Admitted BSN Student

Joseph Ferrara | First-Year

Hometown: White Plains, New York

Current Campus Involvement: Nursing Student Ambassadors, Nursing Student Government, Michigan EMS Club

Dream Job: I aspire to be a CRNA, being able to practice anesthesia with a talented team of physicians in the operating room.

Why Nursing?: I chose nursing because I'm drawn to the real human interaction that we get upon treating patients. These individuals require empathetic, personable caregivers that address their needs not only medically, but emotionally too. Nursing allows me to make these meaningful connections with patients and build camaraderie with my colleagues to achieve the best patient outcomes.

Favorite Thing About Being a U-M Student: GAME DAY! The connectivity and sense of community that one feels in the Big House is like no other, and it perfectly encapsulates the pride and energy of attending this school. The memories created alongside thousands of U of M students are ones that will last a lifetime, and being a Wolverine is something that stays with you forever!

Avery Steele | Sophomore

Hometown: Oceanside, California

Current Campus Involvement: I am in Student Nursing Association, Health Innovation Impact Program (HiiP), Alpha Gamma Delta, K-Grams Penpal Program, M Surf Club, M Triathlon, Social Tennis Club, Hands on Health, Intermural Sand Volleyball and am a sports writer for The Michigan Daily and the Lead Ambassador for the UMSN Recruitment Team!

Dream Job: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) 

Why Nursing?: I chose nursing because not only is it a degree I can right away get a job with, it is an amazing, hands-on way to help people.  

Favorite Thing About Being a U-M student: My favorite thing about being a U-M student is the memories you make and people you meet. One of my favorite memories is of my friends and I freezing cold on the ground of the arb just stargazing. We had decided a few hours before that we were going to try and see the quadrantids as our kick off to the semester.We were snuggled into our coats laying in the snow laughing about dad jokes and how bad we were at identifying constellations.

Natalia Foster | Junior

Hometown: Livonia, Michigan

Current Campus Involvement:  I serve as the Director of Professional Development for Student Nurses’ Association, a Nursing Student Ambassador, Volunteer for University of Michigan Health Volunteer Services, member of Atmospheres Making Positive Moments (AMPM), and am currently assisting in research focusing on sexual misconduct and campus health resources.

Dream Job: My goal is to become an ICU nurse on an adult floor, gaining experience in a high-acuity, critical care setting while providing compassionate care to critically ill patients. I then hope to further my education by pursuing a CRNA program to continue advancing patient care.

Why Nursing?: During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was inspired by the nurses and first responders who advocated and cared for their patients during an uncertain and difficult time. Their compassion motivated me to pursue nursing so I can support patients as they navigate their health journeys, ensuring they feel heard and supported while receiving high-quality care.

Favorite Thing About Being a U-M Student:  The community of passionate and driven students who encourage one another to grow personally and professionally. There are many opportunities for learning, service, and leadership, and the nursing program’s smaller, close-knit environment fosters support among fellow nursing students.

Leah Huang | Senior

Hometown: Buffalo, New York

Current Campus Involvement: I’m currently the president of the Nursing Student Government and a student ambassador at the School of Nursing! I am also a member of Sigma Rho nursing honors society, participate in the Student Nurses Association, and serve as a peer mentor. Outside of the School of Nursing, I am on leadership of CURIS - Public Health Advocacy in the School of Public Health. I also write for The Michigan Daily Newspaper and am a pen pal for local elementary schoolers with K-Grams! 

Dream Job: Cardiac or Surgical ICU Nurse (and eventually a Nurse Anesthetist!) 

Why Nursing?: I’ve always loved the hands-on aspect of nursing and getting to know each patient’s individual story. Nursing lets me work with all kinds of people and see the world through their experiences and backgrounds. Every day feels different, and I’m always learning something new, whether it’s connecting with someone on a personal level or helping in a high-pressure situation like a cardiac arrest or an emergency intubation. It can be challenging, but those moments remind me why I chose this profession and how meaningful it is to care for others.

Favorite Thing About Being a U-M student: I love waking up on a fall gameday and getting ready with my friends for a long but amazing Saturday. Even on mornings when I’m exhausted from clinical or work at Michigan Medicine, it still feels so special to be part of this place. There’s nothing like walking to the hospital or the stadium and feeling that Michigan energy everywhere.