Jamika Williams said she always enjoyed her family and consumer sciences courses in high school.
“I developed a passion for cooking early on,” she said. “I enrolled at Henderson State in 2012, and I knew after my first family and consumer science course that Proctor Hall was my home.”
Williams now works for a developmental preschool as the food program coordinator.
“My primary focus is to make sure the children are fed, and I handle any special diets such as, but not limited to allergies,” she said. “I am responsible for administering the USDA food program for the preschool which includes planning and preparation of daily meals and snacks.”
Williams plans to start working on her master’s degree so she can teach family and consumer sciences at a secondary level.
Her courses at Henderson prepared Williams well for her role at the preschool, she said.
“Most of the courses for my hospitality food services degree have tied in directly to the work I’ve been doing at my current job,” she said. “I completed a child development course that has prepared me for work with the preschool.
“Meal management allowed me to gain hands-on experience with developing meal plans and controlling every aspect of my diet from the grocery store to meal time. Nutrition service administration allowed me to develop a better understanding of the food service industry and the demands while helping me develop management skills.”
Williams said her professors were “very passionate and knowledgeable. I learned a lot from them. The hospitality food services program definitely helps students prepare for the demands of the food service industry.”
Providing meals and helping others meet their nutrition needs is what Williams finds most rewarding about her profession.
“I found a job that I love and I get to use every aspect of my degree every day,” she said. “There is always someone out there who is going to be depending on you.”
• This alumni feature is part of an ongoing project featuring Henderson’s outstanding undergraduate and graduate academic programs.