Pearl Harris is a Louisville native who has worked in the hospitality and nutrition field for more than 30 years. At the age of 16, Pearl worked as a dietary aide for the Christian Church Home of Kentucky. During the eight years of employment, she became a relief cook and was afterwards promoted to kitchen supervisor for the 800-bed facility. Those early years of training gave Pearl a passion to do more in the nutrition field. In the fall of 1989, Pearl enrolled at the University of Louisville and pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Nutrition. Pearl made the dean’s list in the spring of 1992 and completed the Bachelor of Science degree in the fall of that year. After graduation, she was employed by the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness as a nutrition educator. While working, Pearl was afforded the opportunity to continue her education. She enrolled into the AP4 Dietetic Internship Program at Spalding University in 1996. After completion, she successfully passed the board exam for registered dieticians, credentialed by the American Dietetic Association (currently known as the Academy of Nutrition and Dieticians). Pearl is a certified registered, licensed dietician and nutritionist in the state of Kentucky. She received a promotion by her employer from nutrition educator to nutrition service specialist. Pearl has also received a master’s degree in Hospitality and Dietetic Administration from the University of Kentucky, where she graduated magna cum laude. She has had extensive training teaching Culinary and Hotel & Restaurant Management courses online. She has eight years of working experience with Education Management Corporation (EDMC), and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, online division. Pearl holds an online distance-learning certificate from the EDMC, Socrates Distance Learning and Training Program, which she completed in 2004. She holds a certificate for 30 hours of Educational Psychology from the American Culinary Federation Institute, completed in 2011. A member of the American Diabetes Association and the Louisville Dietetics Association. Among her accomplishments, Pearl has worked with Sullivan University Online as subject matter expert in online class course writing and development; she conducts health fairs; and develops nutritional pamphlets and literature. Pearl was the former business owner of the Designs of Pearl website. Recently, Pearl successfully passed the exam for the Certified Hospitality Educator Certification (CHE) and has plans to pursue a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She is also a member of Sullivan University’s College of Hospitality Studies, where she currently serves as an adjunct instructor.