Nutrition Student of the Month - Jessica Danh - Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions

Where are you from?
I was born in Tampa, FL, and raised in a small city just north of it called Land O Lakes.
What do you like to do outside of school? What are you passionate about in life? - tell us about yourself!
What is outside? Just kidding! When I get a chance to take time for myself, I enjoy creating art digitally or via pen and ink mediums while listening to obnoxiously loud music. My fun fact is that I am technically an art school dropout considering I tried out one semester at SCAD before I realized it wasn’t for me. I am also fond of the outdoors and try to make my way to the hiking trails around Ellijay when the weather is not out to get me. But the REAL answer to this these days is spending time with my new mini me. I’ve recently become a mother this past year and it’s really change my whole world view and priorities. So, what am I passionate about in life? Making the world better for her.
Why did you choose to study nutrition? Was there a specific person, experience, or event that sparked your interest?
From 2014-2017, I was heavily into weight training and dived into body building to compete in Figure. During this time, my social media was nonstop and I grew a following for my fitness “journey.” I had many people asking me advice for their nutrition, but I was not comfortable giving it since I didn’t know the science behind any of it at the time. This sparked my interest in returning to school for nutrition. What really pushed me to return to school, however, was a big nudge from a friend who told me I couldn’t use my muscles forever – that I needed to use my brain. Since I had the means to return to academia, here I am!
What made you choose the Coordinated Program in Nutrition program at GSU?
Well, first, it was appealing that I would be able to obtain my MS in Health Sciences with a concentration in Nutrition, AND have the rotations planned out for me. Second, I had spoken to some alumni who raved about the program when I was scoping out whether I wanted to return to school. Plus, I’ve had the experience of a traditional campus for my undergrad, so it was cool to be in an urban setting.
What is your favorite thing about the Coordinated Program?
Is it cliché to say it was the friends I made along the way? Because, I still want to say it. I’ve met some incredible people through this program from fellow members of my cohort, to faculty, and some great educators/do-gooders in our community. Without these connections, I would not be as successful or happy with where I am today.
Did you have any assistantships while you were in the program that helped offset the cost of tuition? If so, tell us a bit about what you did for these assistantships.
Yes! If you’re looking to join the program, then you should certainly consider an assistantship. Prior entering the program, I had been working with the Anatomy and Physiology department, so I continued that assistantship for my first year in the program. Since rotations start to ramp up in your second year (for the two-year program), I knew I would need something more flexible. I was (and am) interested in research, and so I was able to obtain a Graduate Research Assistantship in Dr. Feresin’s lab as well as Graduate Teaching Assistantship for her micronutrients course.
Where do you see yourself after graduation? What type of career would you like to have?
Well, after I graduated from the Coordinated Program, I obtained my RD and LD alphabet soup and jumped straight into the PhD in Chemistry with concentration in Nutrition here at GSU. After I finally complete my studies, I would like to continue in research and teaching. I currently instruct one of the Principles of Nutrition sections and it’s always enjoyable to reach new minds who would otherwise never have been exposed to nutrition if it weren’t for a need of a science credit.
If you could give advice to someone considering studying nutrition, what would you tell them?
Studying nutrition is more than just learning how to make balanced meals, it is a wide field that covers so many topics – so go in with an open and inquisitive mind, and don’t balk at the science. That’s the coolest part!

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