South College Alumni Success Pathways: Inspiring Futures

Before earning her associate degree at South College, Chaquita previously completed a Certified Nursing Assistant program and a degree in general studies from another institution. When Chaquitta decided to continue her education in nursing, finding a school with online learning options was essential—especially as a single mother of two young daughters and an active duty soldier in the US Army.

“At the time, I was only looking for online courses,” she says. “I loved that South College offered 10-week courses with no break, so I could stay focused and finish the prerequisites I needed.”

While she was a student, Chaquitta’s instructors challenged and pushed her to do her best, especially her Anatomy and Physiology teacher. “He didn’t pass out any grades, and I truly feel like I earned all four of the A’s I received in his class. He is a certified medical doctor, and it was such a joy to have him.”

Despite her busy schedule with work, family, and school, Chaquitta’s hard work placed her on either the Dean’s List or the President’s List throughout her time at South College.

After finishing her associate degree, Chaquitta was deployed overseas for nine months. When she returns, she plans to resume her studies and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. “I have now completed all of the courses that I need to apply to the upper-level division of the nursing program,” she says. “I’m ready to take the next step to becoming a registered nurse.”

“An MSN with a Concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner is a well-rounded degree,” he says. “I needed a dynamic degree that not only shaped me as an independent provider but also exposed me to the business and legal components of healthcare.”

Kenneth initially started an MSN program at another university. However, he struggled with the lack of assistance, feedback, and direction in the program. After one semester, he transferred to South College based on the recommendation of a friend.

“The structure at South College was more aligned with my learning needs, leading to my success within the program,” he says. “With South College, you not only get the academic experience but also a holistic experience. From admissions to my professors, each team member was responsive, encouraging, and motivating.”

Today, Kenneth is a Health Center Group Manager and Nurse Practitioner at Progressive Health in Tennessee. There, he manages patient cases with a focus on cost and quality of care. He also coordinates communication across sites, works with vendors and consultants, and helps create standard operating procedures along with various project plans, timelines, and budgets.

Kenneth is also part of the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Association of Occupational Health Nurses, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Kenneth is a committed believer in lifelong learning. Beyond his MSN from South College, he holds ASN, RN-BSN, and MBA degrees. He’s also working on a Six Sigma Green Belt. In the future, he plans to take the Certified Case Manager and the Certified Associate in Project Management exams as well.

It seems like this South College graduate is not slowing down anytime soon—and that his impact on the healthcare field and his patients is bound to keep growing!

Brittany enjoyed her time as a nursing student at South College, especially in the courses and labs that gave her hands-on experience. Her clinicals and preceptors were some of the main highlights of the program. She also deeply appreciated the ongoing support of her instructors.

“I felt like I could go to any of my professors for help and they would take time out of their day to help me,” she says. “I attended many sessions outside of class just to get a subject down. The one-on-one learning was a big hit for me.”

After graduating, Brittany moved across the state to Nashville, where she now works as a Registered Nurse at Saint Thomas Midtown Surgery Center. She provides patient care, helps with surgery preparation, supplies, and documentation, and advocates for surgery patients.

Being a full-time student in the Associate of Science in Radiography program while working full-time wasn’t easy. Still, Josh persisted with the help and encouragement of those around him. “Returning to school was one of the hardest things I have done. I was either in class, clinic, work, or doing homework,” he recalls. “I thankfully had dedicated professors and a supportive wife to help me through.”

After graduating, Josh got a job at the hospital that had been his favorite clinical site during the program. Eventually, he met the doctor whose private practice Josh now works for as an X-ray technologist. In this role, he provides quality imaging while operating a C-arm to aid the doctor in pain management. He also keeps the procedure room stocked and clean, updates patient charts with current images, and provides care to X-ray patients. “This has been the best job I have ever had,” Josh says.

Kaleb’s passion for the field stems in part from his own time as an athlete. “My love for working out and exploring how the body moves and heals naturally aligned with the challenges and rewards of physical therapy,” he says. “The profession offers the perfect combination of intellectual rigor, problem-solving, and the opportunity to help others overcome obstacles and rediscover their strength, both physically and mentally.”

Today, Kaleb is an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Board-Certified Sports Clinical Specialist. Other certifications include Emergency Response for the Athlete, Basic Life Support, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach, Champion Performance Therapy and Training Specialist, and Level 1 Dry Needling. He is also a featured speaker at the 2025 Elite Rehab Football Conference.

“South College prepared me for success in my career by providing an exceptional learning environment led by passionate and knowledgeable professors who left a lasting impression on me. Their dedication to the field and commitment to fostering growth in their students inspired me to strive for excellence,” he says. “Additionally, the program’s accelerated two-year format, compared to the traditional three years, was an incredible opportunity to fast-track my career without compromising the depth or rigor of my training.”

Lily first worked at the hospital in acute care as a South College student while doing her level II fieldwork. For Lily, the time spent in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program at South College was a pivotal part of her life. “The teachers and members of my cohort instantly felt like family and were always there to support me,” she says. “I saw myself grow into the person I’ve always wanted to be.”

While in the program, Lily was president of the Student Occupational Therapy Assistant (SOTA) club. Along with her peers, she volunteered at numerous organizations working with the patient populations OTAs provide care for. In the classroom and outside of it, Lily always felt at home in the OTA program.

“Faculty and staff at South College were so kind, welcoming, and warm. My instructors were wonderful. They pushed me to think outside the box, get out of my comfort zone, and develop leadership skills that have carried over in my career. I’m so thankful for each of them!” she says. “They were and still are some of my greatest cheerleaders.”

Today, Lily is thankful for how much she enjoys her work and how rewarding it is to support the therapy team. “I’ve always wanted to help people, but I just needed to find in what capacity,” she says. “This is, without a doubt, where I’m supposed to be!”

“From my first interaction with the school, it was clear that I wasn’t just another number. I was seen, heard, and genuinely supported. That personal connection made all the difference,” says Kimberly. “I built close relationships with many of my instructors, and I’m grateful to still stay connected with many of them.”

In 2020, Kimberly completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, graduating at the top of her class and landing a role at a Level 2 trauma center after passing her NCLEX exam. There, she cared for people with high-risk pregnancies and honed her skills as a labor and delivery nurse, finding immense joy and purpose even on the toughest days.

“South College not only laid the groundwork for my success but also helped me step into my calling with clarity and purpose,” she says. “The program helped me connect the dots between foundational nursing knowledge and real-world application, equipping me with the confidence to excel in my field.”

After two years, Kimberly decided to expand her horizons by traveling as a nurse. Most recently, she has joined an OBGYN office to continue growing her knowledge of women’s health.

Outside of nursing, Kimberly is active in her church and leads a Christian women’s group. She is also the founder of Knitted in Love Co. This business supports families through childbirth education classes and curated baby shower baskets. “It’s my mission to create a space where expectant parents feel seen, heard, and prepared as they step into this transformative season of life,” she says.

“I decided to become a PT when I was 12 years old,” she shares. “I was very active in sports and riding horses, and I suffered an injury when thrown from a horse. I then went to PT myself and decided that is what I wanted to do.”

Other than physical therapy, the only career Madison ever considered was hospice nursing after having two family members who received hospice care. “Though hospice and home health are very different, they have many similarities. I feel as if watching those nurses provide care in their homes, also pushed me to the home health setting,” she says.

Before attending South College, Madison received an associate degree in health and human performance and a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology. She chose the South College Knoxville PT program largely because of its hybrid format. “This was so beneficial for me and my soon-to-be family to be able to work on my degree from home and then travel to labs,” she says.

Madison was also attracted to the quality of the Physical Therapy program and its focus on new models and methods of improving patient care. ”South pushed us to be the very best in the field,” she says. “I always describe South’s faculty as heavy hitters. We had highly recognized leaders in the PT world pouring their knowledge and skill into us. We couldn’t have been any luckier!”

“I have always been partial to caring for and treating people in a rural community setting,” she says. “I really love what I do. It’s crazy at times, but I have learned so much this past year working. I feel like I learn something new each day.”

In addition to working at the clinic, Isabella gives back through events like the city’s One Day of Hope. “It’s a day where the community comes together to give free groceries, clothes, medical care, and dental and vision screenings,” she explains.

Before enrolling in the School of Physician Assistant Studies at South College, Isabella earned an undergraduate degree in kinesiology. She also worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to gain experience in healthcare. As a PA, Isabella now diagnoses and treats chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, anxiety disorder, ADHD, and depression. She also cares for basic urgent needs, such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, lacerations, bronchitis, pneumonia, and orthopedic strains or sprains.

“I got a great education at South. All my professors were amazing. They genuinely cared for all of us and wanted to see us succeed,” she says. “I was absolutely prepared for clinicals, and I was able to get great rotations that prepared me for the working field. I was able to adapt and work independently pretty quickly.”

After working for years as an EMT, Sylina enrolled in a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program. A few years later, she returned to school again and completed an LPN to RN program in 2019. From there, she decided to keep the momentum going and enrolled in the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program at South College on the RN-MSN track.

“I was very nervous in the beginning,” she admits. “After the first two terms, I was excited to continue my journey. The whole experience was fantastic. The program was great, and the professors were top-notch.”

Sylina worked full-time throughout her MSN program but managed to graduate Summa Cum Laude with a 3.96 GPA. She also had to balance her classes and clinicals with spending time with her husband and their five children. “It was no easy task, but, given the right tools, it was completely achievable,” she says. “The immersion weekend held in Knoxville, which gave me access to more hands-on skills, was most definitely beneficial.”

Along the way, her professors provided encouragement, support, and mentorship. “My professors bent over backward to make sure I had the tools necessary to not only pass with flying colors but to be prepared for my boards,” she shares.

Sylina had such a positive experience at South College that she has returned to pursue her Doctor of Nursing Practice. She’s optimistic about where the experience will lead, saying, “I am excited and look forward to what the future holds.”

However, he knew that he would need to seek additional education to continue moving up in his career. Now, Samuel has completed his Associate of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) degree program at South College.

“Electricity and all of its facets are a topic you can never completely learn. There is always something new and exciting to learn and understand. I am never bored, and the EET degree has opened my eyes to even more,” he says.

Samuel previously held an associate degree in industrial electronics and a certificate in CNC machining. He is now continuing at South to pursue his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology.

“I chose South College because of the convenience of learning online and the program being ABET accredited. This will allow me to attain my EIT and PE certifications,” he explains. “I believe I have received a quality education from credentialed professors and support staff who generated an environment that encourages growth and development. I have bragged about my college experience to many of my colleagues.”.

Initially, Samuel was nervous about attending college at 51 with a wife and four kids, but the South College team always had his back. “In addition to the amazing depth of knowledge the professors have shared, the support staff at South College have been extremely helpful,” he says. “I have never felt like I am having to tackle this alone.”

During his studies, Samuel dealt with challenges from a hip replacement to the effects of a hurricane. “Through this, I still managed to attend class full-time and stay on the dean’s list,” he says. “This experience has taught me that I can succeed regardless of circumstances.”

As a reliability analyst at Chand, LLC, Daniel helps ensure the dependability and performance of the company’s systems, equipment, and processes. He does data analysis, failure mode analysis, reporting, and documentation. “I use my past academic experience from South College to assist in research,” Daniel explains. “The tools I learned from my Paralegal Certificate course are still applicable and used in my everyday work.”

Before attending South College, Daniel was considering going to law school but first wanted to be certain that working in law was right for him. The South College Paralegal certificate program was a great fit and prepared him well to enter the field. “The faculty at South College actively helped me get into my first job as a paralegal. It was actually through an email from my professor that landed me an interview with a real estate law firm in Asheville,” he recalls.

Once he got the job, Daniel hit the ground running. “South College provides hands-on experience which prepared me for working as a paralegal,” he says. “I was quickly promoted to lead paralegal in multiple cases due to my knowledge of researching and document preparation.”

Daniel excelled as a paralegal, but, after two years, realized that law wasn’t for him and decided to pursue a new career. He began working as a technical editor at Chand in 2024, a role in which he benefited from his academic and professional experience as a paralegal. After getting the opportunity to learn reliability analysis, Daniel was soon promoted to his current position.

“Working as a paralegal opened the door to my current career in logistics. Without the knowledge I learned from South College, I would not be where I am today,” he shared.

L’keshia officially entered the nursing field in 1997 as a Licensed Practical Nurse. After working for over 15 years, L’keshia returned to school. She obtained an ADN in 2013, a BSN in 2014, and an MSN with a concentration in Nursing Informatics in 2018. “My dream to become a nurse practitioner was always in my future, but the timing never seemed right,” she says. “I finally got it done through South College.”

For a working mom of four children (and grandmother to four more), taking classes online at South College was a great fit. L’keshia appreciated the support provided in the FNP postgraduate certificate program and that career resources remain available to her as an alumnus. Since graduating, she has also stayed in touch with her instructors.

Today, L’keshia is the Assistant Director of Nursing at the Decatur Center for Nursing and Healing. In addition to providing patient care, L’keshia supports the center’s continuous quality improvement and leads the infection control process. She also supervises, educates, and coaches other nursing personnel and care-giving staff. Her work includes planning and implementing in-service and training programs.

“This journey has not been easy, but I wouldn’t trade my life for anything in this world. Thank you to the staff of South College who helped me achieve my lifelong dream of becoming an FNP. Just know, I have one last rodeo in me. Next up, Doctor K,” says L’keisha, who is already planning for her doctorate.

As a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Bethany sees couples, families, and individuals of all ages via telehealth and in person. She combines holistic medication management, lifestyle coaching, and self-care reinforcement. Her services include personalized treatment for pediatric and adolescent psychiatry, maternal mental health, substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and chronic mental illnesses like schizophrenia.

Bethany became a nurse in 1996 with an associate degree. After working as an RN for almost 20 years, she returned to school for her master’s degree in nursing informatics in 2013. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2022. Two years later, she attended South College for the online postgraduate certificate that has allowed her to achieve her lifelong goal.

“The most rewarding program has been the Postgraduate Certificate Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from South College. It allows me to work the mission of providing psychiatric care to those in need,” Bethany says.

This mission is one Bethany has always been passionate about. She previously worked as a charge nurse in a drug detox unit, a psychiatric clinical coordinator, an RN utilization review case manager for behavioral health, and a psychiatric and behavioral health travel nurse. She has also had jobs in information technology and clinical informatics.

Bethany chose South College because of the online program’s flexibility and the institution’s reputation. She also liked attending a college based in the state where she lives. “The faculty and staff were easily accessible throughout my program, which made my studies much easier,” she shares. “Everyone I interacted with at the college was down to earth and eager to help me succeed.”

Kaci actually uncovered her passion for mental health by accident. Her first nursing job was at a hospital, but she wasn’t happy there and struggled with night shifts. When the opportunity arose to join a company that served vulnerable patients in challenging settings, Kaci jumped. The job? Working as an RN in a jail.

“I never in a million years thought I would enjoy it, but I absolutely loved it,” she says. When Kaci moved to a new town, she landed a role in another correctional facility. Before long, Kaci worked her way up to director of nursing—a title she’s since had at multiple organizations.

Working with the incarcerated population shone a spotlight on mental health issues and inspired Kaci to become a PMHNP. South College’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) PMHNP program gave her the flexibility to achieve this goal while working. Staff and instructors also provided assistance and support at every step, starting from her earliest interactions. “The admissions staff were great,” she says. “They answered all of my crazy questions.”

As Kaci approached graduation, Career Services helped prepare her for the job search, and her program director gave mentorship and advice. “These people really make me a priority, and I am so grateful,” says Kaci.

Today, Kaci is excited to be back in a direct provider role delivering advanced support and mental health care, thanks to skills she learned at South College. “I feel I have the personality to be able to really help these people,” she says. “I am proud of what I have accomplished and the skills I have mastered.”

With over 15 years of leadership experience, Karen oversees global financial reporting and strategic initiatives for a multibillion-dollar organization. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), and Chair of the Reinsurance Association of America. She also works to promote insurance and business awareness to diverse students in urban high schools.

Now that Karen has a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), she feels ready to pursue new career opportunities and to drive change with research-backed solutions to systemic issues. Her education is also helping her expand the professional guidance she gives to minority groups.

As a busy professional, Karen found competency-based education at South College to be a great fit. The flexibility and mentorship provided were instrumental to her academic success. She shares, “I am grateful for the guidance and support they provided throughout the program.”