10/09/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/09/2025 11:27
Published October 09, 2025
When Jessie Moore began exploring nutrition back in 2015, it was driven by a mother's instinct to make the best food choices for her young child. Nearly a decade later, that curiosity has evolved into a meaningful career centered on community, health, and compassion. A graduate of Bastyr University's online Master of Science in Integrative Nutrition program, Jessie now serves as Market Specialist at Transformation Church in North Carolina, home to a free, referral-based grocery store that provides families with access to nutritious food. Blending her background in healthcare with Bastyr's whole-person approach, Jessie's work exemplifies how integrative nutrition can transform lives -not just individuals but entire communities.
What was your path to your degree at Bastyr?
My interest in nutrition began in 2015, when I was making food choices for my one-year-old child. Though I initially found Bastyr's Integrative Nutrition program, it was only offered on campus, so I first completed a bachelor's in healthcare management. In 2022, I searched for holistic nutrition master's programs, and when Bastyr appeared with a new online option, I enrolled. Having worked in clinical healthcare for 10 years as a physical therapist assistant, I knew that I wanted a non-clinical route. I was drawn to Bastyr's whole-person approach, which incorporated lifestyle, environment, and culture alongside nutrition. My background as a Physical Therapy Assistant, where I saw patients' health decline at retirement, fueled my passion for preventive health and longevity, validating my interest in Bastyr's focus on nutrition, sleep, and exercise.
What is your current job, and how did you get there?
I am the Market Specialist at Transformation Church outside Charlotte, NC, a free, referral-based grocery store that began during the pandemic. The market has evolved from curbside pickup to in-person shopping, where families now use a point system to choose their food.
I got the job after completing an internship with the church's outreach, where I participated in the Hunger Project, which involved assembling 150,000 ready-to-eat meals for local pantry partners and helping transition the Market to the new in-person shopping model. Then I was offered a full-time position in the final week of the internship.
In my new role, I'm excited to apply my education by introducing healthier food options, such as expanding the whole grains offered and introducing shelf-stable plant-based proteins. I also select a variety of fresh produce, create recipe cards and manage food rescue (like day-old bagels), which connects to topics discussed in the MSIN program, such as food rescue and the environment.
What are your job tasks and their impact?
The market operates twice a month. My tasks include prepping, administrative work, purchasing high-quality food (not dented or expired), and directing volunteers during market weeks. The most rewarding part of the job is hearing stories from the grateful families, which are very humbling.
What are your reflections on your education?
What was the most unique part of your Bastyr's education?
The most unique part was the focus on the cultural piece in nutrition. This education, which I use in my current role, helps me interact with people in ways that make them feel safe and accepted, such as ensuring market information is available in both English and Spanish for Hispanic families and incorporating more culturally appropriate foods or varieties. Coming from a small town in Southern Illinois, we didn't have much cultural diversity, so I was grateful for the education. I've taken that with me and I'm using it now in my current role.
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