A passion for nutrition and fitness became the foundation for Alex Hartmann’s journey at SUNY Potsdam.
When he arrived on campus his freshman year to pursue a degree in music education with a voice concentration, Hartmann '26 quickly realized the program was not the right fit. He was planning a quick departure from the College—until one conversation changed everything.
That turning point came in a WAYS 101 class taught by Tanya Hewitt, coordinator of SUNY Potsdam’s exercise science program.
“I was heavily considering transferring to another school, but while I was in Tanya Hewitt’s WAYS 101 class, we talked after class one day, and she helped guide me into Exercise Science. I cannot begin to explain how thankful I am for her,” he said.
Hartmann smiles with friends during SUNY Potsdam's Commencement ceremony on May 16, 2026.
WAYS 101 courses—exploratory critical thinking seminars for first-year students—examine a range of unique topics as part of the Potsdam Pathways Core Curriculum. In Hewitt’s course, students explored the relationship between personal technology and health.
“Outside of changing his major, he actually made some really good friends in that course,” Hewitt said. “They have been the closest of friends since first walking into my classroom. When thinking of them, I have often thought that this is one of the great benefits of our WAYS courses in general. They include students from all different majors, and the seminar format of the courses allows them to form connections that they would not normally have made.”
The Exercise Science program immediately resonated with Hartman, fueled in part by his own personal experiences. After struggling with obesity during his youth, he committed himself to improving his health during his senior year of high school.
“I learned first-hand the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. I was severely obese and wanted to make a change. From October to my graduation day, I lost 75 pounds, and it was the first time in years the scale read under 200,” Hartmann said.
Losing weight on his own was challenging, especially without guidance or support.
““This process was not easy, and the hardest obstacle was not having someone who understood what I was going through and could help keep me on track,” Hartmann said. “I wanted to be that person for others, trying to start that journey. Every step I’ve made in my time at Potsdam has brought me closer to that dream.”
Over the next four years, Hartmann built a strong foundation in fitness and nutrition through hands-on coursework ranging from human nutrition and nutrition for special populations to exercise physiology.
Human nutrition helped me better understand the impact nutrition has on the body. I learned more about food groups, micronutrients, and where they come from—topics I was familiar with before, but seeing them from a new perspective was very beneficial,” he said.
Study Abroad Experience
One of Hartmann’s most impactful experiences at SUNY Potsdam came through studying abroad in Australia. With support from the Lougheed Center for Applied Learning, he spent a semester at Bond University on Australia’s Gold Coast.
There, he enrolled in Exercise Testing, Prescription and Delivery—a course closely aligned with his studies back home.
“The insights I gained from an outside perspective were monumental in my professional development. My other two courses, although not required, were very intriguing and I enjoyed them immensely,” he said.
Hartmann also took a wine studies course, where students explored the history of wine before learning how to identify and classify different varieties through tastings.
Another standout experience was the Island Class, an immersive field course centered on North Stradbroke Island and its diverse ecosystem.
“The Island class was experiential learning at its best. We spent a long weekend on North Stradbroke Island, where we learned about the indigenous culture of the island and conducted field experiments, where I observed marine life in the seagrass,” he said.
Outside the classroom, Hartmann explored Sydney, attended a Brisbane Broncos rugby league match, and traveled across New Zealand’s South Island.
“I learned how to function in an environment where everything was unfamiliar. It showed me the person I want to be and how to make the most of every situation,” he said.
Returning to Potsdam
Back on campus for his senior year, Hartmann completed upper-level coursework in exercise science while also undertaking a capstone internship focused on nutrition and dietetics.
Working alongside Jennifer Pfotenhauer—an adjunct instructor in the department and employee in Student Health Services—Hartmann observed the impact of nutrition education on student wellness. In addition to shadowing appointments, he created nutrition resources for students and updated the nutrition webpage for SUNY Potsdam.
“Alex is a great example of a student who found himself at SUNY Potsdam,” Hewitt said. “He changed his major, explored the field through our curriculum, just completed his culminating internship experience and is looking forward to his next professional steps.”
Hartmann crossed the commencement stage in May with plans to continue his education by pursuing a master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics, with the goal of becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
“I have made amazing connections through this program, made lifelong friends, and found my passion. None of this would be possible without Tanya. She helped me find my way. The exercise science program here at Potsdam is wonderful and I am so grateful I found my way to it,” he said.
“The person who first stepped onto Potsdam’s campus is nothing like the person who walked across the stage on graduation day. This school and the people around me have shaped me into the person I am now—both personally and professionally—all the experiences I’ve had in the past four years have prepared me for what's to come.”
Article and photos by Jason Hunter