Fuld Scholars 2005-2006

Jhordice Arreola

Graduated from the University of California at Irvine in 2001 with a BA in Psychology, and from the University of Phoenix in 2004 with an MBA (3.7 GPA). Jhordice worked in a home health agency for a few years, and then became interested in nursing as a career after caring for an ill family member in the Phillipines.

Emily Benham

Graduated from the University of Rochester in 2004 with a BA in Psychology and a 3.48 GPA. She has been a research assistant and has been employed as a psychiatric technician. Emily's goal is to become a nurse anesthetist.

Maria Biuso

Graduated from Empire State College in 2003 with a BS in Human Development and a 3.46 GPA. Maria has had various positions, including nursing assistant, high school substitute teacher, and President and Publisher of the Daily Record (a legal newspaper).

Jake Blaydes

Graduated from Empire State College in 1998 with a BS in Business Management. Jake is a personal trainer and martial arts instructor with over a decade of experience in the fitness industry. He has traveled extensively, including living with tribes in Southeast Asia.

Laurie Brassie

Graduated with honors from SUNY Brockport with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. In addition to a successful career in Sales and Marketing, she has health care experience as a Patient Care and Chemistry Lab Technician, a hospice volunteer, and EMT work, including dispatching for Mercy Flight.

James Brotherton

Graduated from the University of Dayton in 1994 with a BS in Physical Education. He has been a personal trainer for 10 years, and worked with physical therapists. James was a high school tennis head coach. His long-term goal is to become a nurse practitioner.

Theresa Byrnes

Graduated from Eckerd College in 2003 with a BS in Marine Biology (3.27 GPA). She has been a telemetry technician in the ICU, and a central sterile technician, and is currently working for Highland Hospital as a patient care technician in their orthopedic unit. Theresa's long-term interest is in forensics.

Elizabeth Cinanni

Graduated from SUNY Oswego in 2003 with a BS in Wellness Management (3.07 GPA) and a minor in Health Science. Her work experience has been in marketing with the Arthritis Foundation. Elizabeth is also an EMT, and has volunteered for hospice and Habitat for Humanity. Her goal is to specialize in pediatrics or OB-GYN.

Courtney Cooper

Graduated from Roberts Wesleyan in 2001 with a BA in History and a 3.71 GPA. She has been a paralegal and title clerk. Courtney is in the naval reserves. Her interest in nursing began at age 14 when she was a candy striper.

Carlyn Doyle

Originally from Montana , graduated from the University of Montana in 2004 with a BS in Exercise Science. She was raised on a ranch and her mother is an RN, inspiring her to do the same. Carlyn has worked in a group home for troubled adolescents and her goal is to become a nurse practitioner.

Phyllis Durrant

Has a BS in Health Sciences (2000, SUNY Brockport) and had her own medical experience with a highly malignant osteogenic tumor at age 17. Phyllis has a wealth of experience in such areas as orthopedic clinical research, public health education, bone marrow transplant coordination and clinical trials coordination. She is in the family nurse practitioner track.

Susan Edelman

Has a PhD in Economics from Stanford University, has worked as an economist for the Department of Defense, and has been an assistant professor at Columbia University. She was a research scientist with Harris Interactive. Susan has extensive experience in microeconomic analysis and public policy research.

Rebecca Edington

Graduated from SUNY Brockport in 2003 with a BS in the Biological Sciences. She has worked as a medical laboratory technician in the blood bank, and in the reproductive endocrinology and clinical chemistry departments. Rebecca spent two months in Chile.

Selamawit Gobena

Graduated from Poona College in India in 1993 with a BA in Marketing, and from RIT in 2001 with an MBA. She was born and raised in Ethiopia. Selamawit's prior experience has been in sales and marketing.

Jennifer Hefley

Graduated from the University of Hartford Hartt School of Music in 2001 with a BM in Music Composition and a 3.78 GPA. She has spent nine years in the Army Reserve and is a Staff Sergeant. Jennifer became interested in nursing through her volunteer work in the emergency department.

Dyan Kaneshiro

Originally from California and Hawaii, graduated from Mt. Holyoke College in 1995 with a BA in Biochemistry. She was a chemist for an international company and also has experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

Elizabeth Kawana

From Hawaii, graduated from Willamette University in 2002 with a BA in Psychology and a 3.68 GPA. Elizabeth has been an English teacher in Japan and an international peer counselor. She is a nursing assistant and her long-term goal is to become a gerontological nurse practitioner.

Deirdre Kelley

Graduated in 1988 from SUNY Binghamton with a BA in Psychology, and from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1992. She has been an assistant district attorney and a tribal prosecutor for the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, particularly with child abuse and neglect cases. Most recently, Deirdre has been a property attorney and associate member of the Michigan State Bar Committee on Indian Law. She hopes to combine her degrees and pursue health law and/or medical malpractice.

Elisabeth Larson

Graduated from the University of Rochester in 2003 with a BA in Psychology with a 3.71 GPA. She also has a certificate in management studies. Elisabeth has worked for the Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and was the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Coordinator.

Amanda Loiselle

Graduated from the University of Rochester in 2003 with a BS in Psychology. She has experience as an assistant in pediatric neurology, at the Strong Epilepsy Center, and as a research assistant at the School of Nursing. Amanda is interested in the area of psychiatric mental health and her goal is a doctoral degree.

Jennifer McGar

Graduated from SUNY Binghamton in 2003 with a BA in Human Development. She was a special education teaching fellow in Brooklyn. Jennifer was also a patient unit secretary and her goal is to work with children and adolescents and their families.

Amy McLymond

Has a BS in Natural Resources from Cornell University (1997). Amy grew up in Fairport, NY, and returned home after college to do educational programs at the Seneca Park Zoo. She continues her connection with animals and the environment with a small zoo at home, including two lop-eared rabbits, a golden retriever, and many goldfish. Amy's volunteer work as a paramedic sparked her interest in nursing, and she hopes to continue on into an NP program.

Patti Megerle

Graduated with a BS in Management (3.75 GPA) from St. John Fisher College and has been a systems analyst for Kodak for many years. She has managed large software product development projects. Patti has traveled in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Her volunteer work at a local hospice sparked her interest in nursing.

Makeeda Mendoza-Booker

Graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 1994 with a BA in Biology, and from Long Island University in 1997 with an MS in Community Health and a 3.78 GPA. Most recently, Makeeda has been the HR Professional for a law firm.

John Minton

A native southern Californian, graduated from Wheaton College in 1997 with a BA in Spanish. He has traveled extensively since college, touring 20 countries scattered throughout Europe, Central and South America, and the Middle and Far East. John also served as a volunteer aboard a medical ship providing free care to Caribbean nations.

Elaine Moyer

graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College in 1991 with a BS in Elementary Education and Psychology, and from SUNY Geneseo in 1998 with an MS in Education, Reading and a 3.9 GPA. Elaine has taught elementary, middle school, and most recently at Genesee Community College. She has also traveled on missions trips to Sri Lanka and India, and is a pianist for her church.

Klariza Robles

Originally from New Jersey, graduated from the University of Rochester in 2005 with a BS in Biological Sciences and Molecular Genetics. She was born and raised in the Phillipines. Klariza has experience as a camp counselor, and as a computer consultant. Her long-term goal is to become a nurse anesthetist.

David Ross

Graduated from the University of Rochester in 1974 with a BA in Political Science and a BS in Chemistry and a 3.44 GPA. He had a 30-year career as a chemical technician and scientist. David's long-term interest is in medical missions.

Megan Sheldon

Was born in South Dakota, raised in Texas, and has lived in upstate New York, Washington, D.C., London, England, and most recently, Boston, Massachusetts. She is a magna cum laude graduate from Skidmore College and a member of Phi Beta Kappa who received a BA in Women's Studies in 2001 and then completed a program in Postbaccalaureate Premedical Studies at Tufts University in 2003. Megan worked as a research assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Department of Genetics and Teratology and has also worked as a clinic assistant and HIV counselor for Planned Parenthood's Greater Boston site.

Adam Tatemann

A native of Vermont, graduated from the University of Vermont in 2000 with a BS in Biology and a special focus in neuroscience. He has experience working with individuals of all ages who have autism. Adam also has worked with troubled teens. His goals include gaining experience in a wide range of nursing disciplines, ultimately leading to university teaching and publishing original research.

Marybeth Bell

Graduated from Cornell University in 1997 with a BS in Rural Sociology. She has worked as a surgical scrub technician, has taught English in Japan, and has played professional soccer! Marybeth also taught in the school system in the states for three years. Marybeth is in the Accelerated Masters program to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She hopes to work in the pediatric cardiothoracic specialty area.

Abigail Black

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, graduated from the University of Rochester in 2005 with a BA in both Biology and Spanish. She has worked for the University of Rochester Medical Center as a laboratory technician for the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy. Abigail also has served as the coordinator for a volunteer literacy program working with minority children in the Rochester City School District . Abigail is in the Accelerated Master's Program, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner track.

Kristin Buchholz

A Wisconsin native, graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, in 1993, with a BA in English. She has been a musician with the U.S. Air Force and the Washington State Air Force National Guard bands. Kristin has experience as a nursing assistant in a long-term care facility and as interim study coordinator for the Seattle Children's Hospital nephrology department. She is in the Accelerated Master's program with a concentration in cardiovascular acute care.

Joy Felton

Originally from Florida , graduated from the University of Florida in 2004 with a BS in Nutritional Science. She was a unit clerk on a pediatric unit at Shand's Teaching Children Hospital at the University of Florida and assisted at a juvenile detention center. Joy is in the Accelerated Master's program to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Annalee Ghiloni

Originally from Maine, graduated from Middlebury College in 2005 with a BA in Psychology. She has traveled in Italy and has mentored a high school student. Other nurses in Annalee's family led to her interest in the field. Annalee is in the Accelerated Master's program to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Elizabeth Iannello

Graduated from the University of Rochester in 1999 with a BA in Psychology. She has been a residential counselor for a mental health facility. Elizabeth is in the Accelerated Master's program in the Psychiatric Mental Health NP track.

Venus Kam

Graduated from SUNY Stonybrook in 2004 with a BS in Health Science, and a concentration in public health. She has worked in a pediatric office and with "Adapted Aquatics" for the disabled. Venus is in the Accelerated Master's program to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Gina Luna

Originally from California, graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 2005 with a BS in Biology. Gina is bilingual (Spanish) and her goal is to work with the impoverished in Latin American countries. Gina is in the Accelerated Master's program to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Andrea Sharkness

Graduated from Cornell University in 2004 with a BS in Nutrition and a GPA of 3.99/4.3. Her interesting nursing was fueled by her own experiences with gymnastics-related injuries. Andrea is in the Accelerated Master's program (pediatrics and psychiatric mental health track) and wants to eventually treat eating disorders and other stresses affecting today's youth.

Danielle Simpatico

Graduated from SUNY Cortland in 2002 with a BA in Psychology. She has been a counselor in a group home for mentally ill adults. Danielle is in the Accelerated Master's program to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.