Nutrition Academic Advising
Academic advising for the undergraduate nutrition major.
Info and Advising Sessions Fall 2025:
We will be holding an info and advising session for students interested in declaring or learning about the Nutrition major on Monday, November 10th in 221 Arnold House. Please sign up here: https://forms.gle/bvibY79q9wKdfEwYA\
If you can't make it to the info and advising session, meet with one of our nutrition peer advisors during their office hours listed below.
Every nutrition major is assigned a primary advisor. The name of your primary advisor appears on the main page of your Student Center in Spire. We are available to talk with you throughout the semester. All nutrition students are required to meet with their advisor at least once a semester, prior to or during the registration period (November for spring semester registration, March for fall semester registration). Sophomores, juniors, seniors, and transfer students receive an email from their advisor to schedule a one-on-one preregistration advising appointment. First-year students receive an email to sign up for a small-group advising session.
Undergraduate Academic Advisor
Nicole Goldstein
Email: nicolegoldst [at] nutrition [dot] umass [dot] edu (nicolegoldst[at]nutrition[dot]umass[dot]edu)
Book an appointment now!
Undergraduate Program Director
Claire Norton
Email: cpnorton [at] nutrition [dot] umass [dot] edu (cpnorton[at]nutrition[dot]umass[dot]edu)
Book an appointment now!
Peer Advising Center
The nutrition peer advisors hold drop-in office hours in their new location in 235 Arnold House.
Peer Advisor Fall 2025 Office Hours:
Mon: 11:30am-1:30pm
Tue: 10:15am-12:15pm
Wed: 11:15am-12:15pm, 1:15-2:15pm
Thu: 10:15am-12:15pm, 1:00-2:00pm
Fri: 11:15am-12:15pm
If you prefer to meet via Zoom, the peer advisors are available to talk with you that way, too. Simply email them at nutritionpeers [at] umass [dot] edu (nutritionpeers[at]umass[dot]edu) and tell them when you’d like to meet (it must be within their drop-in hours shown above). A peer advisor will email you back with a confirmation and Zoom link. You must have your full name attached to your Zoom account or you will not be let in from the waiting room.
For quick questions or if you aren’t available during their office times, please email the nutrition peer advisors at nutritionpeers [at] umass [dot] edu (nutritionpeers[at]umass[dot]edu).
Our peer advisors are experienced and trained juniors and seniors available to help their fellow nutrition majors with their college planning.
Nutrition peer advisors are here to talk with you about:
- Nutrition major course requirements
- Our three track options
- How to succeed in your classes
- Planning out your course schedule
- Understanding your ARR and other essential academic tools
- Finding resources on campus
- Campus activities, clubs, and other opportunities
- Creating your LinkedIn profile and joining our alumni network
- Study abroad
- What it’s like to be a nutrition major
Follow us on Instagram at @umassamherst_nutrition.
Meet Your 2025-26 Peer Advisors
Ezechukwu (Eze) Amaefule
Class of 2026
Track: Nutrition and Health Sciences
Career Goal: Physician Assistant
Additional Academic:
Dean’s list honors (Fall 2022 – Spring 2025 [4.0 GPA Spring 2023 – Spring 2025]), Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship (Fall 2023 – Spring 2025), John and Abigail Adams Scholarship (Fall 2022 – Spring 2025)
Campus Involvements:
TA for Microbiology 265 lab (Spring 2025 – Fall 2025), Peer-Led Team-Learning (PLTL) leader for Chemistry 262 (Fall 2025), The Boltwood Project member (Spring 2025 – Fall 2025)
Field Experiences:
Nightshift and Evening CNA at New England Pediatric Care, Billerica MA (August 2024 – Present); shadowed Victoria Bates PA-C (dermatology) at Northeast Dermatology Associates, Exeter/Portsmouth NH (January 2025); shadowed Ryan Neals PA-C (orthopedics) at Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston MA (August 2025)
Other Relevant Activities:
Volunteer for Lazarus House Ministries Family Shelter, Lawrence MA (June 2025 – Present)
Alexsia DeOliveira
Class of 2026
Track: Nutrition and Society
Career Goal: Nurse Practitioner
Additional Academic:
Culture, Health, and Science certificate; Dean’s list
Campus Involvements:
UMass Nutrition Association (UMNA) member; performance nutrition intern; UMass Dining
Field Experiences:
UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program Intern, Lawrence office (summer 2025)
Maija Foley
Class of 2027
Track: Nutrition and Society
Career Goal: Nursing
Additional Academic:
Commonwealth Honors College; double majoring in public health
Campus Involvements:
UMass CHAARG; Winter study abroad session in Cyprus; Performance Nutrition Intern
Yardana Katz
Class of 2027
Track: Nutrition and Society
Career Goal: Public Health Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Additional Academic:
Double majoring in public health
Campus Involvements:
Degel member (UMass Hillel club); Public health club member; Experiential learning intern; Performance Nutrition intern
Amber LaComfora
Class of 2026
Track: Dietetics
Career Goal: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Additional Academic:
Dean’s list every semester
Campus Involvements:
Winter semester abroad in Italy; Student Nutritionist; Research Assistant with New Mom’s Wellness Study; Performance Nutrition Intern; former group fitness instructor at rec center; climbing instructor at Ascend Climbing Gym
Field Experiences:
Retail Dietetic Intern with Big Y (May-June 2025); Nutrition Assistant at Cooley Dickinson Hospital (September 2025 – present)
Lauren Martin
Class of 2026
Track: Dietetics
Career Goals: Pediatric Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Campus Involvements:
Winter study abroad in Cyprus; Performance Nutrition Intern
Field Experiences:
Dietary Aide (June 2025-present); volunteer at interfaith social services (summer 2024)
Inna Nikolayev
Class of 2027
Track: Dietetics
Career Goals: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Campus Involvements:
Performance Nutrition Internship; Nutrition 130 Grocery Store Tour Leader; UMass Nutrition Association (UMNA)
Melody Saxton
Class of 2026
Track: Nutrition and Society Track
Career Goal: Physician Assistant
Additional Academic:
EMT-B Certified; Dean’s list
Campus Involvements:
Performance Nutrition Internship; Course Registration Assistant for Summer 2025 New Student Orientation and Transitions
Field Experiences:
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)-B June 2025- Present; Pediatric Nutrition Counseling Internship Aug 2024-Nov 2024
Other Relevant Activities:
In EMT-A classes currently
Leah Sparda
Class of 2026
Track: Nutrition and Society
Career Goals: Registered Nurse (RN)
Additional Academic:
Psychology minor, Dean’s list
Campus Involvements:
UMass Nutrition Association (UMNA) Vice President
Field Experiences:
Patient Transport at Cooley Dickinson Hospital; food service; volunteer at Not Bread Alone
Allyson Unaitis
Class of 2026
Track: Dietetics
Career Goal: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN); interests in maternal nutrition, sports nutrition, & nutrition education
Additional Academic:
Dean’s List- 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Campus Involvements:
Summer Semester Study Abroad- Sorrento, Italy; UMass Nutrition Association (UMNA) E-Board Member; Student Nutritionist Program 2024-2025; Performance Nutrition Intern; Peer-Led Team-Learning (PLTL) Leader for Chem 112
Field Experiences:
Hospital Nutrition Assistant May 2023-May 2025; foodservice roles (busser, food prep, customer service) May 2021- current