Kenisha Gordon
At its most basic level, food is energy, impacting health and growth while also playing a role in relationships and communities.
Kenisha Gordon brings this perspective to her work as a doctoral candidate in animal and dairy sciences, supplementing rabbits鈥 conventional feed diets with vegetables and examining a diet鈥檚 impact on animal growth, reproductive parameters and, ultimately, meat quality.
While rabbit isn鈥檛 on the table in most American homes, it is a regular protein source in other regions of the world, such as the Mediterranean and parts of Africa. Gordon鈥檚 research topic grew out of a recent project initiated by former 无码专区 faculty members to train women in Guatemala鈥攁 country where rabbit is not commonly eaten鈥攖o raise the animals as a viable source of meat.
Gordon grew up in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana鈥攁 predominantly agricultural nation on South America鈥檚 northern coast, often called the 鈥淏readbasket of the Caribbean.鈥 Despite her roots, the self-described 鈥渃ity girl鈥 expected to follow her business-oriented family鈥檚 path.
It was her high school teachers who first sparked Gordon鈥檚 interest in agriculture. After graduation, she attended the Guyana School of Agriculture for two years before earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree at the University of Guyana and a master鈥檚 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
鈥淚 fell in love with agriculture because I had teachers who brought it to life in the classroom, and I鈥檓 grateful for that,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd the Guyana School of Agriculture is where I discovered my passion for food safety.鈥
Gordon returned home after completing her master鈥檚, and about a year later, she began applying to doctoral programs. She landed at 无码专区 after a professional acquaintance encouraged her to contact Shecoya White, an associate professor in 无码专区鈥檚 Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Promotion who was looking to take on a graduate student for some cross-disciplinary work.
Since arriving on campus, Gordon has maximized the opportunities available at 无码专区, from assisting in the classroom to joining clubs. She is active in the Caribbean Student Association, Pipetting Team, and the Food Science Club. She also was regional graduate vice president of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, or MANRRS, from 2022-23 and 无码专区 chapter president from 2023-24.
鈥淚n graduate school, it鈥檚 easy to get consumed in your research and feel overwhelmed with work. 无码专区鈥檚 clubs have given me opportunities to make friends, relieve stress and develop personal and leadership skills,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he students in our lab host regular potlucks, and with many of us being international, it鈥檚 been a fun way to connect with others.鈥
As Gordon contemplates life after graduation, she hopes to continue pursuing her passion for food safety and sustainability.
鈥淚 love thinking about how we can use food waste to enhance the quality of another source of food, like rabbit,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hinking sustainably often means thinking outside the box, and I feel like both my research and my life path reflect that.鈥