• Hometown: Middletown, OH
• High School: Franklin High School
• Class: 2025
• Major: Nursing
• Current Place of Employment: Miami Valley Hospital

Why Miami University?

I chose Miami because I was looking for an affordable path to obtain my degree, and somewhere that allowed me to remain close to home. I ended up loving being known as an individual as opposed to "just another student" within the tight-knit community that I was able to build to support me throughout my academic journey.

How did you choose your major?

I always knew from the time that I was young that I wanted to be a nurse and dedicate my life to helping others. I have an analytical mind that has always been fulfilled by understanding how things work, and I feel that this asset has served me throughout nursing school and will continue to greatly serve the patients that I care for. My older sister is also a nurse and Miami alumna, and having her as both an inspiration and mentor throughout my time at Miami and through all of the obstacles of nursing school made a world of difference.

How have any faculty, staff, or mentors at the University played a significant role in your journey?

I feel that the unique influence of all of the nursing faculty and Dr. Stephaine Nicely undoubtedly has served as puzzle pieces to help shape me as a nurse. The influence of the Miami Nursing program as a whole will undoubtedly be positively reflected in my day-to-day practice. I can't thank the nursing faculty enough for everything!

Other Notable Experience 

​​I was unexpectedly diagnosed with gynecologic cancer in December 2023, just before the spring semester of my junior year. This is understandably the greatest obstacle that I faced during my time as a student at Miami. I was faced with the reality that I may be forced to medically withdraw from school as I underwent treatment, delaying my lifelong goal of graduation to become a nurse. Despite this, the Miami nursing faculty and advisors worked with me and supported me through my chemotherapy and hormone therapy treatments, allowing me the flexibility that I needed to continue on with my studies. Besides finding out that I was cancer-free in December 2024, one of my greatest accomplishments was continuing on to graduate in May 2025 as originally anticipated. This experience truly taught me that I can accomplish anything that I put my mind to.

Advice to Prospective Students

​​Believe in yourself. You will undoubtedly hit obstacles that make you feel like you should give up. You can overcome them with a dependable support system and determination, with a focus on the end goal. Tell yourself over and over again that you can do this! And don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it, whether that be from friends, family, faculty, advisors, or from within the services available to support Miami students, such as the Tutoring and Learning Center. TRiO SSS, or free student counseling. I benefited from all of these assets as a student.

How have you used what you learned in different subjects to solve a problem or come up with a new idea?

After being diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer in December 2023, my journey made a full circle moment when I was able to use my creativity in my senior capstone class to develop a product that could be used as a screening tool to easily detect gynecological conditions (such as endometriosis and PCOS) as well as gynecologic cancer. The product is a test strip with color-changing sensors to detect abnormal biomarkers within menstrual blood. I was asked to give a TED Talk-style speech about my product and its inspiration, as well as being awarded the "Emerging Innovator in Healthcare" award at the Luminaries of Innovation in Healthcare event hosted by the Miami Nursing program in May 2025.