IU School of Nursing

Across IU campuses in Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne, the Student Nurses’ Associations (SNA) are doing something extraordinary.

Through mentorship, community engagement, and events that help students succeed academically, personally, and professionally, these student-run organizations are building a vital bridge between the nursing classroom and nursing profession.

At the heart of this work are six dedicated SNA officers whose energy and commitment help shape each campus’ community. Their shared goal: to make the path through nursing school a little easier—and a lot more connected—for their classmates and every student who follows.

On each campus, the groups reflect the needs of its students and communities:

• Bloomington—Bloomington’s SNA includes 168 members, offering programs that span professional development, community engagement, and student wellness, said senior nursing student and co-president Aidan Clifford. Co-president Max Lindenmayer, also a senior, noted the “significant increase in membership this year,” including the milestone of having more mentors than mentees.
  
  
• Fort Wayne—Senior nursing student and SNA president Lis Navarro described the 60-plus–member Fort Wayne chapter as dedicated to leadership development, advocacy, and community involvement, especially with local teens and young people. Vice president Greg Brown, a junior, added that as a younger organization, “there’s still some blank canvas involved” as the Fort Wayne SNA continues building its role on campus.
  
  
• Indianapolis—With roughly 150 active members, the Indianapolis SNA emphasizes service, wellness, and professional growth. Senior nursing student and co-president Roxy Bewley highlighted efforts to connect students across cohorts and provide leadership opportunities. Junior nursing student and co-president Isaac Onwodi pointed to the recent professional development panel with leaders from IU Health and Eskenazi as a standout event.

Learning Through Service, Impact Through Action

For many students, SNA offers some of their most memorable lessons by taking them beyond lectures and labs and into the community.

“Community engagement is definitely a cornerstone of SNA,” said Bewley.

At IU Fort Wayne, that commitment comes to life through a diverse range of activities and events, including the Community Harvest Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House, Adams Elementary School, the Teddy Bear Clinic, the Boys & Girls Clubs’ IU Health Career Academy, and the Allen County Fair, according to Navarro.

With so many opportunities to serve in Fort Wayne, SNA leaders naturally have their favorites within their own communities.

“Adams Elementary Career Day was my favorite,” Navarro said. “I loved interacting with the children, who shared stories about how nurses helped them and their families. One even made me an art piece. It reminded me of the strong, compassionate nurse I’m becoming.”

Bewley pointed to the Narcan kit–packing event with Overdose Lifeline.

“Seeing my classmates come together to address a public health crisis was incredibly rewarding,” she said. “We assembled more than 4,500 kits to help combat the opioid epidemic, demonstrating the impact you can have even before graduation.”

For Brown, working with Fort Wayne teens held special meaning “and is a big reason I joined SNA,” he said. “I want young men to see a man in the role of a nurse. Sometimes being the change you want to see begins with being visible to young people and proud of your path.”

Navigating the Journey

No discussion of the support that SNA provides would be complete without highlighting the wide range of academic and personal resources available to students.

“Nursing students face intense academic demands, high stress levels, and the challenge of balancing clinicals, coursework, and personal life,” Clifford said. “SNA aims to normalize these challenges and give students tools and resources to manage them effectively.”

Mentorship programs offered by SNA on all three campuses pair new students with experienced peers—support that “helps students feel encouraged, get advice, and build confidence as they progress through the program,” said Onwodi.

Group study sessions are a “must” and another key resource, noted Navarro, who added that students can always reach out to SNA’s leaders and faculty advisors—Lecturer Jamie Lupfer (Bloomington), Lecturer Jamie Vinson and Clinical Assistant Professor Tara Grier (Fort Wayne), and Clinical Assistant Professor Linda Sinclair (Indianapolis)—for guidance and connections to campus-specific academic resources.

SNA’s chapters also host wellness activities to ease stress in creative ways. Lindenmayer recalled SNA Bloomington’s end-of-semester yoga and arts and crafts event.

“It was so rewarding to see so many students take the time to prioritize their wellness,” he said.

Together, these supports form a network of care that helps nursing students feel empowered, both inside and outside the classroom.

Leaving a Legacy

As they near graduation, the senior officers will leave behind some very big shoes to fill. Do they have any advice for those who will follow in their footsteps?

“Just remember, your leadership role is about helping other students,” said Brown. “It’s not about you or your resume. It’s about being willing to help others by enriching their experience and, along the way, enriching your own.”

“Stay consistent, communicate clearly, keep an open mind, and rely on your team,” added Bewley. “Leadership can be tough, but if you stay true to your values and goals, you can really make a difference.”

And how would today’s leaders like SNA to be remembered?

“More than anything, I hope students remember SNA as a space where they felt supported, included, and encouraged to grow, not just as nursing students, but as people,” said Clifford, “and they remember the sense of community they felt and the reminder that they don’t have to navigate nursing school alone.”