Jepson School alumna teaches healthy living

August 19, 2015
Victoria Lyon, '13, dedicates career to promoting wellness through social change

Anyone who has taken a fitness class has probably heard the phrases “dig deep” and “give it all you’ve got.” These words of encouragement, given in moments of sweaty exhaustion, are intended to inspire hard work and drive change. As a motivator of health and social change, Victoria Lyon, ’13, applies these phrases not only to her fitness but also to her career.

Lyon, who recently accepted the position of program director at Camp Zeke, a start-up company that hosts a Jewish overnight camp focused on healthy living, has made promoting healthy living through social change her calling.

“Many people don’t understand that eating healthy foods can be enjoyable and exercise can be fun,” Lyon explained. “I love when a student discovers his or her personal formula for health.”

Lyon discovered her own formula for a healthy lifestyle during her freshman year at the University of Richmond when she began taking fitness classes at the Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness. Her passion for healthy living shaped her college experience as she stepped into the role of fitness class instructor and conducted honors research for her concentration in leadership through health promotion at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies. Lyon’s research led her to examine the specific cultural, economic, and geographic factors that prohibit populations from attaining healthy lifestyles and contribute to the obesity rate in the United States.

“Through writing my honors thesis, I realized that I don’t believe anyone should have to compromise their health for their job, and it has led me to find positions where I am able to promote healthy living for others, as well as take care of myself,” reflected Lyon.

Prior to joining Camp Zeke, Lyon served as a Healthcorps coordinator. She designed educational programming to increase awareness and improve perception of nutrition, fitness, and mental resilience for youth populations. Though she was often working with limited resources, Lyon constantly revisited each aspect of the program to assess her efficacy and searched for fresh, creative ideas. To catalyze change, Lyon relied on her ability to communicate concisely and effectively, analyze power dynamics, and negotiate change.

Lyon remembered an example of one such change: “I had to learn the protocol for school nutrition services in my school district and identify the people who were most invested in my specific school site in order to improve some of the school food offerings. I was able to connect with the appropriate people, and we worked together to introduce a yogurt parfait to the school breakfast menu. This small change enabled students to consume more protein at breakfast to ensure they are full and energized for their morning classes.”

Over the course of weeks and months, Lyon measured the success of these small changes in creating holistic shifts in her students understanding of healthy lifestyles.

“After teaching my lesson on sugar-sweetened beverages, I had many students share their knowledge with their parents and significantly cut their soda consumption. I even had a senior who lost twenty pounds this year by cutting out soda and adding more vegetables and exercise to his daily routine. He ended up doing his high school graduation project on health tips for his peers and made a brochure for the guidance counselors to use,” Lyon said. “I know I’ve done my job when my students are teaching each other how to make healthy choices.”

In August, Lyon will begin coursework to earn a Master’s Degree in Public Health and Urban Design.