Erin Howell

Erin Howell was inspired to become a nurse while serving as a public health volunteer in the United States Peace Corps in rural Mozambique, Africa.

A student in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner program, Erin is expected to graduate in May 2026.

“In Africa, I volunteered in the local community hospital, with patients diagnosed with malaria and HIV, as well as with undernourished children,” she shared. “Seeing patients significantly affected by limited resources, medications and treatment options, inspired me to go into a nursing career so I could do more for such communities.”

Through the College of Nursing, Erin has been able to volunteer with Nursing Heart Inc. in Guatemala as part of a study abroad program.

“It was a privilege to be able to volunteer in Guatemala and be welcomed so kindly into the communities we visited,” Erin said, adding that the patients wanted to prioritize their health, and the health of their families – some walking miles to do so.

“Being in a community with limited access to health care and medical resources demonstrates the difference one nurse can make, and the importance of helping where help is needed most,” she emphasized.

In 2025, Erin also volunteered at Camp Boggy Creek during the Sickle Cell Week and Seizure Week. Camp Boggy Creek is a year-round medical camping center in Eustis, Florida, for children with serious and chronic illnesses and their families.

Erin also has a Bachelor’s in Public Health degree, and English Language & Literature from the College of William & Mary, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Marquette University.

While working as a nurse in the Emergency Department and Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Erin realized she wanted to learn to provide more comprehensive care, which led her to the graduate program at Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing.

“By becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner, I will be able to serve patients across the lifespan for a variety of conditions,” Erin stated.

After graduation, she hopes to work in a community with limited access to health services, where providing quality care to families and children is especially important.

“I also hope to continue volunteering abroad as a nurse and nurse practitioner throughout my life,” she shared.