This year, Loomis Chaffee has emphasized mental health and students’ well-being, enabled and led by Dean Matzkin–LC’s Director of Wellbeing–through the Wellness Center. One of the most influential advances has been the addition of Ms. Liz Hoiberg, the school’s new sports dietitian.
Ms. Hoiberg has played an integral role in the education of dietary needs throughout campus, as well as helping students make the proper meal and snack choices throughout the day, and during after-school activities. She helps educate the Loomis community on curating a balanced meal to best support the well-being of students for any given academic, athletic, and artistic success.
When asked to describe her role on campus, Ms. Hoiberg emphasizes that, “Regardless of which groups or teams a student is affiliated with, if your mind and body aren’t fueled, you ultimately cannot perform to the best of your ability.”
In a world that has grown accustomed to misinformation, having a trusted dietitian on the Island ensures Pelican’s direct access to a trusted expert. Coming to a boarding school with the perspective of a high school student, Ms. Hoiberg notes that these students are tasked with “navigating food choices on their own for the first time, and it can be confusing to know what their body needs.”
The presence of Loomis’s dietitian can not only help alleviate the stress of navigating this wide range of options but also prepare students to better manage their choices, because they are given a well-rounded understanding of their body’s dietary needs. Ms. Hoiberg provides the support for Loomis students to fuel themselves amidst food allergies, dietary restrictions, and high training demands.
As far as support goes, Ms. Hoiberg makes it a priority to be present in Olcott Gym between the end of the academic day and the start of after-school activities. She also aims to make herself accessible throughout the day on campus, and then hops between various after-school sports and activities. She explained, “[I am] always available for our students to pick my brain!
She also helped organize the Nutrition Advisory Board, a club dedicated to working alongside students to collaborate on nutrition initiatives. “[This club] is a platform we can use to target bigger nutrition ideas or concerns from the community.”
New to this position, Ms. Hoiberg is eager to implement new nutrition additions to our community. However, she emphasizes that her overarching goal is “to make sure that our students know that nutrition and wellness are for everyone.”
