[4] In 2003, Chism received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Morehouse College with a focus in Marketing /Economics.
In 2012, he received a Master of Arts (MA), Education from Union University.
[5][6] He previously worked as a Disaster Inspector for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Between 2013 and 2016, he was the Program Director for the Tennessee Mental Health Consumers Association.
[10] Chism ran for his seat, won a four-way Democratic primary with 35.7% of the vote, and was unopposed in the general election.