b'Recently, our Board introduced an Alumni Ambassador program to mirror the student program. We thought this would create a natural transition from student to alumni upon graduation. Our Board was created and persisted through a historically challenging time and emerged with our values and versatility intact. I am so thankful to have been the chair during this time.I am honored to have had the opportunity to kick this team off. You are now in great hands with Casey Shinault, chair-elect, Jared Crist, director of student and alumni affairs and Jane Castelvecchi, alumni relations coordinator. As the Board continues to mature, I ask that current and future alumni help your successors to benefit from your experiences as you have benefitted from those who preceded you. I found this work extremely rewarding, and such a phenomenal way to connect back with the College. I encourage all alumni to stay connected through programs and events we sponsor and organize, including:Career networking Social eventsFaculty and staff presentationsReunionsIn closing, let me again thank the College for allowing me to be the inaugural chair,and my fellow Board members for your commitment and hard work during the pastthree years. I am proud to be a Bon Secours College alumna and I am excited aboutthe bright future for this program. Sincerely, Anne DunningtonMEET:B S N S T U D E N T H I G H L I G H TMeishaMeisha Harris came to the College of Nursing as a non-traditional student, a single mother with two academic degrees under her belt and two children in tow. Her Harris bachelors degree was in exercise science from Virginia Commonwealth University, and she followed that with a masters degree in athletic training, but she was pulled to nursing after listening to her heart.Her interest in nursing began in high school and she became certified as a nursing assistant in 2007; attending nursing school was the next step in her career. Eager to challenge herself and continue to learn, Harris applied to the Colleges competitive BSN program stating, I know growth only comes when you work outside your comfort zone. As a second-degree student, Harris has leaned into this educational experience. She has an appreciation of the unique diversity and population among her cohorts and has been able to connect to the professors and the clinical instructors who have taken their time to get to know each student individually. The same can be said of her fellow nursing students. We really do rally together and support each other, Harris said. Weve created a good bond with our clinical group because Ive been with them since day one.Her clinical experiences have been equally diverse and positive. Whether at St. Francis, St. Marys or at Memorial Regional Medical Center, you can see a snapshotI know growth of what it is to be a nurse on that unit, which helps guide you for your immersion only comes experience and even upon graduation, she said. when you work As she prepares for her own graduation in May 2023, Harris is grateful for her time outside your as student and wants to encourage others to get involved. She joined the national service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega and is the chapters president-elect. She is also comfort zone.excited to share that upon graduation, she will be working as a critical care nurse in the intensive care unit at St. Marys Hospital.20 |BSMCON Annual Report 2022'