M.S. in Sport Health Science- Nutrition and Sport Science track student, RISE scholar

 

Ilona Kovaleva and her twin sister grew up in a small rural town in central Russia. After graduating from her high school equivalent, she attended Krasnoyarsk State Medical University and earned a B.S. in Dentistry. She found the medical approach she was being taught to be rather traditional and conservative, longing for a holistic approach to health care to contribute to.

Life University represented a new path for Kovaleva, opening up many different opportunities to express whole health. Initially, she explored possibly entering the Doctor of Chiropractic program or becoming a wellness coach, but eventually she found that the M.S. in Sport Health Science- Nutrition and Sport Science track best suited her professional goals.

“I decided to study nutrition just because it’s a way that we can influence our body – improve not only our health but our lifestyle, which is very important nowadays,” Kovaleva said.

Coming to the U.S. for the first time to study, naturally, Kovaleva experienced a level of uneasiness and struggled to adapt to the language and the culture around her initially, but ultimately, she found peace and equilibrium in this University that prides itself on its diversity and multicultural student body. She created a home among her peers, from others who know what it means to leave what is comfortable for a new horizon.

“I want to say that this education is giving me not only knowledge, but life lessons from Life U that can improve not only my career path and my future but also improve my life overall.”

In regard to her academics, Kovaleva has found it immensely interesting to see creative and evolving approaches to health care available and how they work. She appreciates that, in the U.S., there is open-mindedness and access to “additional ways for improving health,” such as Chiropractic and nutrition education. She is eager to learn more and find where her talents best fit.

Making the most of her educational opportunities, Kovaleva is currently working on a special research project titled “Inclusive Intermittent Fasting App with Wearable Integration,” funded through the RISE scholarship program that promotes student, faculty and staff research through Life U’s Complementary Healthcare Advanced Research and Leadership Institute (CHARLI).

“This project is meaningful to me because it’s helping me grow as a researcher and understand how digital health tools are created from idea to prototype. I’m learning how to design something useful, simple and clear for real people. For this phase of the project, I will be focusing on app design, prototype development and usability testing simulation. I’m incredibly grateful to RISE for supporting student-led innovation and for believing in this project’s potential impact,” Kovaleva said in a recent public Instagram post, eager to share her good news with friends and family.

After graduation, Kovaleva plans to seek further education in dietetics, most likely to become a dietitian or follow a similar career path. We wish her well on her continuing journey.