Why did you choose to come to Iowa?

It was an easy choice for me because I’ve been a Hawkeye fan since I was a little kid. Taking visits and knowing I wanted to go into a health-related field solidified my decision to come to Iowa for undergrad.

As for grad school, once I found the MSN-EIP program, Iowa was my choice because there’s more opportunities for continued education with this program, and it’s a pretty easy transfer to a DNP program if I choose to go that route someday.

What is something you’ve learned here that will be valuable throughout your life?

Always being willing to learn is a great attribute to have, especially when you’re considering nursing. This program challenged me in academic ways and in patient care interactions. When I didn’t know something, I had to go find an answer. I think it was important to realize that I’m still learning.

How did you navigate challenges while working toward your degree?

It can be daunting when starting a master’s program because it can be pretty different from undergrad. But I took advantage of communicating with my professors and communicating with our director. They’ve been absolutely phenomenal resources.

Who was your most important mentor here, and what role did they play in your experience?

Dr. Sarah McVeigh, the director of the MSN-EIP program, has been a phenomenal resource and mentor. She was a clinical instructor for one of my rotations at the hospital, and she encouraged me to branch out and helped me find rotation opportunities near my hometown.

There’s been so many other professors in the College of Nursing that are right up there as well, including Syeda Thomas, Theresa Bechtel. In the future, I would definitely feel comfortable reaching out to any of them with questions or to ask for help or input as I start my career.

How do you think your graduate training at Iowa helped you cultivate the skills to make an impact, locally or globally?

The University of Iowa College of Nursing is well-respected and well-integrated with the hospital. Being the only Level 1 trauma center in the state, you get to see a lot of cases that you may not necessarily see at smaller facilities. But having those experiences here better prepares me for any upcoming experiences back home when I may not have all the resources that I have available here at the university.

What’s been your most memorable experience here at the University of Iowa?

I’m a big wrestling fan. I wrestled in high school, and I’m a volunteer wrestling coach back home. So being on the floor matside for wrestling meets in Carver-Hawkeye Arena has definitely been one of my most valuable experiences from a student life standpoint.

Who would you like to thank during commencement?

I’d like to thank my family and my wife for always being there for me, for pushing me to further my education, and always being there when I thought I couldn’t do it.