Committed to Community Wellness

A dedicated master’s student in Youth, Family, and Community Sciences (YFCS), Emma Hardy is no stranger to the Wolfpack community. After earning her bachelor’s degree in applied nutrition science from NC State in Spring 2023, she embarked on a journey as a health educator at the Poe Center for Health Education. Hardy’s passion for health and wellness and her love for education motivated her to expand her skills and knowledge, leading her to discover the YFCS program.

“The YFCS program allows me to build upon my existing knowledge and learn the best practices to support the youth, families, and communities I work with through Poe,” Hardy shared. “It is a holistic and well-rounded approach to the kind of education and outreach that I am working in and what I want to do in the future.”

One person who stands out in Emma’s journey is Shannon DuPree, the Director of Wellness. During Emma’s junior year of undergrad, DuPree hired her onto the wellness team. Since then, DuPree has been an incredible supervisor and a valuable supporter. She is the one who inspired Hardy to pursue a career in health and wellness outreach, demonstrating the importance of promoting a culture of wellness in every environment.

Hardy also extends her gratitude to Alexis Steptoe, another key figure in her wellness journey. “Shannon and Alexis are wellness rockstars and care so deeply about our campus. It has been such a joy to work with them for the past three years. I can’t say enough about how positively working at Wellness and Recreation has impacted me.”

In addition to her role at the Poe Center, Emma is also a yoga instructor at the Wellness and Recreation Center on campus, a position she has held for two years. It was her passion for teaching yoga that helped her realize that she had a passion for teaching and education at all levels.

Hardy is also wrapping up her role as a graduate assistant for the Wellness and Recreation Center, specializing in implementing wellness initiatives for the College of Engineering. Her dedication to wellness and education extends beyond the classroom, as she is in the process of being certified to instruct Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), a training she highly recommends to everyone.

During her time at NC State, Hardy has formed valuable relationships with faculty and staff who have significantly influenced her career. She has also made lifelong friends and connections, which she deeply values. She states “I will continue to foster the amazing relationships that I have in my life because I could not have gotten where I am today without them. Health and happiness are of the utmost importance!”

As Hardy anticipates completing the YFCS program next spring, she plans to continue her work at the Poe Center, expanding her teaching into all program areas. She describes the Poe Center as the best possible workplace, especially during her first-year post-undergrad, and praises her remarkable support system and coworkers. As she prepares to become a double NC State graduate, she looks forward to using her passion for community wellness and education to inspire others.