Student Profile: Jaymee Wakumoto, '11

During her undergraduate education, Jaymee Wakumoto was seeking a career direction that would be engaging. Upon taking a few courses on food and nutrition, she found that she was captivated by the ways in which food can either help or harm the health of persons and communities. Even before she earned her bachelor’s degree in nutrition, she began looking for a graduate program that would give her the credentials to work in public health nutrition. She discovered that the LLU School of Public Health, Department of Nutrition offered exactly what she was seeking. It is one of the few schools that offer a coordinated program with an MPH and also has one of the best medical centers located on campus.

"The Department of Nutrition offers so many different learning opportunities and allows students not only to gain knowledge in the class room but also through practicums. As students you actually get to experience going to the medical center and doing hands-on learning.” Coming to California from Hawaii, Jaymee also found a welcoming environment at LLU. “I like that the student population is so diverse at LLU and everyone is very friendly. It makes adjusting to being away from home a lot easier."

After obtaining her MPH degree her goal is to become a registered dietician and promote nutrition in underserved communities. Working in a community health center to serve the public by focusing on preventative services is her ultimate aim. She would also like the experience of working in a hospital clinic. With the practical experience she is gaining through the classes and field work available from the Nutrition Department, she feels she will be prepared for either opportunity.