Melanie Regan

Melanie Regan is a transfer nutrition and dietetics graduate student from Elk Grove Village, IL

Hometown: Elk Grove Village, IL

Year: Expected graduation: 2026

Transfer from: Harper Community College

Why did you choose to attend NIU?
It was close to home and financially the best decision.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
I went through a lot of different phases growing up. I knew I wanted to work with people in some way. At first, I thought I wanted to be a physical therapist, but after a few years of taking culinary classes in high school, I decided on the nutrition route. My passion for food has taken me down the path of nutrition and toward being a registered dietitian.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I’m in the dietetics internship program and pursuing an M.S. in nutrition and dietetics. I chose this course of study because I fell in love with the science of food and how it affects us.

Have you conducted your own research through Research Rookies, Honors capstones or theses or any other faculty-guided research opportunity?
Yes

Tell us about the research you are doing and why it interests you.
My graduate thesis research is centered around student perceptions of their program and student retention. My research interests me because I have a passion for program design and education. Learning more about what keeps students engaged with their learning will help me in my future career as a dietitian.

How has conducting research strengthened your education and experience at NIU?
Conducting research has strengthen my work ethic and taught me valuable lessons such as how to construct a survey, how to distribute a survey safely and how to structure a professional timeline. My research here at NIU has connected me to other faculty and students, which has allowed me to build and strengthen professional relationships here at NIU.

How will your research experience help you in the future?
My research has provided me with many skills that I will take with me once I graduate. My ability to problem-solve and lead will be a valuable asset when I move forward in my career. I also learned how to think on my feet and change plans when new information and obstacles appear.

Who at NIU has been important to your success doing research and why?
My thesis advisor, Dr. Melani Duffrin, has been vital in not only my research development, but also my professional development. I met Dr. Duffrin when I transferred to NIU back in 2019 and have had her as a mentor ever since. She has taught me how to approach challenging tasks and how to find the lesson in every situation I am in. I am eternally grateful for all the tools she has provided me.

What advice would you give to an incoming student as it relates to research at NIU?
My advice to any incoming student who is interested in research is to trust the process; even the smallest things can provide the greatest outcomes. I would also tell any NIU student that you get back what you put in, meaning if you get involved at NIU or participate in class and go the extra mile, you are more likely to gain valuable experiences back.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
The staff and students have been incredibly helpful and understanding from my very first day at NIU. Everyone here understands that we all have our own lives with our own problems and commitments. I feel that all my professors and peers have been very understanding and flexible with me and the others in my program.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I know the friendships I have made at NIU will benefit me for the rest of my life. The students I have met and formed friendships with have allowed me to connect with people over shared passions and interests that enlighten me in a different way than my personal relationships. I feel that these relationships make me a smarter and better person.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I mentor nutrition undergrads and other nutrition graduate students. I mainly help other graduate students with their own thesis research. I help undergraduate students navigate their coursework and help them contemplate their role beyond school, whether that’s graduate school or the workforce. Being a mentor has given me experience in guiding and teaching others, which will help me in my future as a registered dietitian.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
Career Services has helped me tremendously over the years by providing guidance on my resume and cover letter and other professional help. Another department that has been vital to my success is the Disability Resource Center. I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was in the first grade and have had accommodations ever since. NIU’s disability services were a big help for me when I was transferring and navigating my own accommodations. Fortunately, once I hit grad school I no longer needed my accommodations due to the change in class structure, but the disability services was a huge stress relief for me when I was transferring.

Are there transfer-specific resources, offices or services that you use to help you succeed at NIU?
No transfer-specific resources that I am aware of. All the resources that have helped me are resources available to all students.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
One of my favorite professors I have had during my time at NIU is Dr. Julie Patterson. I have had the privilege of having Dr. Patterson a couple times for undergraduate courses, such as NUTR 409/410, as well as for the graduate course NUTR 636. The reason she is my favorite teacher is because during the pandemic she did her very best to create a collaborative environment in an online setting. Dr. Patterson approaches each class like a conversation, which is one of my favorite ways to structure a class. Dr. Patterson has also been a very good guide and resource for any questions and concerns.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
I believe so. Attending classes regularly not only provided me with more academic skills and made my classes easier and less overwhelming, but also provided me with a sense of community due to the conversations I had with my peers before, during and after the class. It was in these moments that I gained some crucial friendships with my peers and made the overloading coursework less daunting.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
This year especially, I have been spending a lot of time in the dietetic intern room in Wirtz Hall. I have been drawn to it because it is close to my classes. The dietetic intern room provides me with a quiet place to do schoolwork that doesn’t have the stimulation and the noise that the library or student center has. I also appreciate that the only people who have access to the dietetic intern room are other dietetic interns, so it can be used as a collaborative environment to check in with my peers.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
There are good and bad aspects to every program. The most important thing to look at when exploring colleges are the faculty in the program you will be entering. What do they research? What courses do they teach? Are there any publications that you can look into? It is also important to find the perfect fit for yourself cost-wise and location-wise. You can gain a good experience from any college as long as you put in the effort, but it is important to make sure the college you go to is the best for you personally as well as academically.

Why is a college education important to you?
I come from a family of teachers who all have their master’s degrees. Growing up in a family that is so involved in the education system has provided me with such high values regarding education. When I was a little girl it wasn’t if I was going to get a master’s degree, it was what was I going to get a master’s degree in. I do not believe that college is for everyone, but I do believe there are life lessons that a college education provides that shape our way of thinking. I personally have always loved learning and loved the experiences that are provided by higher education.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
Having time for everything I need/want to do is no easy task, especially in grad school. I believe myself to have very good time management skills and keep a very structured schedule. Luckily, I work for NIU and my job is primarily a remote research position that I am able to work on anytime from anywhere. Because of this, I carve out chunks of time for schoolwork and my job. I believe it is very important to have personal boundaries with my academic schedules, so I will usually refrain from working after 4 p.m., and if I have to work on the weekends I will only work for four or five hours for the entire weekend. Another strategy I use to balance everything is that I am constantly working ahead with my schoolwork, which allows to avoid last minute stress.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
At this point in my graduate program, I feel I am pretty in the loop with events and services regarding my nutrition program just through emails I get from organizations I am a part of. As far as events outside of my nutrition program, I will usually skim through the weekly scroll or any other announcement emails that come my way.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
My number one way to relax and recharge is definitely reading books. I do other self-care, such as face masks, bath bombs and cleaning; however, reading is really how I unplug and recharge at the end of the day and on weekends. Reading gives me a way to expand my imagination. Sometimes the books I read are just silly books that are a good brain break, others are ones that make me think and reflect, but no matter what I am reading it helps me block out any outside stress. When I read, I do not have any other stimulation going and I am not looking at a screen, which gives me a good reset from the day.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
My current job is a research position in the economics department. I primarily do survey work and writing for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). It has been interesting working for a department that is not within the College of Health and Human Sciences. I feel that it has been giving me a lot of research experience and teaching me how to work with other people who are not in my nutrition program. My hobbies, besides reading, include working out in the morning and cooking. I find that working out and cooking are some forms of meditation for me because they allow me to focus on a task and alleviate stress. My favorite quick dinner to cook is salmon-and-rice bowls and my favorite indulgent dinner is homemade dumplings. My favorite workout is a good two-mile run.