For Shanda Lucas-O’Dennis, MS/ODL ’09, learning development associate at Friends Services Alliance, a quaker based non-profit serving seniors, nutrition has long been a unifying force in her life—both a way to bring family together and a personal passion that has followed her throughout her professional journey in leadership and advocacy. That passion took an unexpected turn when her cousin reached out with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: an audition for Gordon Ramsay’s hit culinary competition series, MasterChef on FOX.
Lucas-O’Dennis is no stranger to bold steps. “I knew I wanted to climb the career ladder, so I pursued a master’s in organization development and leadership at PCOM, and that was the beginning of an incredible journey,” she shared. Since graduating, she has served on the PCOM Alumni Association Board, where she played a key role in restructuring the organization to better represent all degree programs. She is now poised to become the first woman of color and non-DO to serve as president of the association. “I aspire to ensure that graduates of every program feel seen, heard, and understood,” she said. “PCOM is a family, and I truly feel called to help keep it united.”
In the year of her fiftieth birthday, Mrs. Lucas-O’Dennis committed to a personal “year of yes,” vowing that she would embrace new experiences. She never imagined one would involve MasterChef. “My cousin is a culinary enthusiast, and when he heard auditions were open for pairs, he asked me to join him,” she recalled. It was a natural fit; cooking has always been woven into her family’s identity. “Our family’s love language centers around food. It’s the heartbeat of our households. There are chefs everywhere in our family—it’s in our blood.”
The path to the show, however, was far from simple. “There were four rounds of intense interviews,” she said. “Once you cleared those, the background checks began. It was more involved than some job interviews.” Eventually, she and her cousin were flown to Los Angeles, CA, for the final selection round, competing against other teams. “We cooked, we showcased our personalities, and then we were placed in a room with 17 other duo’s and told, ‘You’re going on the show!’”
From that moment, everything accelerated. “I had to pack before I even went to auditions,” she laughed. “Once we were selected, they sent us straight to Australia.”
On set, the pressure was palpable. The dishes, the timelines, the judges—all of it demanded focus, skill, and composure. “Approaching those judges and presenting your dish within the time limit—it’s all very real, and very intimidating,” she shared. She and her cousin prepared pan-seared duck with pistachio risotto, and it was her favorite dish to cook and present.
Through it all, the experience revealed the resilience, camaraderie, determination, and passion at the heart of Mrs. Lucas-O’Dennis’s story—qualities that have defined her life far beyond the kitchen and continue to in her professional career. “Nutrition is cornerstone in everybody’s life – in nursing homes, in medical practice, in households. In a nursing home, some of those senior living folk look forward to that next hot meal,” she shared. “Nutrition is life and it is important that leaders recognize its importance for everyone.”
With every takeaway Mrs. Lucas-O’Dennis has had, from her work in leadership, to her time on MasterChef, to her experience at PCOM, she encourages everyone to show up for one another and give back. “It is imperative that we nurture, encourage, and show up for one another in life,” she stated. “Community is vital, and PCOM truly encourages a unique situation for everyone that crosses it’s path.”
**Stream on demand on Hulu or FOX Now**
