Jordyn Dearth ’26 came to Lindenwood University from Orlando, Fla., as a member of the University weightlifting team. While at Lindenwood, she found a path that connected her experience as a student-athlete with her studies in exercise science and nutrition.
Dearth earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in nutrition. While studying, Dearth applied what she was learning to her training with the weightlifting team. As a team captain, Dearth became a resource for her teammates, helping them think through their nutrition and competition preparation. During Dearth’s senior season, the team swept the national championships in women’s, men’s, and coed divisions.
In Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Patrick Harty’s nutrition for performance class, Dearth collected data on the weightlifting team and learned how to apply data-driven techniques to their routines. She recalls the feeling of connecting this class to future career pathways. “Taking his class was kind of the needle that pointed me into that direction, because I took his sports performance nutrition class and that was something I can see myself doing,” Dearth said.
This year, Dearth participated in the Lindenwood Showcase, where she presented a research project about nutrition guidelines and their effect on public health. Dearth chose the topic because she had little prior knowledge and wanted to learn more. Describing the research as fun, Dearth had only a couple weeks to prepare the project which coincided with the weightlifting national championships. The project expanded how Dearth thought about her future in nutrition, realizing the impact nutritionists have on people in need.
Dearth will continue her studies at the University of North Florida, where she will begin a graduate program in dietetics this fall. The program will require clinical rotations in areas such as community nutrition, food service, and clinical nutrition as Dearth works toward becoming a registered dietitian.
The time spent at Lindenwood helped Dearth develop confidence going into the master’s program. “Throughout my Lindenwood experience, I realized I have the ability to do things that I wanted to do. I have the ability to be a leader. I have the ability to do well in my classes while doing all of these extracurricular activities,” Dearth said. “I feel like my Lindenwood experience has told me I’m very capable of the things that I want to put my mind to.”