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As I write this, I’m in an AirBnB in New Orleans, waiting for the students to get ready to go to Gospel Brunch. What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than with good music and good food, which will certainly remind me of my own mother and father who raised me both with food for the body but also food for the spirit in the form of music in our home.

In the English department, we professors like to say, “Students can do anything with an English major.” What we mean is that an English major equips a person with skills transferable to almost any career, and almost any path. Our 2025 graduates prove the point.  

The Thomsen Observatory at Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) has recently received a generous $13,350 grant to upgrade its equipment and facilities. This investment furthers our mission to provide an exceptional viewing and educational experience for the surrounding communities. Visitors to the observatory not only gain a deeper appreciation for the science of astronomy but also for the Creator of all that we can see and beyond.

Mickynzie Ramsey graduated from SWAU in December of 2022. After graduating, she worked as a PCU nurse at Medical City Fort Worth for a year before transferring to Baylor Scott & White Surgicare to work in Pre-op. Currently, she is working at Texas Health Huguley Hospital, and has felt progressive growth at each stage of her nursing career. Mickynzie says that the many doors and opportunities that have opened for her have been "answers to prayer".
"When I graduated, I thought that I had a pretty good work-life balance," Mickynzie says, reminiscing on the expectations she had for life after college. "After getting my first job, I realized just how hectic being a nurse really was! I even considered whether or not it was my calling." Mickynzie says that the experience of overcoming adversity helped shape her, not only as a nurse but as a person. "Sometimes, your expectations will get overruled or need to change," she says. "In those situations, you need to be flexible, adaptable, and be able to keep going forward!" 
Mickynzie is set to be in the first cohort of the brand-new Master of Science in Nursing Education Program at SWAU, and she says that her expectations are pretty high. "My experience in undergrad set me up for a great learning environment, one where I knew the professors wanted me to succeed. I also found that after graduating, I had all the tools I needed to be successful and had formed connections that benefit me even today. That's what I'm hoping to get out of a SWAU MSN program!" 
Mickynzie is motivated to continue her education by a strong desire to teach and help others. During her undergrad, she felt she was doing her best when she was helping to lead: be that in a study group, tutoring, or other nursing events. Coming from a family of educators, Mickynzie knows the value of learning and understands that a nurse can never learn too much. "It is unwise (even dangerous) for a nurse to stop asking questions," Mickynzie says. "Whether you are new to the profession or a seasoned nurse, everyone can learn from everyone."