Bauman College Grad Nicole Hodson is the Executive Director of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals

Nicole Hodson is a proud alumnus of Bauman College’s Nutrition Consultant Program. Today, Nicole serves as the Executive Director of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP), A Community for Holistic & Functional Practitioners.

Join Nicole as she shares her story of how she went from being good at a job she hated to becoming passionate with a career she loves.

Searching for Nutrition School

At the age of 33, after a difficult divorce and with a six-year-old son, I reunited with my first love, the boy next door. When we married, we were both in poor health. We were overweight and wrought with stress, and my husband was told he was a prime candidate for a heart attack at the young age of 38. We changed our diet and lifestyle, turning to a more holistic approach and incorporating whole foods, yoga, and meditation into each day. After only two months, my husband’s doctor was thrilled with his results and told him to keep doing what he was doing.

I had been working as a Director of Provider Relations in the managed “healthcare” industry for nearly fifteen (miserable) years. I negotiated multi-million dollar contracts on behalf of major health plans, and while I was good at it, I hated my job.

After hearing what my husband’s doctor had said, I realized I had found my passion. I wanted to teach others to do what we had done! That was the day I started searching for nutrition school, and it was the day I found Bauman College.

A Balanced, Whole-Food Approach

The Bauman College program really resonated with me because it was a balanced, whole-food approach. I looked at other programs, but they seemed very heavily slanted in specific directions, such as vegetarian, vegan, etc.

I wanted a program that would teach me about ALL foods so I could help as many types of clients as possible. I was working full-time when I started, so I also needed a program that would allow me to learn from a distance but still meet specific milestones. I enjoyed every learning minute!

Bauman College Set the Bar for Holistic Nutrition Education Programs

Bauman College set the bar for holistic nutrition education programs. Period. You can confidently move forward knowing you will get an exceptional education that will allow you to help others achieve optimal health and thrive.

I was very lucky to have met Dr. Bauman when I began working at the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP) in 2007. At the time, Dr. Bauman was a member of the NANP Board of Directors, and as the then Director of Credentialing, I attended Board meetings. I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Bauman not only through my work at the NANP but I also contributed to some of his projects, including a book he was writing.

It was Dr. Bauman who saw the potential in me to become the Executive Director of the NANP and who believed I was the best match for the position. Not only did I learn my nutrition skills from Bauman College, but the school and its leader also helped me get to where I am today. I will be eternally grateful.

My Job at NANP is a Dream

Currently, I am the Executive Director of the NANP and have been with the organization since 2007. My job at NANP is a dream for so many reasons. I believe in my role, I’m able to help infinitely more people reach their health objectives because we provide a community for holistic nutrition professionals to thrive. If they thrive, then THEY can be a productive part of the healthcare delivery system – it’s a numbers game!

My role at the NANP has allowed me to meet and work with the most dynamic and influential practitioners of our time. I sometimes can’t believe that I am able to regularly and cordially communicate with some of the biggest names in the world of holistic health and wellness. I’m in a unique position to view the industry from a 10,000-foot perspective to see where the trends are headed and to ensure that we stay on the cutting edge of scientific and holistic approaches while maintaining the highest standards possible. I’m blessed each day to follow my passion.

If you’re reading my story, you already know where your heart is. You already know that you are passionate about sharing the benefits of a whole-food dietary approach with others. You probably already understand more than the average person how holistic nutrition can benefit everyone. If you’re thinking about going to Bauman College, GO FOR IT!!

Learn more about Nicole and the National Association of Nutrition Professionals by visiting nanp.org.