathy of what anybody is trying to give me with their feedback.
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