Representation matters. Community matters. Prospective students find it important to know if they will find community within our nursing programs. And while there are many ways for students to get involved, including the Black Student Nurses Association, Adventure Medicine, Latin X, Birth Companions, etc., students pictured above (from left to right, James Pointer, Morgan Ward, Brianna Hardy, Cierra McBean, Kayla Henry, Akeem Predeoux, Janai Williams), found community within Divine 9 organizations belonging to the National Panhellenic Council (NPHC), prior to their arrival at the School of Nursing. However, their shared interest of community and service have led students to explore health care in Baltimore City and beyond. The National Panhellenic Council affiliates 9 historically black fraternities and sororities. Students pictured above belong to several of these organizations, including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Each student has gone through their individual processes at their undergraduate institution and through conversation and shared experiences, grew friendships that grounded them throughout their nursing education journey. Although there is no formal process to cross into Divine 9 organizations at the School of Nursing, I hope this creates the opportunity for prospective students to be able to see themselves at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.
About the Author: Alexander Murphy
Alexander Murphy is the Assistant Director for Diversity Initiatives and Healthcare Organizational Leadership Recruitment at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Alexander is part of the admissions team.
