Online MPH Graduate’s Non-profit Provides Nutrition Resources to Mothers and Infants

After graduating with her degree, Alex Gardner launched a nonprofit to help mothers and babies live happier and healthier lives.

Passion and purpose can create powerful change. Alex Gardner, balancing the challenges of early motherhood with running her own business, has taken an extra step to give back to her community. Through her nonprofit, she is dedicated to helping mothers and babies lead healthier, happier lives, inspiring a ripple effect of positivity and support for those who need it most. She found her motivation as a student in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Vols Online program.

Alex obtained her Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Sciences with a concentration in dietetics from UT in 2020. After graduating, she and her husband moved to Colorado as part of his military service, during which she completed a year-long dietetic internship with a local organization.

After finishing her internship, Alex wanted to become more competitive within her industry by expanding her knowledge and exceeding her field’s requirements. She decided to earn her Master’s in Public Health (MPH) to gain a greater understanding of healthcare systems, theory and policy.

Earning her MPH amidst her busy schedule was hard enough, but Alex also knew that they might have to move again depending on her husband’s assignment. She had to find an MPH program that was accessible to her, regardless of her location. For that reason, she returned to her alma mater through Vols Online.

Alex took advantage of everything Vols Online had to offer. She had frequent meetings with professors and advisors, just as she would as an in-person student. She learned fundamental skills, including community health education, grant writing and program management. With the flexibility of Vols Online, she was able to keep her day job’s regular hours and do her coursework in the evenings. Even when she and her husband had to relocate twice during the program, she was still able to continue earning her master’s degree. 

“This program is just the same as if you were going to school in person, so you have to put just as much effort in. However, the support you receive is invaluable, and the friendships you make all over the country last beyond class.”

– Alex Gardner, MPH graduate

Alex graduated from the online Master’s in Public Health program in 2023, but she began applying what she was learning even before that. In 2021, she founded Alex Gardner Nutrition LLC, a for-profit practice that offers medical nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling, with a specialty in perinatal and pediatric nutrition. Alex also had a desire to give back to her community, so she founded the Alex Gardner’s Mother Baby Nutrition Foundation the following year. The foundation’s mission is to provide information and programming that covers practical, attainable, and holistic nutrition and care for mothers and infants, from before birth through the postpartum period. Currently, Alex and her team serve the East Tennessee area and plan to expand nationwide.

When we use our skills and experience to give back to our community, we open the door to greater growth all around us. Alex’s journey is a shining example of this principle in action, reminding us that true success is measured not just by personal achievements but also by the impact one has on others.