By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor What is your academic and professional background? My bachelor's is in food science. My master's in food microbiology, and my Ph.D. is in nutritional biochemistry and food biotechnology. More specifically, my Ph.D. was trying to study food products and understand how they can have health benefits. My professional background, after I graduated with my Ph.D., I worked at UMass Amherst. That's where I did my bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. I worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Rhode Island. I have been advising a few food companies and natural ingredient companies. I have been a professor here at Framingham State University since 2011. I teach the general education food science class, and two upper-level classes: Food Analysis and Food Microbiology. I'm also an adjunct professor at Harvard University in the nutrition department at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and my role there is to teach the graduate students of the nutrition department about food production processes and sustainable practices that can increase and improve food production. What brought you to FSU? FSU was a school that I was introduced to early in my life. I was born and raised in Greece, and in 1999, I came to America in order to see different schools and decide where I could go and study food science. And I went to three schools. I went to the University of Rhode Island, I went to Framingham State University, and then I went to UMass Amherst. And back then, I met the food science professor at Framingham State University, Dr. Bob Beck, and we had a very interesting discussion and I respected him. He was an excellent professor, but I was looking for something bigger, a bigger university, and that's why I went to UMass Amherst. … After I experienced for many years large institutions, and certain things that happen at large institutions, I made a conscious decision that I don't want to work in such institutions. … I want to be a professor in a smaller university like Framingham State University. The position was announced in order to replace Dr. Beck. And I didn't hesitate for a second because I knew where I was coming and I made a great choice, because it was exactly as I remembered it when I first met Dr. Beck in 1999. Why should students take a food science course? What are the two things we need for life? Food and oxygen. The food industry has worked so hard over the years to make food [accessible]. So for example, we never have to try very hard to get food. We can go to a supermarket and we easily get food products that we need. … Many times, we don't critically think when we make food choices, and the food choices affect our lives dramatically. All food products are meant to be consumed. And when I talk with my students, I never tell them, “Don't eat this food product.” “Don't eat that food product.” I just tell them, “What are the food products?” And then, as long as we make conscious choices and we know what we're eating, it's OK. The problem is when people don't know what they are eating, and unconsciously, they're harming themselves, because if you eat too much of a food product, you can cause adverse health effects to your body. So it is extremely important for any student to take a food and nutrition class. It could be my food science undergraduate course, our food science class at the 100 level. It could be the nutrition department’s general education class. But it's extremely important for all students to take at least one food science class so they can critically analyze the food products and the food choices that they make on a daily basis. … We choose many times within a day. We have food to eat, and it's good to know what we're eating. What are your hobbies? I play tennis. It's been a thing, actually, with another professor of our department, Dr. Steven Cok. We have played tennis every Wednesday since 2013. We haven't missed it unless, of course, we have a trip or we're injured, like we're sick. … And then with my son, I go skiing when it's winter. What advice would you give to students? The most important advice is to always do what you want to do. … Don't study something just because someone told you to study or someone pushed you to study. Believe in it and give your 100% on what you're studying. Don't be scared to make changes. Don't be scared if you are in one major and then you realize that “maybe this major is not good for me.” Don't be scared to make a change because what you study is going to be your future life. And think, an extra year maybe to finish a major that makes you more happy is worth it in the long term. … And the last advice is to use the faculty. We are here for the students. We are here in order to answer questions. We are here to guide you through processes, to advise you for professional development, and we want to do it so never hesitate to reach out to professors. Don't be scared. Just knock on the door or send an email and talk to us.