University of Delaware alumna Karin Ueda, a competitive dancer in New York City, grappled with an unhealthy relationship with food and a poor body image. That experience inspired her to obtain her bachelor’s in nutrition and medical sciences.

Nutrition fuels nursing

Article by Amy Cherry Photos courtesy of Karin Ueda February 24, 2025

Nutrition shaped alumna’s journey—as a dancer, as a UD student, and now as a nurse

University of Delaware alumna Karin Ueda began dancing at 3 years old. During her 15-year career, she spent six years competing and dancing professionally in New York City.

She remembers a coach pinching the back of her thigh and saying, “This is one layer of laziness.”

Those words still haunt her.

Ueda equated gaining weight to being lazy and needing to exercise longer and harder. When she wasn’t in the dance studio or gym, Ueda was in the sauna, trying to burn fat. She survived on a strict diet of steamed broccoli and miso soup.

“I was caught up in an unhealthy culture of disordered eating. I had a very poor relationship with food and my body,” she said. “I did what I needed to do to be thin, to fit into costumes, to dance the lead roles and move up in the company's ranks.”

The relentless pressure to maintain a perfect physique took a mental toll and eventually began to manifest physically, pushing Ueda’s body to its breaking point. At 17, during a performance, Ueda broke her metatarsal in her foot. She didn’t have an understudy and was forced to dance on it with pain-freezing medication.

“I jumped and could hear my bones fracturing,” she said.

It was a breaking point — literally and figuratively. After that, she hung up her leotard for good.

“It was hard to let it go,” she said. “My parents had big aspirations to raise a ballerina, so disappointing them was tough.”

For the first time, Ueda prioritized her health. Her experiences inspired her to study nutrition and medical sciences at UD’s College of Health Sciences.

“I want to help people through disordered eating and promote body positivity and positive relationships with food,” Ueda said.

Karin Ueda graduated from UD in 2023 with a bachelor’s in nutrition and medical sciences. She went on to get an accelerated degree in nursing to combine her passions so she could administer holistic care to patients.

Why UD

The first-generation college student from New York City chose UD because she dreamed of a suburban college campus outside the hustle and bustle of NYC.

“I toured UD and instantly fell in love. It was so different from my home environment with tall skyscrapers,” she said.

Her nutrition courses taught her essential therapeutic techniques.

“Nutrition and medical sciences allowed me to build a solid knowledge base,” she said. “Anatomy and physiology are so important to patient care.”

She also pursued a secondary passion through a minor in disability studies, inspired by her personal experience with an individualized education plan (IEP).

“I want to better advocate for patients with physical and emotional differences,” she said. “The world has a lot of work to do around accessibility.”

At UD, she also found food freedom.

“I let myself eat whatever I want — quite literally,” she said. “I pay more attention to when I’m hungry versus eating for boredom or convenience. I listen to my body and don’t punish myself. If I want a sweet treat, I’m going to have it.

From nutrition to nursing

While at UD, Ueda contemplated medical school and wanted to return to the city. After graduating from UD in 2023, she enrolled in an accelerated nursing program at New York University (NYU).

“When I was injured, nurses had the greatest impact on my care and wellbeing," she said.

In 2024, she graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in nursing and plans to pursue an advanced nursing degree.

“I aspire to be an advocate for youth because of how desperate I was for someone to advocate for me when I struggled with my eating disorder as a teenager,” she said. “I am also interested in nutrition research and want to change health policy, improve patient care, and address concerns within the nursing field.”

She’s also realized how vital her nutrition degree is in healthcare.

“Nutritional knowledge is a huge part of developing an accurate and beneficial nursing plan,” she said. “I use the processes I learned at UD each time I admit a patient.”

While at UD, Ueda found a mentor in Alisha Rovner, associate professor of health behavior and nutrition sciences.

“Dr. Rovner inspired me to look beyond the classroom and live out my previous experiences to turn them into something positive for future colleagues and patients,” she said. “I want to be that kind of mentor for my future patients.”

Rovner is proud to see Ueda pursuing her dreams and touted the versatility of UD’s nutrition and medical sciences (NMS) degree.

“The NMS degree helps prepare students for various potential fields. Many go into health-related fields, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, and other allied health fields,” Rovner said. “Seeing Karin take the challenges she had with her eating disorder and turn it into something positive is admirable. I know that she will be a phenomenal nurse, and her life experiences and background in nutrition will be of great benefit.”

At UD, Ueda also made lifelong friendships and connections.

“The world has so many kind and wonderful people, and it wasn’t until I came to UD that I experienced that,” she said. “UD has an incredible network of alums striving to make this a better place using their expertise and knowledge.”

She encourages current Blue Hens to take chances.

“Say ‘yes’ to every opportunity. Saying yes to Greek life was a stretch for me, but I met many wonderful people; saying yes to my minor in disabilities helped me connect with experts whose knowledge I will carry with me moving forward,” she said.

She adds that a simple “hello” can go a long way.

“Say ‘hi’ to the person next to you,” she said. “A fellow UD classmate who was a health behavior science major ended up attending NYU nursing school with me. You never know who your future colleagues may be.”

While she didn’t dance at UD, Ueda reconnected with her love for dance after returning to New York. Now a cheer coach, she enjoys teaching kids and bringing positive energy to the art form that once consumed her.

“Dancing teaches respect, discipline, passion and the importance of working hard for what you believe in,” she said. “These are some of the most important life lessons I’ve learned in my career.”