Ekemini E. Emah ’09 chose to attend Shenandoah University because she knew a private school might provide more interactions with students from all over the world, making it a great opportunity for her to learn from the different cultures and also share hers, as a Nigerian immigrant. “Shenandoah gave me the opportunity to build friendships that will last a lifetime,” said Emah.
Emah also found a great mentor in former Assistant Professor of Nursing and Veteran-to-BSN Program Faculty Leader Sherry Rawls-Bryce, MSN, RN, FCN. Rawls-Bryce introduced Emah to her nursing colleagues in the area and gave her some useful information to help guide her to a successful career. When Emah told Rawls-Bryce she was going into the military after graduation, Rawls-Bryce encouraged her to apply to the United States Air Force Nurse Corps. Emah is now a nurse manager for the Pentagon Flight Medicine of the United States Air Force. “I am ever thankful that she pointed me in that direction,” said Emah.
As a nurse manager, she leads, directs and develops nursing personnel of the clinic for its enrolled population. She ensures compliance with internal and external regulatory governing bodies, such as the Department of Defense, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Air Force. Emah also trains and oversees orientation and skills verification for support staff.
One of Emah’s most rewarding experiences of her career was serving as a camp nurse with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, where family members gather to grieve and heal from the deaths of loved ones who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Another rewarding experience for her was organizing and raising funds for a mission trip to Nigeria to supply students in orphanage homes with sanitary items and school supplies.
The education that Emah received from Shenandoah prepared her to be a leader in her career and seek out ways to make her career field better. The experiences that Emah also received from her clinical gave her the confidence to feel comfortable in any hospital setting she was put into as a nurse.
Emah likes to give back to the university now through the Shenandoah Admitted Student Congratulatory Postcard Campaign. “The past two years, I have had the privilege of writing personalized welcome notes to the students who have been accepted into the school,” said Emah I especially brings me great joy to welcome a student into the nursing program. Shenandoah is my family.”