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Class Year: 2025
Program: Master of Nursing

After spending years researching spider brains, conducting bone marrow transplants in mice and even swimming with sharks, Brittany Cordova felt like something was missing.

“I realized I wanted a career that allowed for more human interaction,” she said. “Nursing offers a patient-focused path that combines both the intellectual challenge of science and the empathetic connection I was looking for.”

For Cordova, nursing is about more than providing care—she sees it as a way to form meaningful connections. As a Master of Nursing student at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, she finds the greatest reward in building relationships with patients, learning what they love and helping them regain their health so they can continue pursuing their passions.

Cordova’s journey to nursing was anything but conventional. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in chemistry from Eastern New Mexico University and a Master of Science in neuroscience from Bowling Green State University.

With her background in science, Cordova was drawn to the School of Nursing’s unique blend of classroom and clinical experience from day one. For her, CWRU was the perfect fit. 

“The partnerships with major hospitals and networking opportunities have been invaluable for my growth,” she shared.

Her time at the school has also led to unexpected discoveries. 

“I did not expect to be able to form such strong connections with the elderly population,” she said. “I have always found it easy to interact with kids, so pediatrics came easy to me, but geriatric rotations were so rewarding because of the relationships I had with the patients who had so much personality and wonderful stories to share.” 

Outside of nursing, Cordova has a rich background in music, playing percussion instruments in various bands and ensembles at other universities. She also held leadership roles in student government, Greek life and other campus activities.

After graduating in May, she plans to work in an intensive care unit—preferably at Cleveland Clinic—while expanding her personal travel log, and eventually pursuing a career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

“The School of Nursing has given me the support to grow while maintaining balance in my life,” Cordova said. “I’m excited for what’s ahead.”