When Cheron Copeland was 16 years old, she was given a simple assignment in her engineering class: research potential careers and job shadow someone in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Copeland knew she wanted a career related to food, but not culinary arts. So she decided to explore nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That decision would eventually lead her to the UW-Milwaukee Zilber College of Public Health, where she is now pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences after transferring from Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnce I had the opportunity to job shadow some really wonderful dietitians, I realized this was amazing work,\u201d Copeland said. \u201cIt was right up my alley because I love science, and I love helping people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a non-traditional student, Copeland\u2019s path to UWM was not a straight line. She began college at Purdue University in 2017, but after taking time away from school, she returned in 2021 determined to pursue her goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She enrolled at MATC, where she discovered a pathway that helped her build confidence and experience while preparing for the next step in her education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt first, transferring was a little intimidating,\u201d Copeland said. \u201cBut now I can say the pathway is so well structured. MATC, UWM and Mount Mary have really created a system that supports students every step of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through MATC, Copeland first earned certification and completed the coursework to become a Registered Dietetic Technician. From there, she had the option to continue her studies in either a clinically focused program or a more community- and public health-focused path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Copeland, the choice became clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I first started, I thought I might just work in a hospital,\u201d she said. \u201cBut MATC encouraged us to explore different specialties, and by the time I finished there, I knew I wanted to pursue public health and come to UWM.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, Copeland is in her second year at UWM and expects to graduate in fall 2026. She says the Zilber College\u2019s emphasis on prevention and community health aligns closely with her goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think one of the biggest issues in our country is that by the time many people end up in the hospital, it\u2019s almost too late,\u201d Copeland said. \u201cThere are so many preventable diseases. I want to help people understand how to take care of themselves earlier so they can have a better quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That passion for prevention has already inspired Copeland to begin sharing her knowledge with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This spring, she partnered with UWM\u2019s Black Student Cultural Center to offer a three-part nutrition and wellness workshop series for students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe biggest thing for me is making sure people leave with something they can actually use,\u201d she said. \u201cEven if I only meet someone one time, I want them to walk away with information they can apply in their own life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The workshops made a lasting impression on participants. One student attended all three sessions and asked Copeland whether she had ever considered teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That question reinforced something Copeland has heard from several professors, supervisors and mentors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople have told me I should think about teaching at the college level because of the way I explain science,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While she once dreamed of working for the USDA\u2019s Team Nutrition program, Copeland is now considering several possible futures. After earning her bachelor\u2019s degree, she hopes to stay at UWM to pursue a Master of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHaving an MPH connected to nutrition and dietetics would open up so many opportunities,\u201d she said. \u201cMy associate degree and bachelor\u2019s degree are both in nutrition sciences, so having that public health background would allow me to make an even bigger impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is also considering teaching and dreams of one day opening her own holistic nutrition shop where people can come for whole foods, supplements and guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No matter where her career takes her, Copeland says the support she has received at UWM has made all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne of the things I appreciate most about the nutrition program is that the instructors genuinely care about their students,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can tell they want us to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Copeland credits the guidance of faculty and staff\u2014including her academic advisor, Kelsi Faust, and the many instructors who regularly share internships, workshops and career opportunities\u2014with helping her feel supported throughout her journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey never make us feel like we\u2019re alone in the process,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m always telling people, \u2018You should come to our program.\u2019 It\u2019s such a wonderful program, and the energy is just beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When Cheron Copeland was 16 years old, she was given a simple assignment in her engineering class: research potential careers and job shadow someone in the field. Copeland knew she wanted a career related to food, but not culinary arts. …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":9215,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[62,38,37,68,64],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning","category-news","category-spotlight","category-students","category-zilber-in-the-news"],"yoast_head":"\n