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the professional • February 2014 3 Student serves as Dubai royal family dietitian Every day, Rohma Masud portions, measures and creates flavorful and nutritional food for the royal family of the United Arab Emirates of Abu Dhabi. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the international graduate student works as a food production dietitian. Along with the head chef, Masud devises daily healthy menus for the Sheikha and her family of four children ages 5 to 8. "I decide what Sheikha needs to eat during different situations, such as before and after exercising," she says. "I am constantly in the kitchen checking the portions and calorie content of the meals." Masud even travels with the royal family to ensure they are getting nutritious, healthy and palate-pleasing food. In addition to working full time, Masud is taking classes online through CMU's Global Campus to pursue her master of science in nutrition and dietetics degree. Because of the time difference, she gets up at 2:45 a.m. for her class from 3 to 5 a.m. Dubai time, which translates as 7 to 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Despite the time difference, Masud says her CMU classes have helped her grow as a professional. She hopes to meet her classmates she has shared many of her experiences with during a trip to Michigan in 2014. "I'm learning new concepts in the nutrition field and getting to know my online classmates and professors," she says. CMU nutrition and dietetics faculty member Jack Logomarsino has worked and connected with Masud via online class chat sessions. "Students like Rohma who live in Dubai would probably never get the chance to earn their M.S. degree if it were not for the flexibility of the M.S. in nutrition and dietetics program," he says. "Our online M.S. in nutrition and dietetics program makes it possible to complete their degree while maintaining busy schedules and commitments." Najat Yehia, a Human Environmental Studies faculty member, says it's rewarding to see CMU students making an impact to enhance nutritional lifestyles worldwide and here in Mount Pleasant. Given the epidemic of obesity and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, nutrition education plays a key role in improving the health of the community," Yehia says. Masud says having the opportunity to educate the royal family on the importance of healthy living is a "royal" delight. Melissa Beauchamp, '13 Rohma Masud Congratulating education graduates at December commencement