Joy Khalil

• Field of study: Food Science and Technology
• Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon 
• Fun fact: I can solve the Rubik’s cube
• View Joy Khalil's LinkedIn profile

What were you doing prior to the MFS degree program? 

I was completing my undergraduate studies in Nutrition and Dietetics with a minor in Food Science and Management.

What are your short-term and long-term career goals? 

My short term goal is to work as a food and agribusiness consultant, leveraging my skills to help local and international clients through commercial, technical, and strategic advice.  My long term goal is to have my own business.

Why did you choose to pursue the CALS MFS degree?

The CALS MFS is offered by Cornell which is home to the most respected Food Science researchers and entrepreneurs worldwide. Students can closely work alongside highly distinguished professors to take on the most impactful projects. Since I’m a practical and result-driven person, I chose to pursue a professional masters in food science over a thesis. CALS MFS teaches a practical approach that strengthens the problem solving capacities we need in food science. Lastly, the community. The diversity of the student body, the location, and the signature ice cream, would all make CALS MFS the experience of a lifetime.

What are the strengths of the CALS MFS degree program? 

What I like best about the CALS MFS program is its flexibility. You get to choose the courses you’re interested in. Since I’m planning for a career in consulting, I picked half of my courses from food science and half from business and entrepreneurship.

Another strength would be the diversity of the student body. Interacting and engaging with people from different educational backgrounds, cultures, and age groups has broadly widened my experience in food science and life in general.