She teaches nutrition and health science classes, including Food Science, Food Service Management and Essentials of Nutrition Science. She received a BS in Zoology and post grad work in Nutrition from the University of Massachusetts, completed her internship at Massachusetts General Hospital, and gained her MS in Management with a specialization in Healthcare Administration from New England College. Dena is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian. Her professional career includes providing medical nutrition therapy as a clinical dietitian to hospital and long term care patients / residents, and for children through the Early Childhood Intervention Program. She also enjoyed 5 years as the Director of Food and Nutrition Services for a county hospital district.