Biosketch
Each year, a member of the graduating class is selected to convey a message of inspiration and encouragement, share common experiences and insights, and inspire fellow graduates. This year, the graduating student who is selected to receive this honor and represent the doctoral and master’s graduates is Yasie Nejad.
Yasie Nejad is completing her Master of Public Health in Dietetics at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she also earned her bachelor's degree in biology in 2020. Before beginning her graduate studies, she gained clinical experience at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she developed a strong interest in the intersection of nutrition and medicine.
She serves as a Graduate Research Assistant for Project EATT, a 12-week community-based pilot study supporting low-income adults in the Merrimack Valley. In this role, she has led recruitment and community outreach efforts across Greater Lowell and Lawrence. She also helped develop a mobile app to deliver nutrition education to participants. Her work is grounded in addressing food insecurity, expanding access to medically tailored meals, and advocating for more equitable care.
Yasie’s work centers on advancing the role of nutrition within healthcare through Food is Medicine initiatives. Her experience spans community and clinical settings, including her work at Community Servings, where she led the redevelopment of a nutrition curriculum now taught to medical students and residents, as well as her volunteer work with The Open Door. She has also developed her own Food is Medicine café model. Across these experiences, she has worked to make nutrition a more accessible and integral part of patient care.
Yasie is the recipient of the 2026 Chancellor’s Medal for Community Service, recognizing her leadership and impact within the community. She was also named the 2026 Massachusetts Dietetic Student of the Year. After graduation, she plans to pursue medical school and work toward a career as both a physician and dietitian.