From her mother’s kitchen to Chicago’s food deserts
KN undergrad charts a leadership course in nutrition education at UIC and across Chicago.
As a transfer student from Miami, Brianna Guerrier came to UIC looking for more opportunities. Now a senior pursuing a BS in Nutrition, she has channeled those opportunities into action: deep engagement in food policy, a string of leadership roles and a volunteer record that has made her one of the most visible students within AHS.
A personal connection to nutrition
Guerrier’s path to nutrition officially started with a high school career assessment, but her commitment to it started at home.
Her mother, who worked as a cook while pursuing her own dietitian certification and raising five kids, was her earliest model of what it means to truly care about what people eat.
“Nutrition is so important for me, because it relates to my mother,” Guerrier said. “Even when she came home late, she always cooked for us.”
Today, Guerrier is paying that forward. She is focused on ensuring no one goes hungry and dismantling the systems that make eating well harder than it should be.
“I would like to see more cooking programs integrated within schools and more nutritional guidance for adult and children’s learning centers,” Guerrier said.
Brianna quote
I want to lessen the burden of knowing where your next meal is going to come from or how to schedule your grocery shopping around harsh weather conditions when you don’t have transportation and are only surrounded by food deserts.
Cont.
Kirsten Straughan ’07 MS Exercise Phisiology, clinical assistant professor and director of the nutrition science undergraduate program, sees Guerrier’s motivations as central to what the field demands.
“We teach our students about health disparities, and if there are opportunities to help minimize those disparities, provide education, improve access and ultimately help change policies and systems,” said Straughan. “Participating in those food systems is always the best way to learn.”
Showing up where it counts
Guerrier’s drive to create positive change has made her an asset in spaces around campus and across the city. At UIC, she is a leader in Student Leadership and Civic Engagement; a member of the African American Academic Network and the Black, Indigenous, People of Color Dietetics and Nutrition Association; and vice president of the AHS student council.
She also makes time to volunteer, working with the Ronald McDonald House to provide free or low-cost lodging, meals and support for families with critically ill children.
Guerrier has been nominated twice for the Chancellor’s Student Service and Leadership Award, which recognizes outstanding student engagement across Chicagoland. Her first nomination came from Melvin Woolfolk, senior academic advisor for recruitment and admissions at AHS. Her second came from Straughan.
For Woolfolk, a UIC alum, the decision was straightforward.
“I chose Brianna because I find myself at a lot of weekend events, a lot of events after hours, and whatever space or event that I may have, I’ve always seen Brianna there,” said Woolfolk. “It’s astounding when you’re seeing an undergraduate student who’s taking a full-time course load, going to tutoring, doing everything they need to do, but still showing up and just being a good representation for the College of Applied Health Sciences.”
Straughan was equally direct: “She’s probably in the top 5% of students I’ve seen in over 20 years that have really sought out opportunities, not just in nutrition, but in the university community and surrounding areas. When we send out opportunities or experiences, she’s always the one to show up.”
What’s next
Guerrier isn’t certain yet where her postgrad path leads in the long term, but the people around her have ideas.
“I can see Brianna going into policy advocacy, even going to law school eventually,” said Woolfolk.
In the shorter term, Guerrier is heading to Italy this spring for a study abroad program exploring Blue Zones — communities around the world known for exceptional longevity. She’s also interviewing for the Health Career Connection internship, which places students alongside health professionals for hands-on mentorship over the summer.
Whatever direction she goes, she already knows where she wants to land: back at UIC.
“I’ve never been the top student in my high school. I never got awards,” Guerrier said. “But here, I feel like I am unique. As an alumna, I want to come back as a speaker and talk to students about my journey — give them that satisfaction of, ‘Someone that looks like me can do this, too.’”
This story was edited for length and brevity by Emily Parenti-Lopez.