Erienne Ballard '22, Nursing & Global and International Studies

Malone was an obvious college choice for Erienne Ballard ‘22; her father was a professor, so she grew up at Malone and the Johnson Center was her second home. Additionally, the high pass rate for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and the passionate faculty and staff in the department aided her decision to pursue a degree in nursing and global and international studies at Malone.

“Malone is a small campus, but the professors help the students get to where they want to go,” Ballard said.

Ballard has always had a love for cross-cultural nursing and travel. Jack Harris, professor of business administration emeritus and family friend, is a chairman on the board of Hospital Shalom in San Benito, Guatemala. Due to Ballard’s proficiency in Spanish and her future nursing career, he connected her with the hospital to do an independent study abroad experience for ten weeks during the summer of 2021.

“My goal there is to volunteer and work in the emergency department,” Ballard said. “I’ll observe and do interviews to see how the cultural and economic status in Guatemala affects healthcare.”

Ballard worked with several advisers in her majors and in the honors program to build independent study courses that will allow her to double major, gain hands-on experience, and research her thesis project. Though the pandemic changed her original plans, she has had more time to prepare funds for her trip.

“The nursing program has very capable people who are passionate about nursing and are willing to help students achieve their goals,” Ballard said. “Clinicals have been unpredictable with the pandemic, but Malone has worked to find opportunities for their students.”

Ballard is a trailblazer in many aspects of her academic career and she has been supported by her professors the entire way. She dreams of having a unique, meaningful career that makes her professors proud.

“I want to go into trauma and emergency,” Ballard said. “I’m considering joining the Air Force and my goal is to be an emergency flight nurse in Antarctica. I want to have the opportunity to do something that not a lot of people get to do.”

Do you know a current Malone student who is maximizing their academic potential through hands-on learning opportunities like internships or service to the greater community? Recommend them to be featured in our Student Profiles story series!