Academic X’cellence: Sharing stories from our inspiring StFX community
It should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with StFX that our campus is filled with highly engaged students, educators, researchers, and leaders. Academic X’cellence shines a spotlight on members of our educational community to find out more about their unique experiences—both inside and outside of the classroom. (To see the full series, please click HERE.)
Here we meet Laura Reid, Dietetic Educator in the Department of Human Nutrition and the coordinator of StFX’s Integrated Dietetic Internship Program. In December 2024, Ms. Reid was recognized for her many contributions in helping educate future dietitians and nutrition professionals as the recipient of StFX’s Outstanding Staff Teaching Award. Nominators spoke of Ms. Reid’s unfailing support of students and her professionalism. Ms. Reid’s role begins when students enter year one as she ensures students take the required courses and fulfill necessary volunteer and practical requirements. She also prepares students who wish to pursue graduate internship programs. In recent years, StFX students have achieved close to 100 per cent success rate in obtaining an internship or graduate program of choice. The success rate in the professional standards component of the national entry to practice exam is also notably high. Additionally, in 2023, she created a new lab to support the Chronic Disease course to provide more learning opportunities to strengthen students’ nutrition counselling skills.
Laura Reid: Preparing students for professional careers in dietetics
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a Dietetic Educator in the Department of Human Nutrition, and I have been on StFX faculty for almost 14 years. I am the coordinator of the Integrated Dietetic Internship (IDI) Program at StFX, and I teach dietetics-focused courses such as professional practice; nutrition in chronic disease prevention and management; as well as the nutrition communications lab and the nutrition counselling lab. I am also responsible for the IDI Program practicum courses. My main role is to train future dietitians and nutrition professionals. As coordinator of the IDI Program, I collaborate with program preceptors who train our interns, prepare dietetic interns for entering placements, and supervise interns while in placement. The program is made up of three 14-week practicums in the areas of community nutrition, food service management, and clinical nutrition. Eleven new interns have been accepted into the program this year, in addition to our current nine interns who entered the program in 2024.
Could you talk about what drives you in your teaching?
I am so fortunate in my role to have a direct line to dietitians working in practice who provide feedback that can be incorporated directly into courses for training our students and dietetic interns to better prepare them for practice.
What impact do you hope your teaching will have?
I hope my teaching will help students find an area of nutrition they are passionate about and prepare them for their future chosen profession.
Could you talk about innovations in the classroom or program?
In 2023, I created a new lab to support the HNU 355 Chronic Disease course to provide more learning opportunities to strengthen nutrition counselling skills for our students. Thanks to a generous donor, we have a new nutrition counselling simulation lab in our department! The same donation was also used to purchase a food demonstration booth, which is used by students in the HNU 225 Professional Practice course to apply nutrition education, food literacy and knowledge translation skills.
Are there awards, accomplishments or involvements to mention?
In December 2024, I received the Outstanding Staff Teaching Award from StFX. I am truly honoured that my colleagues and past graduates/interns nominated me for this award.
What drew you to teaching at the post-secondary level?
Before coming to work at StFX, I was a clinical dietitian working in diabetes education providing group and individual nutrition education sessions for adults. I completed my masters in adult education early in my career to enhance my teaching skills for dietetic practice. I was also very involved in preceptoring dietetic interns, which I enjoyed as I feel students help to keep us current in practice. Both experiences influenced my decision to apply to work at StFX as the internship coordinator and teaching role, now known as the dietetic educator role. My experiences from clinical practice are always showing up as stories and examples to support course material in my classes!
What excites you about teaching at StFX?
Our program’s small class sizes allow me to get to know the students. And I work with a wonderful group of people in the Department of Human Nutrition who prioritize students and their learning needs. Our Integrated Dietetic Internship Program has amazing preceptors who support our dietetic interns and our program. Collaboration is key to our success!
What’s something surprising about yourself?
I had never been to Antigonish before I arrived on campus for my job interview! I am still here almost 14 years later.
