Just a few years ago UNA graduate Christy Jordan was a stay-at-home mom to two children in North Alabama. Her overnight success story began with SouthernPlate.com, which was originally a blog she created featuring easy, step-by-step recipes for southern cooking.

 With millions of hits on her personal page and a cookbook which was released this October, Jordan found herself on the set of the Today Show a couple of weeks ago.

 “I got an e-mail from the head of marketing at my publisher who basically said, ‘Guess what? We’ve booked you on the Today Show Dec. 29!’ So I blinked a few times, took a deep breath and e-mailed him back and said ‘Wow cool! Thank you!’” Jordan said. “Then I flew into a blizzard and made fried pies with Al Roker. Totally normal day, right?”

 The magazine “Southern Living” featured a seven-page spread on the Alabama native this past fall, and Jordan said she never could’ve imagined her life turning out this way.

 “My biggest challenge has been other people wanting my time,” Jordan admits. “I consider myself to be a stay-at-home mom, and with young kids that is obviously my most important job.”

 Her cookbook has been a soaring success nationwide, and Jordan recently completed a book tour to meet who she calls her Southern Plate family. Now gaining more popularity and success, she has plans to grow her empire even more.

 “I’ll be on QVC at some point. That is in the works now. I’m working with a TV production company out of Los Angeles, and they’ve already filmed a pilot episode for a potential television show,” she said.

 Although Jordan already started on her second cookbook with an unreleased date, she remains unchanged by fame.

 “I never dreamed of doing all of this, but I did dream of getting to be a mother. I’m enjoying living both dreams, but the first one is my priority,” said Jordan.

 She admits she got lucky with her career when she wasn’t even looking for one. Jordan’s mentioned several times how grateful she is for her life, but thanks UNA in a lot of ways.

 “I’m so glad I went to a university where the professors actually know their students,” Jordan said. “I hope my children go to UNA. I’d hate to think of them attending a university where none of the faculty knows who they are, where they came from, or what dreams they are working towards.”

 To current students, Jordan offers her words of wisdom for those working hard to achieve their dreams.

 “Stick with it. Your education adds to who you are, the overall wisdom you have and are able to obtain in life,” she said. “Your mind is the only investment guaranteed to yield a lifetime of returns.”