NACUFS INTERN - Christy Speiser
The Food Management Internship (FMI)I is sponsored by the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) and offered in cooperation with the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I). In existence for more than 46 years, the program allows student interns to work in a campus foodservice department for eight weeks each summer. The University of North Dakota values this program and this year is proud to bring to campus Christy Speiser.
Q & A with Christy...
Tell us about yourself.
I will be starting my senior year at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio; I am a dietetic major. My hometown is Napoleon, Ohio. I began in food service when I was a sophomore in high school. A local restaurant was opening and there was an ad in the paper for workers. The reason I applied was actually because of a bet between me and my dad. He bet me ten dollars that I wouldn’t apply, so I took his money and applied for the salad prep position. I was hired and my dad increased the money because I got the job. I have always loved to cook, so that was a really great job for me. I kept moving up the chain and by the time I was a junior in high school, I was cooking. My freshman year of college, I was hired at the dining hall in the rec center. I have been at this hall since and will continue until I graduate. I became a student manager when I was a sophomore. The summer after my freshman year, I was hired at my hometown hospital kitchen. I started out running trays and quickly moved up to cook. I am trained on every position in the kitchen except one. The next summer, I was hired at the culinary center at Miami University under the dietitian. I continued to work there through the first semester of my junior year, while still working in the dining hall.
How did you develop your interest in Dietetics?
I love to cook and work with food. I had considered becoming a chef, but after working in a restaurant, I felt that was not the best option for me. I had taken a nutrition class in high school via post secondary and it was really interesting to me. I started to research dietetics and decided to major in it. I have really enjoyed my classes and the experiences I am getting while at school. The field is so broad and opens a lot of doors to many different kinds of work.
What interested you in University of North Dakota Dining Services?
On the NACUFS website, host schools post a description of their program for future interns to check out. I was really impressed with UND's program outline. The description was a structured program with the flexibility to allow the intern to follow their personal interests if desired. The description also specifies that the intern must be self motivated and self directed. These are two characteristics that I demonstrate, so I thought UND would be a great fit for me. It is also home to a USDA lab and me being a dietetic major, I thought that would be a great experience that I may never have a chance to do again.
What would you like to do once you graduate?
I would like to continue my education by going for my Masters. Some programs allow students to complete the internship (needed to become registered) and Masters program at the same time. It is something I will be considering.
What is your favorite and least favorite food?
Does chocolate count as a food? I am not a picky eater, so it is difficult for me to pick a favorite and least favorite. If I have to choose a favorite, I would pick shrimp. My least favorite would be squash.
What is your favorite recipe?
I really love honey mustard chicken. I also love this entrée we used to make at the restaurant I worked at in high school. It was BBQ chicken topped with bacon and white and yellow shredded cheese.
Tell us a little about the NACUFS intern program.
I was introduced to this program by one of my professors last year. I also knew several dietetic students who completed the internship. It is basically an internship focused around college and university food service. There are approximately 27 host schools for interns to choose from. The first step is to apply for the internship. Then, a phone interview is conducted and the interviewer asks if he/she has three preferences as to where they would like to go and why. A committee meets and makes the decision as to who is accepted and where they will be placed. Here at UND, the program is very organized, but is flexible enough to allow the intern to pursue their interests. The intern is given the information as to what experiences are required to be completed. The intern is responsible for setting up appointments and completing these experiences. There are also several projects to be completed. Several of these projects require the intern to communicate and work closely with individuals within the dining department. This internship provides the opportunity to meet many new people and experience things they may never have done otherwise.
