By Megan Stacey
Paige Howlett was always a strong science student. She also loves connecting with people.
She found the perfect way to combine her passions - working with food.
The third-year nutrition and dietetics student is one of more than 400 students moving to the new Brescia School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, established May 1 under Western's Faculty of Health Sciences.
Howlett will start her final year at Western in the fall, with hopes to become a registered dietitian soon after.
"It's the best of social science and science. You have to apply physiology and chemistry with counselling people, using critical thinking skills to try to improve someone's quality of life," she said.
Plus, how often do you get to learn about new cuisines and share food with your classmates while at school? Howlett said the food labs she took were a highlight.
She's enthusiastic about the next chapter at Western.
"I am excited and optimistic for next year. I know we'll be in good hands," Howlett said.
She has already embraced her new campus community, taking on a leadership role as a "soph" in health sciences for fall orientation week.
Since she's already attended Western science classes as part of her program, Howlett feels she will have the "best of both worlds" next year, taking courses on main campus while continuing to utilize state-of-the-art food laboratories and a commercial kitchen at Brescia's former campus, now part of Western.
The Brescia School of Food and Nutritional Sciences will offer two programs: foods and nutrition for undergraduate and graduate students, plus family studies and human development at the undergraduate level.
"We're bursting with ideas. I feel very passionate and optimistic that there are a lot of good things on the horizon," said Danielle Battram, acting director of the new school.
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