By
Djerica Lamousnery
Hometown: North Attleboro, Mass.
Major: Nursing
Notable Activities/Achievements: KILN (Keys To Inclusive Leadership In Nursing) Scholar; Undergraduate Research Assistant; First Year Experience Orientation and 48 Hours Leader; member, Council for Women at Boston College Student Advisory Committee; 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship finalist.
Post-graduation Plans: Work as a staff nurse at a hospital and later pursue advanced studies to become a nurse practitioner and work in the global public health arena.
Overview: Lamousnery, who always had an interest in science, said she first thought seriously about becoming a nurse in high school when a hospital stay brought her in contact with the compassionate care of nurses. As a Connell School of Nursing student, she’s conducted clinical rotations at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s postpartum unit and Massachusetts General Hospital’s medical surgical unit, and earlier this year spent a week in Haiti where she and other CSON students saw about a thousand patients in clinics in rural villages and a tent city. During her semester abroad in South Africa, Lamousnery volunteered with University of Cape Town medical students on mobile medical clinics that delivered health care services to impoverished residents of nearby townships. Selected for the pilot class of KILN Scholars — a program designed to increase diversity in nursing leadership — she worked with a mentor to develop a curriculum that could educate and certify nurses for emergency relief work.
Q: What has been your most memorable experience during your years at BC?
Earlier this semester I went to back to Haiti, for the first time since I was six years old. I went on a [CSON] trip to provide medical care to those living in remote parts of Haiti. I had wanted to go there since last year’s earthquake and help people. I feel like I made a real connection with so many people we treated because I spoke the language and looked like them. I got to see my old house in Port-au-Prince and my uncle. It was very emotional for me. I feel closer to my culture as a result of that trip.
Q: Talk about the project you worked on as Undergraduate Research Assistant.
I was part of a research team led by [CSON Associate Professor] Angela Amar that examined dating violence on college campuses. We surveyed a number of schools to determine what kind of training and resources schools had to deal with dating violence situations and if students who were victims of dating violence felt supported. We found that many students were not comfortable reporting incidents of dating violence at their schools and that many schools were lacking adequate resources to properly respond to such situations.
Q: Who have been the most important people on campus to you?
[CSON Associate Dean] Catherine Read has been integral in my growth here at Boston College. She saw something in me from the start and has given me faith in myself. She’s opened doors to so many opportunities for me. She is my cheerleader. Angela [Amar] is another amazing woman. I am very inspired by her.
Q: How has BC made a difference in your life?
My experiences in South Africa and Haiti have spurred my interest in global public health. I have seen first-hand the disparity in health care.
Q: What will you miss most about BC?
I will miss my friends and the closeness and community of support that the Connell School offers. BC has amazing students; everyone has such passion for their projects.
To read our next "Six to Remember" student profile, NFL-bound Anthony Castonzo, click here.