What is a fun fact about you?
I love escape rooms and board games! My family even completed every room at a local escape room business.
Tell me about your role and what you like about working at the School of Nursing.
I love helping our students. It’s a huge puzzle, trying to help them achieve their dreams. We have to make sure we get enough spots, match them with the students and their needs, and give them a really great experience. I just love that — the challenge of it and how it pays off. It’s so neat to be part of that.
We work with a lot of our health care partners, and in so many areas that you don’t think about — in schools and jails, in rural hospitals, as well as our local hospitals and clinics. We make relationships with those health care sites and match them with our students. It’s good to see both sides of it.
What has helped you along the way to grow and develop your career here?
Collaboration! People at the School of Nursing are willing to help you learn and work together on ideas.
What is your favorite insider tip about the School of Nursing (e.g., where to find the best snacks) or advice you have for someone who wants to start a career here?
There are working treadmills on the third and fourth floors for when you need to move. Revive, our coffee shop, can personalize drinks (try lavender matcha!).
For starting a career here, remember that not all roles require a nursing degree. My background is in engineering and higher education, and I found my place here. I also recommend reaching out to current staff to build connections, hear about what we do, and learn about the culture.
What has been the biggest impact over the School of Nursing’s last 100 years?
I have learned a lot about how we pioneered reaching nurses who were in rural areas and also working with urban needs. And I think that is phenomenal — the School of Nursing at UW–Madison went wherever there was a need. That’s a huge impact that has touched people we may not realize.
What is the future of nursing?
There’s such a need for nurses, and it’s hard to increase our number of nursing students because there are just not any new spots or clinical sites. There’s a lot of creativity that is needed, including how we can partner with our health care sites. I see a lot of creativity and room to try some innovation.
Every position on our campus makes an impact in our community and beyond. How does your role contribute to the Wisconsin Idea?
The Wisconsin Idea emphasizes that education should influence lives beyond the classroom. I work with diverse health care sites across Southern Wisconsin, from hospitals to schools, health departments to jails, assisted living to hospice, and more. I build relationships and get to know them to ensure our students are prepared to care for their communities and possibly work there in the future.
I also coordinate our immersion programs, which provide unique clinical opportunities in various settings like Easter Seals, Girl Scouts, and the Ho-Chunk House of Wellness.
It’s impactful, creating opportunities in different areas of Wisconsin, helping to serve and bring visibility to these populations.
Is there anything else you would like students, staff, and faculty to know?
I love podcasts, so if you have any suggestions, let me know!