Staff Spotlight, Jenna Schuder

Tell us about yourself!

Hi! I’m Jenna Schuder and I am a dietitian at The Emily Program’s St. Louis Park location in Minnesota. I am the program RD for the adult intensive outpatient program (IOP), I see clients in outpatient (OP), and I recently became Clinical Manager. I was first a dietetic intern through the University of MN-TEP internship and have now been employed at TEP for five years.

Describe the path that led you to The Emily Program. 

The path leading me to The Emily Program has been an adventurous one! My undergraduate degree is in social work and housing studies. After college, I joined AmeriCorps for two years before deciding to go back to school for nutrition and public health. I pursued an undergraduate degree in nutrition and a graduate degree in public health. It was during my dietetic internship that my passion for eating disorders was sparked. I’ve always been drawn to relationship building and helping professions, so when I did a rotation at TEP it felt like I had finally found the career that encompassed all my passions.

What motivates you to show up for work each day?  

I am consistently inspired by the resiliency of my clients. I enjoy celebrating their victories and find purpose in supporting them during challenges, too. Additionally, I am encouraged by the support of my co-workers and could not do my job without them.

What one thing do you wish everyone knew about eating disorders? 

I wish everyone knew that you cannot tell if a person is struggling with an eating disorder just by looking at them. Additionally, making comments on other people’s appearance is not helpful. I wish more people complimented personality traits over physical appearance.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?   

I am guilty of getting a COVID puppy! Nellie is a Mini Aussiedoodle. She is smart and high-energy and has kept me entertained and on my toes during the pandemic. I’ve been spending a lot of time training her with the ultimate goal of getting her to be a certified therapy dog.