Lindsay Thompson didn’t plan on being the first. But as the inaugural student in the USF College of Public Health’s (COPH) community nutrition concentration, she’s found a new passion and a fresh start.
The online concentration aims to prepare students for professional positions helping individuals and groups develop healthy eating habits in order to promote wellness and prevent disease. The curriculum focuses on public health nutrition, diet to prevent disease, nutrition education and nutrition education program development.
Thompson, a second-year MPH student and Tampa native, earned her undergraduate degree in public health from the COPH in 2020. Like many of her peers, she joined the Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 response team shortly after graduation. By 2022, feeling the weight of burnout, she took a step back from her studies.
That’s when she stumbled upon something new.
“I happened to be browsing the MPH website and saw a listing for the community nutrition concentration. It wasn’t there one day, and then it just appeared,” Thompson said. “After reading the description, I met with Dr. Lauri Wright to learn more, and I realized this could be the right path for me.”
For Thompson, the field of nutrition was uncharted territory but an exciting one.
“Community nutrition stood out because of its variety,” she said. “Whether you're working with individual clients or developing nutrition interventions for communities, there are so many ways to make an impact.”
Health access has been a central theme in her public health journey.
“I’ve always been drawn to understanding different communities and cultures and helping them improve their nutrition while respecting cultural traditions,” she said. “That education piece is so important.”
Since switching concentrations, Thompson says she’s found her academic stride. She’s especially enjoyed working with Wright and Dr. Heewon Gray, who both teach in the program.
“In Dr. Gray’s nutrition education programs class, I got to design my own intervention. It was a great hands-on experience,” she said. “Both professors were also incredibly supportive when I was impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton. I always felt like I could go to them for help.”
Thompson suspected early on that she might be the only student enrolled in the new concentration—and she was right.
“It’s not something that happens every day, so it’s kind of cool,” she said. “Now there’s another student enrolled, and we’ve had a few classes together. Sometimes we’re the only two students in the room. It makes for a pretty unique experience.”
Looking ahead, Thompson hopes to return to the health department and combine her interests in community nutrition and maternal and child health.
“Food is such a central part of life and I want to help ensure everyone, no matter their circumstances, has access to proper nutrition,” she said.
Though her MPH journey has included detours and challenges, Thompson is proud of where it’s taken her.
“Being the first student in this concentration is a fun experience, and I’ll also be the first person in my immediate family to earn a master’s degree,” she said. “It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been worth it.”
Her advice to others?
“Go for it. The content is invaluable and you’ll gain insights that apply far beyond the classroom,” she said. “It’s helped me grow, both professionally and personally.”