Kassandra Valdovinos was born in Escondido, California. Since she was little she said she wanted to be a nurse. In high school she made sure to take biology and an anatomy course to prepare herself for her course in college. She applied to Grand Canyon University as a pre-nursing but when she transferred to Palomar Community college, she discovered her joy and hunger for knowledge when she took an introductory course in nutrition. Kassandra changed her major to nutrition and took as many courses as she could in nutrition and joined the Palomar College Nutrition Club. She then applied to transfer to San Diego State for the Fall 2019. She was on a mission to continue her nutrition education and follow the path towards becoming a Registered Dietitian. She applied and was accepted into the DPD program and became a member of the on-campus organization SNO.

While attending Palomar, she got a job with the City of Escondido ASES Program. She was able to work with elementary school children before and after school. She used her creativity to teach children and give them a safe and fun place to enrich their minds. She was also able to participate in community events and inform the community of recreation programs. Beside ASES, Kassandra worked at the Park Avenue Senior Center’s (PACC) nutrition program. When the pandemic started, her position at ASES ended and she transitioned to PACC’s nutrition program which was also going through a transition. She helped organize meals, delivery routes, PPE, and applications. As a Food and Nutrition major, she understood the implications of food insecurity, especially for seniors in her community.