Kenisha Chisholm, ’20, came to ɫҹ with a clear sense of purpose influenced by her life experience, persistence and desire to help others heal. Today, she works as a registered dietitian nutritionist for Nourish while also running her own practice, A New Kapeesh Nutrition, LLC.
Her path to nutrition was a personal one. Initially interested in becoming a naturopathic doctor, she began shadowing in the field while seeking care for her daughter, who was experiencing rosacea and skin issues. As she explored the educational requirements, she realized nutrition was both accessible and impactful. “I didn’t know what a dietitian was at the time,” she said, but once she began taking nutrition courses, everything clicked. “I discovered how you can heal the body with food and how we can prevent and treat chronic diseases through diet,” Kenisha said.
As a parent, student and working professional, she faced significant challenges like time management, mental health and finances. The structure of the nutrition program required her to leave her full-time job in banking and find employment that better aligned with her class schedule.
Looking back, Kenisha says her college experience helped prepare her for her career in ways that extended far beyond the classroom. While she already had resilience, navigating college as a parent pushed her to cultivate deeper advocacy for herself and explore what resources were available. She credits ɫҹ with sharpening those skills and reinforcing the importance of perseverance. “Kent prepared me to never quit,” she said, adding that those lessons now carry into her professional life, where she advocates for her patients every day.
One of the most impactful support systems she found at ɫҹ was the Center for Adult and Veteran Services (CAVS), specifically the LIFE Program for parenting students. She learned about it while speaking with admissions about scholarships, when someone asked if she had heard of the program after finding out she was a working parent. At the time, her daughter was around five years old.
The LIFE Program provided both tangible and emotional support for Kenisha. Through the program, students could receive book scholarships, access childcare-friendly spaces and connect with others navigating similar responsibilities. Kenisha also found support through the Women’s Center, which hosted family dinners that allowed parents time to study while their children were cared for. “That was pivotal for me. It was so nice to have other people you can relate to who are in the same situation to help you feel less alienated,” she said.
Though the LIFE Program has since ended, CAVS offers a variety of services to parenting students like Kenisha, which she is grateful for. “To me, the support of the LIFE program through the CAVS office was one of the reasons I was able to graduate. Having accountability partners in other parenting students really did matter,” she said.
For Kenisha, the importance of the resources CAVS provided goes beyond academics. She emphasized the role of community, especially for adult learners and those who may feel stigmatized returning to school later in life. “Every student looks different. People come back to school years later. Sometimes we have life experiences that take us down different paths and it’s important to be inclusive to all types of students,” Kenisha said.
Through determination, advocacy and community support, Kenisha’s ɫҹ experience launched her career and reinforced her commitment to lifting others as they navigate their own paths forward.