By Allie Lewis
The College of Nursing, in collaboration with its professors and students, have chosen to honor one of their best and brightest as this year’s commencement speaker.
Avon, Mass., native Shannon McIsaac will take the podium at Commencement Weekend to address her fellow nursing graduates with a message of perseverance, hope and, above all, kindness. As the College of Nursing Class of 2018 prepare themselves for “what happens next,” McIsaac will provide words of motivation and support.
During McIsaac’s time at the University of Rhode Island, her involvement inside and out of the classroom has exemplified her character. She has shown dedication to her studies and the communities she serves in her free time.
Over the course of this past year alone, as the president of URI’s Rotaract community service club, McIsaac has led her fellow students in working with the Welcome House homeless shelter and the Jonnycake Center’s Food Bank in Peace Dale, and with students at Peace Dale Elementary School, among other organizations across the state.
“Shannon is an outstanding representative, not only for the College of Nursing, but for the University,” said Assistant Clinical Professor Christine McGrane. “She is always looking to improve process, activities and outcomes for those who come after her. She is the type of person you want to assign a project because she takes it on full-throttle and consistently goes above and beyond expectations.”
In addition to the services McIsaac helps facilitate thought Rotaract, her clinical experience in respite care has inspired her to find more opportunities for future students. Working with McGrane, she has helped develop new programs to connect caregivers in need of help caring for a loved one with students looking for valuable experience.
Read more about the College of Nursing Respite Care Program here
“It’s giving more opportunities for people to do respite care, and also providing more families in the area the opportunity to connect with someone who can provide services,” McIsaac said. “So many families have members with disabilities but not enough resources. My goal for respite care nursing is to make more opportunities for students to find out about this and for families to get the help that they need.”
After all her work to help others in need, along with her fellow nursing undergraduate peers, McIsaac said learning that she’d been picked as commencement speaker was a huge thrill. Although she’s sad to leave URI behind, she said she looks forward to what’s to come.
“I have loved every second of being a nursing student at URI,” McIsaac said. “I wouldn’t change it for the world — it has shaped me into the person that I am today. Over the past four years I have been surrounded by some of the brightest and most compassionate students I have ever met and I can only imagine the impact my peers will have on the patients they serve and the world around them.”
The College of Nursing Pinning Ceremony will directly follow the main commencement ceremony addresses in Mackal Field House May 20 at 2:30 p.m.