Jennifer Kipe, MS (’24) never imagined a job recommendation would lead to pursuing a doctorate in education. But while working towards a master’s degree in Family and Consumer Science (FCS), Jennifer discovered a passion for nutrition and began her journey at Logan University.
“We discussed nutrition in a few of my FCS classes, and after graduation, I wanted to learn more,” Jennifer said. “I needed an online program because I was teaching high school, and my research led me to Logan’s Master of Science in Nutrition and Human Performance (MSNHP) program—I immediately fell in love.”
The flexibility of the online program, along with its emphasis on research and whole-body health, impressed Jennifer.
“Nutrition is not just about food and guidelines, but how our body works as one,” she said. “Research is constantly being published as science evolves, and Logan did a great job at preparing us to find and interpret that research.”
After graduating from the MSNHP program in 2024, Jennifer wanted to combine her passions for teaching and nutrition. She learned about Logan’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Health Professions Education program and reached out to program director Laura Rauscher, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, CTMH, CCATP, for guidance.
“I want to teach at a university level and know the edge a doctorate would give me when applying for jobs,” Jennifer said. “I trust Logan and its high-quality instruction, so I felt like it was a good fit—and Dr. Rauscher confirmed that.”
Now over a year into the program, Jennifer is in her first trimester under the Ed.D. program’s new seven-week course format. The shift from the previous 15-week format provides a faster path to program completion while offering a more structured and focused schedule.
“The pace is definitely quicker, but I really like it,” she said. “You have to be ready to read and write a lot, but just like everything else in life, it’s worth it to make the time and commit to getting it done.”
She adds that learning comes not only from the coursework, but also from her classmates.
“My classmates are from a wide variety of professions—nurses, doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, and some are even international students,” Jennifer said. “Seeing their perspectives has been really helpful and interesting.”
As she looks ahead to graduation—which is now coming sooner than expected thanks to the seven-week format—Jennifer is excited to apply her advanced knowledge of nutrition and teaching.
As graduation approaches—sooner than expected thanks to the accelerated seven-week format—Jennifer is excited to put her advanced knowledge of nutrition and teaching into practice.