Meet Conway Scholar Cody Mitchell
Cody Mitchell is a student in the second degree accelerated BSN program at Villanova University’s M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. Hailing from Long Island, New York, Cody brings to the nursing program a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology from Pennsylvania State University as well as work experience as a care coordinator at New York City’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Cody is among our inaugural cohort of Conway Scholars, a program established for a five-year period through the generosity of Joanne and William E. Conway, Jr. where 40 scholarships are being awarded over each year to Second Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing students through the Joanne and William Conway Scholarship Program.
Below, Cody shares some of his experiences and goals in nursing.
What motivated you to become a nurse? Working closely with the nurses, nurse practitioners and most importantly the oncology patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Seeing the impact that nurses have on people and the opportunities that nurses have to make an influence in healthcare was truly motivating.
Why did you choose Villanova Nursing for your nursing degree? Villanova University has a rich history in nursing and that was apparent to me when you look at the number of nursing leaders and great nurses that Villanova has produced. It was important to me to start my nursing career off on the right track and Villanova has lived up to that.
What additional activities have you been involved in while at Villanova, if any? Any details you wish to share? Since my time here at Villanova I’ve become the Second-Degree BSN Flex Class Representative for Villanova’s Student Nurses' Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP), the Second-Degree BSN Flex Class Representative for The Undergraduate Nursing Senate (UNS), the first ever Second-Degree Villanova SNAP President, and one of the Directors of the National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA). In addition, this summer of 2023, I was a student nurse extern on the Oncology unit at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
What have you enjoyed about the program? I’ve enjoyed many things about Villanova from their top-notch facilities to their amazing clinical sites/partnerships. However, what has been most important to me is the support I’ve gotten from the faculty at Villanova. It has made a big difference to me not only academically but to me as a person.
What’s been challenging? The most challenging part for me personally is just pacing myself. Villanova has so many different opportunities to offer and I’ve realized that although each opportunity has its benefits, I can’t do it all. Focusing on what will benefit me the most is what I’ve learned along the way.
What difference has being a Conway Scholar made in your education experience? It has made a big difference! Receiving the Conway scholarship at the beginning of my nursing student journey has catapulted me into great opportunities and academic success. Financial burdens are a major deterrent for many students deciding to go back to school, so the ability to be awarded a scholarship to ease any burdens is truly a blessing.
What are your career goals in nursing? As of right now my goals are to either be an oncology nurse or an operating room nurse. In the future I would like to pursue a role in leadership with the hopes of guiding my fellow nurses on the path to progress and better patient outcomes.
What advice would you share with a future student? Don’t be afraid to be involved, ask questions or pursue the specialty/path that you desire. You can shape your own nursing student journey.
Anything else you’d like to add? It is an honor to be a Conway Scholar and I will continue to represent this scholarship to the best of my ability.