Jennifer transferred to Texas State in 2012 for her sophomore year after a year playing college basketball. Originally from Louisiana, she was drawn to Texas State by the opportunities it offered and the fact that her best friend was attending.

On campus, Jennifer fully embraced the Texas State experience. She was a member of the Honors College, joined the co-ed honors fraternity Pi Sigma Phi, and spent her summers volunteering at Texas State’s autism camp. She loved grabbing Manske Rolls, eating with friends at Grins, and hanging out at Sewell Park.

Jennifer also participated in the Housley course, and thirteen years later, she still reflects on the lessons that influence her career—particularly the trust equation and the importance of time management. Through Housley, she learned the value of intentional time use and daily discipline.

Although she did not graduate from Texas State, Jennifer looks back on her time there with gratitude. She later earned her nursing degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, completed her master’s, and continues to expand her expertise in educational leadership. She currently serves as a Biocontainment Care Unit Clinical Educator.

Recently, Jennifer launched the Lirette Leadership Nursing Scholarship, inspired by her father and her lifelong commitment to volunteering and giving back. She is thrilled to begin supporting students through this scholarship, which will launch this fall.

Jennifer is excited to give back to the Texas State Nursing community and hopes to inspire future nurses. Her advice: “Spend time learning self-care. The field is challenging, but don’t forget to take care of yourself. You must be proactive in preventing burnout.”