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Marie Ann Marino, EdD, RN, FAAN

Dean and Professor, Thomas Jefferson University - College of Nursing 
Vice President, Nursing Academic Partnerships & Innovation - Jefferson Health

Congratulations to the Class of 2023

Ready to Shape the Future of Nursing and Show the World What it Means to be a Jefferson Nurse

May 11th brought my fifth spring commencement as Dean of Jefferson College of Nursing. Looking out at our 615 graduates, I felt great pride in JCN’s role as a leading academic institution for nursing.

As usual, this year’s graduates reflected Jefferson’s wide-ranging commitment to preparing leaders at all entries of practice to lead from day one. We granted 384 graduates a BSN degree, 188 graduates received an MSN degree, 28 were awarded a DNP degree, and 15 completed our Post Graduate Certificate program.

Dean Marino at Thomas Jefferson University's 199th Commencement.

Our graduates were honored by the inspiring presence of a world-renowned nurse icon who has broken many barriers during a career now in its fourth decade: our 2023 honorary degree recipient, Dr. Ernest Grant, immediate past president of the American Nurses Association. A pioneer in a field with few people of color in leadership positions, Dr. Grant called on graduates to follow his lead in breaking barriers. “One of my proudest accomplishments of my ANA presidency was to be able to guide our organization toward a racial reckoning and toward building a sustainable and ongoing effort to atone for and correct this,” he said.

Dr. Grant provided important advice to our graduates: “For hope to triumph, we, as nurses, need to be involved and to lead. That’s my message to you. And let me give you a pointer – something that for many years I have done at the end of each day. I ask myself a simple question: Did I make a difference today?”

Following Dr. Grant’s inspiring words, I had a similar nurse leadership message for the assembled graduates: “We are counting on you to believe in yourselves and to trust your wisdom. And to know that taking risks is easier when you have someone by your side - someone who can remind you that you are better than you think you are, who sees in you things that you do not see in yourself, and pushes you farther than you ever thought you could go. Find that person in your life and latch onto them.”

In my address, I urged our graduates to “be that colleague others seek to work with - the team member that always goes a little further, endures a little longer, and looks a little closer to see how they can add to the effort.” I also reminded them that we have prepared them “for the real world. For a world in which a playbook doesn’t exist. We have prepared you to do your best because your best is needed every day.”

I invite you to enjoy inspiring highlights about some of the College’s outstanding Class of 2023 students. These recent graduates are our future nursing leaders, mentors, and potentially Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. We will fondly remember their time with JCN as our paths cross again.

Class of 2023: Graduate Program Highlights

Rachel Cox
Hometown: Reading, PA

What’s Outstanding?
Rachel’s performance and diligence prompted one of her Clinical Coordinators (and a Jefferson Class of ’18 alum), Nikki Painter Lehman, to ask Rachel to provide anesthesia for her first C-Section at Lancaster Women and Babies Hospital. Rachel performed a “perfect” spinal anesthetic. Mom and her baby boy are happy and healthy! Rachel was thrilled and honored to be asked to help welcome a new life to this world!
— Dr. Jacqueline Mainwaring, Program Director

Why Nursing?
I have always known my compassionate nature would allow me to one day become an excellent healthcare provider.

After obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Biology with hopes of becoming a physician, a shadowing experience changed my entire trajectory and showed me that nursing was my true calling.

Why JCN?
I chose to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the accelerated FACT 1-Year program at Thomas Jefferson University, whose values strongly aligned with my passion for nursing.

The diversity of the education and the technology of the simulation center were unparalleled to other nursing programs.

After graduation, I took a Graduate Nurse position in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, where my nursing career quickly accelerated. I was praised for my swift adaptation to the ICU and my strong base of nursing knowledge, which I had attributed to the education I received from TJU’s Nursing FACT program.

Once in the ICU, I participated in multiple emergency bedside procedures on the sickest of children which had led me to realize that nurse anesthesia is my calling. I also knew I had to return to TJU to fulfill that passion and receive the best possible nurse anesthesia education possible.

What’s Next?
I have a signed contract with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

Houria D’Chira
Hometown: Ardmore, PA

What’s Outstanding?
Houria is a courageous patient advocate and an excellent ambassador for the nursing profession.
— Dr. Lynda Peoples, Program Director

Why JCN?
I love patient care, but I always felt I can do more than being an RN. I enrolled at JCN because some NPs in my organization told me that JCN has a good NP program.

Where She Started and What’s Next?
I have a BS in Biology and was a technical engineer and a production manager in an electronic company in Casablanca/Morocco.

In the beginning, my short-term goal is to work in a big organization, then after gaining experience and confidence, I would like to be part of a team that works on tackling some health issues, especially in underserved communities.

Kelly Donegan

What’s Outstanding?
Kelly is an amazing student who exceled in the program and will be an exceptional NP when she completes her boards. One of her preceptors even described Kelly as hands down the best student she had ever taught.
— Dr. Jennifer Shiroff, Program Director

Jeffrey Schneider
Hometown: Brick, NJ

Why JCN?
Since 2005, my goal was to become an NP. As I entered my late-40's, I saw that milestone becoming less achievable - that is when I decided to pursue the certificate program at Jefferson.

What Influenced You?
I don't think it was a significant course or event that influenced my career goals, it was however being committed to lifelong learning and being surrounded by influential educators throughout my educational experiences.

Coming to Jefferson just solidified my goals and my commitment to the profession - the faculty, especially Dr. Jeannette Kates, Professor Sara Arn, and Professor Katie Neer were among the best educators I've had throughout my life. I am forever thankful to each of them.

Where He Started and What’s Next?
I spent the majority of my nursing career as an oncology nurse and taught clinical at a community college in Jersey City, NJ.

I would like to pursue a career in hospice and palliative care - I am hoping I will find the right opportunity!

Class of 2023: Undergraduate Program Highlights

Maathanki Vijayakumar
Hometown: Edison, NJ

Any Advice?
Try your best, ask questions, and know your resources.

Why JCN?
I wanted to come to Philly.

What’s Next?
My passions are nursing and education. I am applying to the transplant unit at Jefferson and to CHOP. 

Tara Elmeaze
Hometown: Riverside, NJ

What’s Outstanding?
Tara's husband, Shariff, completed the nursing program in 2021; the next year Tara enrolled in the program. Tara has four young children at home and is an exceptional student. Tara is also a SNAP representative. In addition, Tara volunteered for the STEP UP during the pandemic and Zoomed with the high school students about the nursing student and nurse extern role.  
— Dr. Susan Egger, Program Director

Why JCN?
I was in search for a career that would be both fulfilling and help add to the financial security of my family. When considering my options, nursing stood out to me as the perfect fit. When choosing where to go for my degree I had a few options, but I knew that having Jefferson on my diploma would be a choice that I would not regret. Looking back I'm so glad I made the decision to go to Jeff.

What Influenced You?
Going into the nursing program I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do, but I loved the many options that nursing provides. On my last day of clinicals on labor and delivery, I got to be a part of a birth. It was the best clinical day and motivated me to get an externship on labor and delivery.

Where She Started and What’s Next?
I have a BS in theology and church ministry. I have ministered to my local community through various church ministries, including music ministry, teaching children's classes, and counseling.

I currently am an extern on labor and delivery and I plan to work at Jefferson University Hospital in the Mother/Baby or Labor and Delivery unit. I also plan to return to Jefferson's NP program to continue my education.

Meghan Randall
Hometown: Medford, NJ

Why Nursing?
I wanted to help people and be the light on someone’s worst day.

What Influenced You?
My experience with the RRT at Einstein confirmed that I wanted to work in emergency medicine and that I was meant to be a nurse.

What’s Next?
I plan to work in CHOP ER.

Megan LaCasse
Hometown: Chery Hill, NJ

Why Nursing?
I enjoyed teaching as an environmental educator and wanted to continue to grow as a teacher by teaching patients as a nurse. I like that with nursing there are many ways to incorporate teaching in various fields and always new information to learn.

What Influenced You?
During the capstone rotation, I was on 3W - the medical oncology unit at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. I spent a great deal of time educating, interacting, and building relationships with patients. From this experience, I learned that in the field of medical oncology, there is a great opportunity to teach and get to know the patients, as they are often in need of complex treatments and frequent hospital visits.

Where She Started and What’s Next?
I worked in the field of environmental education. I spent several terms with AmeriCorps teaching volunteers how to sustainably build hiking trails and conserve natural environments. I also worked as a park ranger in Yellowstone National Park and educated visitors on various aspects of the park such as geology and wildlife.

Upon graduation, I will be working on 3W Medical Oncology, where I completed my capstone rotation. I'm very excited!

Katherine Rub
Hometown: Hanover, NH

Where She Started and What’s Next?
I was a Paramedic for ten years. I will be working in Abington ER.

Why Nursing?
I wanted to expand my healthcare knowledge and be able to care for patients passed dropping them off in the emergency room.

What Influenced You?
The STU was a great insight into how my more critical patients can end up, and it was eye-opening  to learn that while many patients do not improve at the end of the road, we have incredible capabilities to change their circumstances or transition our focus of care to their families. Either way, even if the patient is unable to be saved, we can create some kind of a positive experience for those involved. It is like a flower growing from concrete.

Mary Feehan
Hometown: Edgewater Park, NJ

What’s Outstanding?
NSGA Vice President, JCN-Dixon Campus; NSNA Honor Society Member.

Why Nursing and JCN?
I have always known that I wanted a career in something that is of service to others; teaching was closer to fulfilling my need to help others, but when the pandemic began, it allowed me the opportunity to work full time and take my prerequisites in order to attend nursing school.

I chose JCN because of their incredible reputation and the fact that the college is connected to so many hospitals making clinical sites easier to get even with the after effects of the pandemic.

What Influenced You?
My 4th day in clinical was incredible. I had never set foot in a hospital as anything other than a patient or family member, but that day I was in the OR peering down into a patient's chest as they were getting open heart surgery. It was incredible and after that experience, I knew that I needed to work in the OR or some sort of critical care.

For capstone, I was placed in a perioperative setting which made me realize that if I worked solely in the OR, I would miss the patient and family interactions that I have as a floor nurse.

With this thought and the encouragement of faculty such as Dr. Fennessey and Professor Butynskyi, I realized that the ICU is my ultimate career goal at this time.

Where She Started and What’s Next?
I was a toy designer for three years and then a high school digital art teacher for six before starting nursing school.

I have been hired to work full time, day shift on 4WW, an Abington Hospital med surg unit.

Jessica Lee
Hometown: Marcy, NY

Why Nursing?
I felt I could help people through some of their most difficult and vulnerable times.

What Influenced You?
I had the opportunity to participate in JCIPEs Palliative Care course. It would be a great privilege to provide care specifically to those at the end of their lives through hospice.

Where She Started and What’s Next?
I have an associate’s degree in fine arts and a bachelor’s degree in industrial design.

I hope to transition from my most recent capstone clinical rotation at Einstein Main Campus’ Operating room as a new hire later this summer.