JoDeen Brown (MS '27, EXSC) knows a thing or two about endurance. Whether completing full Ironman races after the age of forty or navigating a nontraditional path back to higher education, she has never shied away from a challenge. As a mother of six, she dove headfirst into her master’s program in exercise sciences and is making an impact with BYUMove!.
Working with Dr. Mandy Christensen, Brown played a pivotal role in the development of BYUMove!, a peer-led movement program guided by exercise science students to support students' mental health through structured physical activity. The initiative, currently in its pilot phase, has already shown positive results in reducing stress and improving overall well-being. The BYUMove! team is working on integrating the program as part of the first-year experience for incoming freshmen.
Working with student participants, Brown is actively engaged in tracking progress, and collaborating with faculty to refine BYUMove!. Her dedication has helped create a supportive community where students can improve both their physical and mental health and feel a sense of belonging through movement.
Brown’s interest in exercise science stems from her desire to improve the well-being of postmenopausal women through movement. While her involvement with BYUMove! has temporarily shifted her focus, she remains committed to this research area. After graduating, she is considering pursuing further studies to continue her research on postmenopausal women.
A Global Path to Education
Brown first started college as a self-supported, first-generation student but put her education on hold when she married and moved overseas with her husband, a West Point graduate serving in the military. For 20 years, they lived in Ukraine, Germany, Uzbekistan, and Macedonia, raising their six children while engaging in church and community service. Despite the challenges of frequent relocations, Brown remained committed to lifelong learning and always planned to return to school.
“My kids will tell you that I’ve said it a thousand times: ‘I'll be going to school with you guys,’” Brown shared. Four of her six kids have now graduated with bachelor’s or master’s degrees and the last two will graduate within the next couple of years.
Brown’s love for learning and her service-oriented mindset has helped her thrive at BYU and form meaningful connections with her peers. Her passion for exercise sciences and her commitment to mental and physical wellness will leave a lasting impact on future BYU students through BYUMove!.