Alumni Spotlight: Mary Ellen Kelly

Mary Ellen Kelly (Sargent, 2004) was a member of Sargent College’s first undergraduate dietetics class.

Beyond her obvious skill as a dietitian, she has credentials and accomplishments to spare. To name only a few, there’s her current position as the Director of Nutrition at the Boston Red Sox; her work with the New York Liberty; her time at the Miami Dolphins; her years as the Head Sports Dietitian at the University of North Carolina; and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

She is undeniably a leading figure in the field of sports nutrition, and even directs her own team of dieticians at Fuel Forward, her private practice and nutrition consultancy.

Though her career has taken her all around the United States, to a variety of teams and organizations, Mary Ellen has always maintained a strong connection with Sargent College and BU. For a time, she even returned to teach, working alongside her former professors, who have remained some of her biggest cheerleaders – and have become friends. She says, “I look at my career and know that my foundation started at BU. I had so many strong connections with our faculty, and I’ve maintained that.”

Mary Ellen received a BS in Dietetics from Sargent College, as one of a small group of students in the first cohort of that program. About her experience, she says:

“The faculty maintains the same level of attention to the students as the program builds. I was in that first undergraduate class – there were nine of us and we were very well supported. They knew us so well. I think that having that level of support around me as a student allowed me to know I wasn’t going to fall through the cracks.”

Like many Sargent students, Mary Ellen was a student athlete (on BU’s women’s track and field team) but always had her sights set on sports and performance nutrition, at a time when the field barely existed at all.

“I was an undergrad at the time where there were very few people doing this work. When I went to college, there were four people working in collegiate sports nutrition. Four. As the industry has grown,  I’ve been following a similar timeline. As more and more opportunities have come about, I have found myself being able to take advantage of the growth of the industry.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Mary Ellen grew up in an active, sports-and food-oriented household. As a dedicated sports fan, her father encouraged his children to embrace athletics, and her mother taught them the importance of good, nutritious meals. Her family’s love of sports and their love of good food, combined with her interest in the sciences and healthcare, set Mary Ellen on a path to a truly impressive career.

However, that impressive career is only one part of her life. Like her parents, Mary Ellen centers her family, and strives to integrate work and family life.

“The balance of supporting a professional sports team in New York was exciting and challenging.  I received a call from the Boston Red Sox asking if I’d be interested in my current role. The schedule is daunting, but I have been able to build a scenario with our leadership that works to serve the team, and also to create enough balance to make it all work.”

Maybe it’s because she began her career in a clinical setting, or because of her background as an athlete, but interpersonal connection is important to Mary Ellen. That focus has served her well. During our interview, she stressed that Sargent students should keep connection in mind as they pursue their own careers.

“We come out of BU and Sargent College with an incredible foundation. We also have the ability to tap into a huge network of other graduates, and specifically the nutrition department graduates. I encourage people not to lose sight of that.”

We are honored to have Mary Ellen among our esteemed alumni, and can’t wait to see what she does next. If you are interested in her consultancy, make sure to visit Fuel Forward online.

And if you are interested in her current work, well, there are lots of opportunities to catch a Sox game.