Dr. Janet Whatley Blum earned a Sc.D. in nutritional sciences from Boston University, an M.S. in clinical exercise physiology from Northeastern University and a B.S. in health and physical education from the University of Maine. She started her career as a clinical exercise physiologist at hospitals in the Boston area followed by research and academic positions at the University of Nebraska, Kearney, Westfield State University and the University of Southern Maine where she was chair of the Department of Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences and program director for the CAAHEP accredited exercise science degree program. Dr. Blum’s scholarly activity has focused on the prevention and treatment of obesity in adults and children. She has conducted large, randomized clinical trials, as well as more community and public health-based research. Dr. Blum is past-president of the New England Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine. Most recently, Dr. Blum was Professor and Chair for the Department of Exercise and Rehabilitation Science here at Merrimack College.
Sanjana Sheth M’25, an aspiring clinical mental health counselor, wrote an essay on the struggles modern college students face and how counselors can meet their needs head-on.
