Julie Spahn

Alumni Office, Nutritional Sciences

Analytical skills gained in FACS help Spahn approach complex problems from multiple angles

Major/year graduated

BSFCS, Nutritional Sciences, 2020; M.S. Foods and Nutrition, 2021

Current occupation/location

Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, Senior Specialist at Nestlé USA Washington, D.C.

What do you love about your current role?

I love that my role is consumer facing. Every product that I work on ends up in the hands of a consumer – which in reality could be a family member, friend, coworker … the list goes on! It reframes the way you work when you’re consumer obsessed! I thrive in environments that push me to think critically and creatively, so a career in Regulatory and Scientific Affairs has proven to be the perfect job for me. Each day brings a new set of challenging and interesting problems to solve!

How did your time at FACS help prepare you for your life or career?:

My academic foundation in Nutritional Sciences equipped me with the analytical skills to approach complex problems from multiple angles — thinking both forward and backward through processes with precision. My thesis research in Foods and Nutrition provided me with strong scientific writing skills and the ability to communicate technical topics to non-technical audiences. Perhaps most notably were all the professors, advisors, and folks who make FACS family that cheered me on and pushed me to try new things as a student. The success I have achieved in my professional career is a product of the confidence that was instilled in me as a FACS student. Being believed in is a powerful thing!

What advice would you give current students who aspire to a similar career?

Look for summer internships across the food industry. Utilize the UGA Career Center to polish your resume and perfect your interview skills. Start finding ways to differentiate yourself and add value to your skill set in ways that will complement roles that pique your interest. A great way to do this is to look at current job listings and read through the roles and responsibilities. What resonates with you? What excites you? What is one thing, with the help of your FACS community, that you could work toward today? Don’t be afraid to reach out and network with alumni and professionals in a career that interests you. Sometimes all you need is a connection that leads to an open door!

How do you stay connected to UGA or the FACS community?

I’m very passionate about helping current FACS students develop themselves and prepare for careers in the food industry. Whether it be hosting an informational interview or returning to a class to chat about my job, I love to be the reason why creativity and inspiration is sparked in a student who doesn’t know that a job like this exists.