Rate My Professor Mary Spiers

Mary Spiers serves as Senior Professional Practice Fellow in the Department of Human Nutrition within the Sciences Division at the University of Otago. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics, both from the University of Otago. As a registered dietitian and registered nutritionist, Spiers began her career in clinical dietetics before progressing to private practice and public health nutrition roles. She joined the University of Otago in 2012, initially teaching in the Master of Dietetics programme and currently contributing to the Master of Applied Science in Advanced Nutrition Practice programme. Her teaching approach emphasizes experiential learning and practical, class-based activities for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Spiers is involved in key papers such as HUNT443 Practice in Public Health Nutrition, serving as Senior Professional Practice Fellow, and provides support for HUNT344 Food and Nutrition in Practice.

Spiers has a keen interest in public health nutrition, focusing on strategies that support individuals in adopting healthy dietary intakes. She engages students through cooking classes and has collaborated with the nutrition@otago Food Team to establish the Garden to Table strategy, working alongside Toitū te Taiao (Sustainability at Otago) and the Pacific Centre. This initiative cultivates vegetables and herbs in campus gardens and a tunnel house, supplying produce for the weekly menu at the Taraka Kai food truck and incorporating it into student cooking classes. Spiers has contributed to outreach efforts including nutritional guidance during lockdowns for families, student food bags addressing common flat cooking challenges, and Nutrition Workouts of the Day for staff and postgraduate students. She serves as Education Representative for Dietitians New Zealand, with a specialty in public health nutrition and tertiary education. Her work was recognized as a winner in the Sciences Division biennial staff awards from 2022.