Rutherford County Public Health Director LaShan Dixon, an MTSU alumna, will be traveling to the 2022 United States of America Mrs. Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, next week to represent the state of Tennessee, according to a county news release.

A Nashville, Tennessee, native, Dixon has over 15 years in the fashion and pageant industry and believes that “by walking in your purpose you can boldly walk with a purpose.” In addition to competing in pageants, Dixon has coordinated and participated in numerous fashion shows and exclusive events. She is the CEO of LaShan Dixon LLC through which she empowers individuals to feel confident both on and off the runway. Dixon believes confidence is essential to health and well-being, and she helps people discover that attribute through Walking with a Purpose workshops and trainings.

Rutherford County Public Health Director LaShan Dixon, an MTSU alumna, will be traveling to the 2022 United States of America Mrs. Pageant held Feb. 16-20 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to represent the state of Tennessee. (Submitted photo)

Subsequently, as United States of America’s Mrs. Tennessee 2022 at the Feb. 17-19 pageant, Dixon’s platform “Walking with a Purpose” opened another door for her to serve in her passion to empower and celebrate girls and women, while being a guide to help them through any life situation. Walking with a Purpose is a self-esteem program created to help women and girls that are dealing with low self-esteem, doubt, and dream-killing, the release states.

During workshops and conferences, she teaches about forgiveness, accountability and the importance of loving oneself from the inside out. With more than 1,200 hours dedicated to her platform, she recognizes that there are endless opportunities to partner with other women to help build relationships that foster collaboration.

“Throughout my life, I have made every effort to demonstrate personal and professional excellence in all that I do,” Dixon stated in the release.  “For me, my purpose is to aim high and work hard to help others reach their goals by living in their 86,400 (number of seconds in each day).”

Equally important, the passion for helping others led Dixon, her husband, Lamar, and their daughter, Londyn, to become the founders of H.O.P.E.; the life mission for their family. “H.O.P.E. Every Day”, which stands for “Helping Other People Excel,” is how they collectively operate as a family through various methods such as giving scholarships in memory of their late siblings and participating in service projects that help improve the quality of life for current and future generations.

In addition to her professional role at the Rutherford County Health Department, Dixon is active with several community organizations including her roles as a member of the Pi Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.; vice president, Tennessee Public Health Association; vice president, Heart of Tennessee American Red Cross Board; board member, Prevention Coalition for Success; board member, Nourish Food Bank; oncoming board member, Main Street Murfreesboro, and a number of other organizations. Additionally, she has been a leader in the Rutherford County community and as a member of First Baptist Church-Murfreesboro for more than 10 years, hosting multiple community events while contributing towards several grants for women and underserved minority populations.

A 2020 recipient of the Young Alumni of the Year award from Middle Tennessee State University, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, graduate certificates in Health Care Management and Gerontology, and her master’s in Health and Human Performance. In her free time, she loves to disc jockey, dance, travel, shoe shop, and spend time with family and friends.