The challenges of making a major career shift, like having a family that includes three young children, have not kept Adam Mann from pursing a second college degree. He is completing Marymount University’s accelerated nursing program.
The Arlington resident’s hard work and academic success has earned him recognition as one of three recipients of the Owens & Minor Nursing Scholarship, which is presented by the Virginia Nurses Association. Candidates for the $1,500 scholarship are nursing majors who hold a 3.0 or higher GPA, are full-time juniors or seniors and are Virginia residents. Applicants also submit a personal statement of why he or she has chosen to pursue a nursing career.
Mann’s advisor, Assistant Professor of Nursing Karen Dodd, calls the accelerated nursing program demanding. Those enrolled have earned a previous bachelor’s degree, and with the required prerequisites, complete the rigorous program in just under 16 months.
“I am glad he was selected as a scholarship recipient,” Dodd said. “He is an outstanding student and I believe he will excel in the nursing profession.”
She was immediately impressed when they met because of his significant career change. Prior to entering the program, Mann had used his Notre Dame education in finance and English as an accountant for a nonprofit. Both he and his wife, Lauren, were inspired to go into nursing when their first child was born with health issues and spent his first three months in a hospital.
“We were basically living in the hospital and were exposed to a lot of really good nursing care,” he said.
Lauren Mann, who now works at Children’s National Medical Center, earned her Marymount accelerated B.S.N. in December 2016. Her husband started the program just four weeks later and will earn the same degree in May.
“We are delighted that Adam has been chosen by the Virginia Nurses Association for this scholarship award, in recognition of his academic achievement and his commitment to nursing as a profession,” said Dr. Jeanne Matthews, dean of the Malek School of Health Professions.
