Alexa DerBoghosian is a nutrition: health and wellness major with a dual major in ecogastronomy and a minor in culinary and food studies from Reading, Massachusetts. Along with excelling academically, Alexa is an accomplished figure skater.
“I have been figure skating for most of my life, and now I am part of the UNH Synchronized Skating team and the combined collegiate synchronized skating team, Team Excel Collegiate,” she says. “Being able to continue a sport that I have been doing for years is very important to me, and I can't wait to see where it takes me in the future.”
COLSA: Why did you choose UNH?
Alexa DerBoghosian: I chose UNH because I knew when looking at colleges I wanted someplace close to home but far enough away to give me a sense of independence and the feeling of community. UNH stood out because it offered many different programs to help expand my nutrition knowledge like the ecogastronomy dual major option and the UNH-in-Italy study abroad program in Ascoli Piceno.
COLSA: What is your major and what do you love about it?
Alexa: My major is nutrition: health and wellness with a dual major in ecogastronomy. Something I love about the health and wellness option is how the focus of health and wellness is a broad spectrum of classes at UNH with health and wellness being the umbrella theme. With ecogastronomy, I love how it complements the nutrition major so well, allowing me to apply what is learned in my nutrition-based classes to my ecogastronomy classes and vice versa. It truly has added another level to my education experience here at UNH.
COLSA: What's the best academic experience you've had at UNH?
Alexa: One of the best academic experiences I have had while at UNH was when I was participating in the UNH-in-Italy semester abroad program and took a class called Critical Analysis in Food Studies. We learned about seeing different aspects of food from different lenses and having intricate group conversations. Something that resonated with me in this class was everyone had something to learn and share.
COLSA: What's the best experience you've had at UNH outside the classroom/lab?
Alexa: The best experience I have had outside of the classroom was holding a leadership position as the Panhellenic vice president. Being in this position has taught me leadership, compassion and how to be a role model for others. This position has pushed me to be a better version of myself, and I am so grateful for that opportunity.
COLSA: How is UNH preparing you to achieve your goals?
Alexa: UNH is preparing me to achieve my goals by providing me with resources and opportunities to excel as an undergraduate. Clubs, leadership opportunities and organizations have all helped broaden my horizons. UNH has supported me through not just my academics but also with opportunities with the nutrition program, such as speaking to prospective students who are interested in the major.
COLSA: What should prospective students know about UNH?
Alexa: Prospective students should know that UNH offers so much academic support. One of my favorites is the Writing Center. Whenever I needed that one extra proofread or someone to check my resume, the people who work there know what they're doing and are there to help you succeed in classes and in life. The help I have received from the Writing Center has given me tips and tricks for whenever I am writing essays for classes, sending in a cover letter for a job or cleaning up my resume.
