Brescia Alumnae Awards Recognize Accomplishments (Brescia University College)

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Brescia alumnae awards recognize accomplishments

London, ON – Brescia University College, home of the renowned Division of Food and Nutritional Sciences, recognized two accomplished alumnae in the field of dietetics at the Brescia University College Homecoming luncheon recently.

Dr. Stephanie Atkinson (’68) PhD was honoured as the Carmelle Murphy Alumnae Award of Distinction recipient and Jennifer Broxterman, (’09) RD, MSc (candidate) received the Sister Mary Lou McKenzie Young Alumnae Award of Merit, renamed this year in honour of Sister Mary Lou’s years of tireless service.

Established in 2001 in honour of Carmelle Murphy (’51), who dedicated years of service to Brescia, the Award of Distinction recognizes the accomplishments of Brescia graduates who have shown achievement in their chosen field, contributed to their community, and been outstanding role models.

Highlighting that level of achievement, Stephanie is Professor and Associate Chair (Research) in the Department of Pediatrics, and Associate Member in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University in Hamilton, and Special Professional Staff member at McMaster Children’s Hospital. Following her BA in Nutrition, Stephanie worked as a pediatric dietitian at the Hospital for Sick Children prior to completing a PhD in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto and a post-doctoral fellowship in pediatric endocrinology.

Over her career as a nutrition-clinician scientist, she has conducted extensive clinical research on the impact of nutrition and disease on growth, bone and body composition, and health outcomes in infants and children. In related work, Stephanie co-leads the Canadian Birth Cohort Research Network initiative through the Maternal, Infant, Child and Youth Research Network (MICYRN).

Stephanie has held professional leadership roles as a member of the inaugural Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and as President of the American Society of Nutrition. Her current professional service activities include the role of Chair of the Institute Advisory Board of the CIHR-Institute for Nutrition Metabolism and Diabetes; as member of the Board of Trustees of the International Life Sciences Institute for North America; the executive member of the Scientific Advisory Council of Osteoporosis Canada; as executive and nutrition lead of the CIHR-Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientists’ Program; and as a member of the Pediatric Expert Advisory Committee of Health Products and Food Branch of Health Canada. Among honours received are Fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2010), the McHenry Award from the Canadian Society for Nutritional Sciences (1998), the Earle W. Crampton Award from McGill University (1998), the Ryley-Jeff’s Memorial Award from the Dietitians of Canada (2006), the Danone Institute Distinguished Nutrition Leadership Award (2008), and the Avanelle Kirksey Lectureship Award at Purdue University in Indiana (2010).

Also in the spotlight at the Homecoming lunch was recipient of the Young Alumnae Award of Merit, Jennifer Broxterman. Established in 2008, this award recognizes alumnae who have demonstrated leadership, acted as role models, and enriched the lives of others within five to 12 years of graduation from Brescia.

As a Brescia alumna from the 2009 Foods & Nutrition class, Jennifer wasted no time putting her education and leadership skills to use by helping inform and engage the public in healthy eating practices. After successfully completing her dietetic internship in 2010 to become a Registered Dietitian, Jennifer returned to Brescia for graduate studies after winning one of the prestigious Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

Jennifer is a current thesis student in the Masters of Science Foods & Nutrition program, working with individuals with prediabetes to help improve their quality of life and prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes. Her commitment to research and health promotion has resulted in five abstract publications related to breast cancer and prediabetes research.

While still a full-time Masters student, Jennifer has concurrently launched her career as a young and empowered female entrepreneur. She is the owner and founder of NutritionRx, where Jennifer works as a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist providing professional nutrition counselling services to individuals from London, Ontario.

This past summer, Jennifer participated in the Summer Company program, and was awarded a special start-up grant for young entrepreneurs from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

She enjoys working with active individuals, and has provided nutrition counselling for a number of varsity, semi-professional, and Olympic-level athletes to help them achieve their health and performance goals. In the spirit of giving back, Jennifer continues to donate her time as the team dietitian for the UWO women’s varsity ice hockey team as well as at CrossFit London. She also writes pro bono nutrition articles on healthy eating for a local online fitness group called Runners Feed, as well as a Muslim-inspired magazine called London Link.

After completing her Masters degree, Jennifer aspires to teach nutrition classes at Brescia, while continuing to grow awareness for NutritionRx.

The Brescia community congratulates and embraces these two alumnae who have distinguished themselves by choosing to lead.

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For more information please contact Michele Feeser, Communications, Marketing & External Relations Officer, at 519.432.8353, ext. 28280 or mfeeser@uwo.ca.

Brescia University College, Canada’s premier women’s university college, is affiliated with The University of Western Ontario. The 1,100 women registered as either full or part-time students at Brescia study a wide variety of subjects in Arts, Social Sciences, and Foods & Nutrition in an empowering, compassionate, student-centred, and invigorating environment. Degrees are granted by Western. The Catholic College welcomes students from all backgrounds and values diversity. For more current and archived news, a listing of faculty experts, and photos please visit our Online Media Room at http://www.brescia.uwo.ca/media/index.html