OHIO Chillicothe graduate Kendra Millisor finds purpose in public service

Kendra Millisor came to Ohio University Chillicothe with a plan. She intended to earn a bachelor’s degree in English, pursue a master’s in library science, and become a famous author. But life unfolded differently than she had planned.

“None of that original plan happened, but I learned so much more than I ever expected,” said Millisor, who switched to a health services administration major halfway through college and graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in health services administration.

Her college years were marked by academic challenges and mental health struggles. At one point, she nearly flunked out.

“I was a mess and I was not handling college well,” she said. “I had to take a break, get professional help, and then come back.”

Millisor credits Dr. Ashlee Tatman, now student service director at OHIO Chillicothe, with helping her find a path forward.

“She was very frank with me,” Millisor recalled. “She said, ‘Here are your options. I want you to get a degree. I know you want to get a degree.’ That conversation changed everything.”

Tatman is proud of how Millisor earned her degree and has been so successful in her career.

“It thrills me to see Kendra’s professional success,” Tatman said. “Like many students, she had a moment where she questioned her path. We had a couple of good conversations about academic and career concerns and life in general, and because of her persistence, I had the pleasure of watching her graduate.” 

After graduating, Millisor worked in for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections before becoming a deputy clerk for the Franklin County Municipal Court. She processes traffic violations, public records request, criminal and environmental cases, and court summons. She finds her work rewarding and knows its impact. 

“If I misspell something or give the wrong address, it affects people’s lives,” she said. “College taught me that attention to detail matters.”

Gaining practical experience as an OHIO student

While at OHIO Chillicothe, Millisor gained practical experience through an internship with Pike County Public Health. There she learned about how non-profit and government agencies work.

“That piqued my interest in government,” Millisor said, noting that her internship helped her understand government’s role in helping people and serving communities.

She appreciated OHIO Chillicothe’s small campus environment and supportive staff.

“All of my professors were very good people,” she said. “They really cared about student success. You weren't just a number.”

Millisor fondly remembers professors like Ken Breidenbaugh, Kathleen Davies, Deb Nickles and Veena Kasbekar, who helped her navigate both academics and life.

While at OHIO Chillicothe, Millisor worked at the IT Help Desk and helped lead the anime club. Today, she leads a full life—swimming twice a week, attending music events, playing tabletop games, and learning Korean.

Her experience as a struggling student made her a passionate advocate for mental health and second chances.

“I’m very much a story of second, third, fourth chances,” she said. “Everyone always wants to cheer on the underdog but not deal with the messiness that comes with it. It’s messy. It’s hard. But you keep getting up.”

Advice for today's students

Millisor encourages students to embrace change and be kind to themselves.

“You’re not a failure until you stop trying,” she said. “Give yourself as many next chances as you need.”

She believes college is more than a stepping stone to a meaningful career. It’s a transformative experience.

“College shapes how you think about the world,” she said. “It teaches you to question, to grow, and to be more tolerant. College is very important for opening your horizons and finding like new ways to think.”

Millisor said she found her people in college and treasures those relationships.

“I'm very grateful for the friends that I made in college,” she said. “My best friends are the people I met there.”