Miami University's Director of Athletics David Sayler has announced the addition of Alison Cooney as a Sports Dietitian. 
 
Cooney comes to Miami after serving as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at Grand Valley State University for the past two years. While with the Lakers, she counseled 25 students a week on a variety of nutritional needs, while also educating individuals with disordered eating habits on intuitive eating practices, and supported Laker athletics since May of 2021. 
 
"I'm very excited to be here and working with RedHawk student-athletes," said Cooney. "My nutrition philosophy focuses on fueling for peak performance and educating students on healthy behaviors that will assist them throughout their athletic career and beyond. I'm ready to grow the nutrition program at Miami and help bring home RedHawk championships!" 
 
Cooney has completed several internships over the past years in the dietitian field. She has worked with Spectrum Health (2019, 2020) as an intern and was with MSU Extension as a Dietetic Intern in 2020. In 2019 she spent time at Sparta Area Schools/Comstock Park Public School as well.
 
"A year ago, we were able to launch a collaborated program with our dining services, which help improve the nutritional education, counseling and refueling impact for our student-athletes," said James Carsey, Miami's Assistant Athletic Director for Human Performance. "We are excited to be able to continue this partnership with Aramark with the hiring of Alison Cooney. Her educated perspective for both sides of this collaboration is instrumental for the continual growth of our nutrition programming. She has wasted no time in getting new ideas up and running. Her speedy buy-in to our vision has been awesome and we are happy to have her as part of our team."
 
Cooney also served as a volunteer at the Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan from 2017-2022. She provided cooking support to clients with Down Syndrome and was responsible for grocery shopping and meal preparation for her clients.
 
"We are very excited to have Alison join our Aramark team," said Jonathan Hunt, Miami's Senior Executive Chef. "Her valuable insight and enthusiasm will be key to helping Dining Services elevate our program to support our student-athletes. I am very confident in Alison's ability to work with our athletes. She will continue to push them to be better every day. We are excited for this new beginning here at Miami University and thrilled that Alison is with us from the start."
 
Cooney completed her undergraduate degree in allied health sciences from GVSU in 2019 and wrapped up her master's degree in clinical dietetics a year later.