Sam Pellis

Sam Pellis is a sophomore majoring in nutritional sciences in the behavioral nutrition and public health option. He is the social media chair and PR THON chair for the Student Nutrition Association (SNA) and aspires to use his background in nutrition to support diverse communities through a nutrition lens.

As the social media chair for the SNA, Sam manages the organization’s Instagram and TikTok accounts by promoting the organization’s various events, developing content for National Nutrition Month, and attracting new members to join. 

In addition to his responsibilities as the social media chair, he is also the organization’s PR THON chair. In this position, Sam manages the SNA’s SNA Benefitting THON Instagram account, where he helps inspire others to get involved and donate to support Penn State’s student-run THON and coordinates events and campaigns with other SNA members. 

These positions give Sam the opportunity to grow his social media and communications skillset while also allowing him to help build community within the SNA and make an impact to support those who benefit from THON fundraising.

“I wanted to take on the PR THON chair role because I’m passionate about supporting THON’s mission to help kids and families affected by pediatric cancer,” Sam said. “I knew this position would allow me to combine creativity, organization, and communication to make a real impact for the kids and their families who need it most.”

Driven by understanding how food and nutrition impact health and well-being, Sam enrolled in the nutritional sciences undergraduate program and is seeking to build a career that combines behavioral science and public health. 

He wants to build a career that enables him to create meaningful changes that translate into supporting diverse communities through a nutrition lens to reduce chronic disease and make nutritious options accessible and sustainable.

“Knowing I can play a role in reducing health disparities and improving people’s quality of life motivates me every day to continue to build a foundation in nutrition and gain experiences that will help prepare me for my future career,” Sam said.