Courtney Jackson
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Master of Public Health in Nutrition, Certified Washington State Nutritionist
When did you know you wanted to study nutrition?
“I was intrigued with nutrition at a young age. As a child, I experienced complications with my health. My mother began to search for answers and found herself focusing on the importance of diet and chemical use in health and beauty products. Without her, I may not be where I am today. I soon began to notice that food especially made a noticeable impact on my mood. The older I got, the more passionate I became about healing the body with diet. One of the first nutrition books I ever read was Patient, Heal Thyself by Jordan Rubin.”
What was your favorite course during your nutrition studies and why?
“My favorite course was called Whole Foods Production. We learned how food is really processed. Looking back, what I thought I knew about the food industry before taking this course ended up being hardy anything compared to what I learned at the end. Specifically, I will never forget how shocked I was when I found out more about the corn and meat industry.”
What was one academic accomplishment you are proud of?
I was the second youngest to graduate within my whole universities’ class of 2015. I was pretty excited, I had worked hard through many summers and half of high school!
If you could expand your expertise on one topic, what would it be?
“Anything cancer and food related. I ever had the opportunity to study diet and oncology in a clinical trial, I would be first in line!”
Even nutritionists love junk food – what is your guilty pleasure?
“Easy, anything sweet. I don’t discriminate.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“In my free time, I love to do just about anything with my husband and fur baby. I am really passionate about hiking and being outside! This past summer I had the pleasure of competing in the Washington Trail Association’s annual Hike-a-Thon.”
What is the scariest thing you have ever done?
“I’m not an adrenaline junkie at all, so anything that involves adrenaline is on my ‘I’ll pass’ list.”
What is the coolest thing you are ever done?
“I traveled to Iceland once and hiked Reykjadalur Valley. At the end of the hike you discover a hot river! The mountains were snow-covered and my husband and I had the whole river to ourselves. It was freezing outside, but the water was nice and toasty.”
What motto do you live by?
“I don’t really have a moto, but I do believe that we only get one chance to live and have fun. I try my best not to say, ‘one day’, and make it happen when I can. I want to grow old and look back on the fun memories I made.”
