Root’s passion for sports nutrition leads to fellowship with Nashville Soccer Club
Kim Chaudoin |
For Clara Root, a passion for sports nutrition began long before graduate school — in fact, before high school.
“I knew I wanted to pursue dietetics back in middle school,” said Root. “Once I started my running journey, I quickly realized how much what I ate could impact how I performed. From there, my interest in nutrition turned into a real passion for sports nutrition, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Now, Root is turning that lifelong passion into a profession as she celebrates her graduation from Lipscomb University with a Master of Science in Dietetics Internship degree and prepares to step into a new role with Nashville Soccer Club as a performance dietitian fellow.
Originally from Waxhaw, North Carolina, Root earned her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Western Carolina University, where she also competed as a Division I track and field athlete. Her experiences as a student-athlete helped solidify her career aspirations and shaped the type of graduate program she wanted to pursue.
“I’ve always known I wanted to work in sports nutrition, and Lipscomb’s MSDI program immediately stood out because of its sport-specific concentration,” she said. “It felt like the perfect fit for my goals.”
That fit proved to be foundational as Root immersed herself in Lipscomb’s graduate dietetics program, which combines academic coursework with a dietetic internship designed to provide students with practical, hands-on training.
“My Lipscomb experience has been great,” said Root. “The combined master’s program and dietetic internship was a new concept to me at first, but it was done so well that I honestly wouldn’t have wanted to do it any other way.”
Nashville SC won its first-ever major trophy by defeating Austin FC 2-1 in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final on Oct. 1, 2025. Root got to hold the trophy while an intern.
Among the most impactful parts of her experience was the mentorship she received from faculty, particularly Assistant Professor Ann Toy.
“Learning from her as both a leader in sports nutrition and an incredible professor gave me valuable knowledge in sports nutrition, counseling, and motivational interviewing,” said Root. “I truly believe Lipscomb University provided the perfect balance of strong academics while also connecting me with amazing preceptors and rotation sites that were a great fit for my goals and interests.”
One of those rotation sites led to a pivotal professional opportunity. During the fall, Root completed an internship with Nashville Soccer Club, working alongside the club’s performance dietitian, Bre Cecil, to support both first-team and academy athletes.
Her responsibilities included assessing players’ nutrition needs, developing match-day fueling plans, implementing recovery strategies, monitoring hydration, overseeing supplement protocols, interpreting body composition data and collaborating with the team chef to align menus with training demands. She also provided individualized counseling and meal plans for academy players.
The experience opened the door for her next chapter.
“After graduation, I was given the amazing opportunity to return as a performance dietitian fellow with Nashville SC,” she said. “In this role, I’ll continue building on the work I did during my internship while stepping into a more independent role.”
She said the opportunity will allow her to work more closely with the club’s performance staff to support athletes holistically and optimize both health and performance.
Root credits Lipscomb with equipping her for that next step.
“Lipscomb has prepared me for what’s next by giving me both the knowledge and hands-on experience to feel confident stepping into my career,” she said. “Most importantly, Lipscomb helped me grow professionally and personally, and I feel ready to take the next step as I begin my career in sports nutrition.”
Her time at Lipscomb also strengthened her faith and gave her greater clarity about her purpose.
“My faith has grown during my time at Lipscomb University,” Root said. “In the past, I often found myself questioning if I was on the right path in life, but through prayer and reflection, I’ve felt a strong sense of peace and reassurance about where I am. I truly feel like I am right where I am meant to be, following the path God has planned for me.”
As she reflects on her academic journey, Root points to the unwavering support of her family and mentors as instrumental to her success.
“My parents have been my biggest encouragers and supporters throughout my entire college journey,” she said. “When they saw I had a dream, they fully supported me in pursuing it and helped me every step of the way.”
“I’m incredibly grateful for everything my time at Lipscomb University has given me academically, professionally and personally,” reflected Root. “I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned and continue growing in the field of sports nutrition as I move into the next chapter.”
— Photos submitted by Clara Root.