Meet the Interns

Abby Montpas

Hi, my name is Abby Montpas, and I am from Waterford, Michigan. I completed my undergrad at Michigan State University with a major in dietetics and am now pursuing a master’s degree in nutrition science at ECU as a part of the MS-DI program. I am looking forward to gaining more knowledge and hands on experience in the field throughout the dietetic internship and will take these new skills with me into my future career, with hopes of becoming a women’s health or pediatric dietitian!

Savannah Deering

My name is Savannah Deering, and I am from Greenville, North Carolina. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition at ECU, and am now completing the MS-DI program. I have worked as a graduate assistant in ECU’s Nutrition Department, and have since moved to Morehead City, NC for work and for my dietetic internship. I am looking forward to learning more in my internship about different areas I can work, as well as different patient conditions.

Elle Stuart

Hi, my name is Elle Stuart, and I am from Charlotte, NC. I received my undergraduate BS degree in nutrition and dietetics from East Carolina University and am currently enrolled in the MS-DI program here at ECU. I’ve had the opportunity to work in a few different areas in nutrition, and I am looking forward to experiencing more with clinical as I start my rotations. I look forward to figuring out what I want to do post graduate school over the next few months!

Francesca Falvo

Hello! My name is Francesca Falvo and I’m from Hershey, PA. I completed my undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at East Carolina University and am currently enrolled in the Master of Science/ Dietetic Internship. After graduation, I plan to work in inpatient acute care, hopefully in pediatrics, however I have been loving rotating in in-patient rehab! I am looking forward to the wealth of knowledge I will get through interning with experienced nutrition professionals.

Sarah Elliott

Hi! My name is Sarah Elliott, and I am from Creedmoor, NC. I attended East Carolina University to receive my B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics, and I am currently enrolled in the MS-DI program at ECU. I am passionate about applying the science of nutrition to deliver person-centered care, and I look forward to the opportunities for growth that the internship will provide!

Sophie Holsing

Hello, my name is Sophie Holsing, and I am from Sioux Falls, SD. I graduated from ECU with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and I am currently enrolled in the MS-DI program and completed the MS portion last semester. I am looking forward to learning about all the different areas dietetics play a role in. I am excited to start converting the knowledge I have learned in the classroom to practical use and gaining the skills and confidence that I can take into practice.

Valerie Smith

Valerie Smith is from Seven Springs, North Carolina. She completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies at East Carolina University. Valerie is currently enrolled in the MS-DI program and looks forward to gaining hands-on experience during her internship. She is eager to develop the skills necessary to become a confident, well-rounded dietitian and is excited to work with diverse populations while exploring various areas of nutrition practice to shape her future career.

Samantha Stolins

Hello, my name is Samantha, and I was raised in Wilson, NC, for most of my life. I graduated from ECU with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, and I am currently continuing my education through ECU’s MS-DI program. I look forward to the variety of opportunities and nutritional pathways that the dietetic internship will provide. After graduation, I am excited to explore my options of possibly pursuing a dietetic career within inpatient care. I enjoy challenges and am always open to what the future has to offer me!

Raven Breinholt

Raven Breinholt is from Kinston, North Carolina. She completed both her Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at East Carolina University and is now currently enrolled in the ECU Dietetic Internship. Raven’s career interests lie in community nutrition and addressing rural health disparities. She is most looking forward to furthering her clinical knowledge and experience.

Mary Buckler

Hi! I am Mary Buckler and I am from Apex, NC. I completed my undergraduate degree in nutrition science in the DPD program at ECU and I am currently at ECU to complete my masters degree and dietetic internship in nutrition and dietetics. My career goals include becoming a well known registered dietitian focusing in either eating disorder recovery, maternal and infant nutrition, pediatric nutrition, or sports nutrition. I am open to experiencing different fields of nutrition to broaden my knowledge and interests.

Aniyah Jones

Hello, my name is Aniyah Jones. I am from Fayetteville, North Carolina. I completed my undergraduate degree at University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Human Nutrition and Dietetics. At East Carolina I am enrolled in the Master of Nutrition Science and Dietetic Internship. In the internship I look forward clinical experience and exploring possible career paths in dietetics.

Cory Kelley

Hi! My name is Cory Kelley, and I’m from Clayton, North Carolina. I earned my B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics here at East Carolina University, and I’m currently enrolled here for the MS-DI program. My biggest long-term goal is to eventually become a Board-Certified Specialist in Pediatric Critical Care and work in hospital where I can help sick kids, and I am greatly looking forward to my clinical rotation in the internship this spring!

Colleen Kelly

Hi, my name is Colleen Kelly! I’m from a small town in New York and made my way down south to East Carolina University for my undergraduate degree. I’m excited to now be continuing my journey at ECU as part of the MS-DI program. During this internship, I’m looking forward to exploring all the different rotations, discovering where I feel most at home in the field, and gaining new experiences along the way.

Haley Kiger

My name is Haley Kiger, and I am from Winston-Salem, NC. I completed my BS in human nutrition and dietetics at UNC Greensboro, and I am currently enrolled in the MS/DI program at ECU. During this program I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge in the field of nutrition as well as gaining new experiences that will allow me to broaden my perspectives. I am currently working as a Dietetic Technician, Registered w/ Nutritious Lifestyles, Inc. and plan to continue to grow in my position here following completion of this program.

Ruth Ceballos

My name is Ruth Ortiz Ceballos. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, but moved to
Jacksonville, FL to complete my undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of North Florida. After graduating, I moved to Charlotte, NC, where I began working as a Nutritionist for WIC during my first year of graduate school. I am completing the MS-DI and am excited to begin my internship this year. This experience will help me strengthen my skills and explore new areas of the field, which I hope to apply as I advance my career with a focus on pediatric nutrition.

Alexis Schroeder

Hi! My name is Alexis Schroeder, and I am from Greenville, NC. I completed my undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology with a minor in Psychology at East Carolina University, where I was also part of the ECU Honors College. I then earned my Master of Science in Nutrition at ECU and am currently pursuing graduate certificates in Marketing and Public Health. I am in the Dietetic Internship (DI Only) program and am passionate about sports nutrition and community wellness. I look forward to gaining diverse experiences in clinical, community, and foodservice
settings throughout the internship as I prepare for a career as a registered dietitian.

Rachel Tilley

Hello! My name is Rachel Tilley and I am from Hillsborough, North Carolina. I received my Bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University in Nutrition. I am currently enrolled in the MS-DI program at East Carolina University. As I start my internship, I am excited to learn the many different roles Registered Dietitians can fulfill as they enter the workforce. I think the internship will help me find a career that best fits me!