Jill Melaas, CLA 2007
Ready, Set, ACTION! A Theater-Based Obesity Prevention Program for Children
Major
Child Psychology
Mentor
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer : Epidemiology
Brief Bio
I enjoy running, basketball, and volleyball. I also enjoy waterskiing.
Future Plans
I am volunteering for a non-profit organization in Oakland, California. Then I plan to go to graduate school.
Why Research?
I think it is a really important thing that needs to be done. We need to understand the lives of children so we can help them in the future.
What Did I Get from Research?
I got a really great experience working with other professors, and graduate students. It opened my eyes to everything from the proposal to finishing the research. It will help me succeed in graduate school.
How Did I Start?
I personally contacted professors in another department. I got to volunteer with one of them, and she eventually became my faculty mentor.
Advice for Another Student
Do it and get as much experience as you can. Find a project you are really interested in because you will get a lot more out of it.
Project Description
My research project was part of a bigger project called “Ready, Set, Action”. It is an obesity prevention program for 4 -6 grade kids. We went to schools talking to kids on how to live a healthy lifestyle. We then helped put on a theater production. Specifically, my job was to help cut down children’s television use. I worked with the parents to set up rules and boundaries as to how much television the children watched.