• Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island

The inspiration for Leslie’s nursing career came from watching nurses care for her great-grandmother when she was ill. She knew then that she wanted to be the kind of nurse that makes a positive, caring impact on her patients and their families.

She already knew about URI’s strong reputation for nursing education, but she’s been pleasantly surprised by the diversity within the College of Nursing, especially the growing number of male nurses. And she’s excited about the new residence hall opening up for nursing underclassmen, “which is going to be amazing,” she says.

Equally amazing are the nursing professors at URI, who Leslie says are invaluable in preparing students for the most professional career possible – from proper etiquette to hard-earned grades to the strictest professionalism expected in the real world. She says they’re helping her become the kind of nurse she wished her great-grandmother had – one who is happy, compassionate, and unlimited in her care.