Published on Dec. 12, 2024
Hailing from Ballwin, Missouri, Emma Morrow’s journey to Mizzou was a family tradition, following in the footsteps of her brother and father. Drawn by the exceptional Sinclair School of Nursing and the welcoming community on campus, Morrow quickly found her home at Mizzou. As a nursing major with minors in Spanish and leadership and public service, as well as the Multicultural Certificate, Morrow embraced a holistic education that combined rigorous academics with a passion for helping others.
Morrow’s time at Mizzou was marked by meaningful involvement and impactful experiences. As a Discovery Fellow in the Honors College, she contributed more than 425 hours of nursing research under the mentorship of LeeAnne Sherwin, an associate teaching professor, co-authoring publications and presenting at conferences. She also studied abroad in Peru, where she deepened her connection to Spanish language and culture, culminating in a moment of using her nursing skills to help a child in need. Beyond academics, Morrow served as a leader in organizations like the Mizzou Student Nurses’ Association and regularly volunteered with the Central Missouri Humane Society, M.A.R.K. and her church’s mission trips.
Post graduation, Morrow is excited to begin her career as a pediatric critical care nurse at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Inspired by her faith and her desire to bridge language barriers in healthcare, she aspires to work in South America with underserved communities after earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Reflecting on her time at Mizzou, Morrow credits the Honors College and the campus community for shaping her into a compassionate, skilled nurse who’s ready to make a global impact.
Why did you choose Mizzou?
I chose Mizzou first and foremost because of its excellent nursing program, knowing it would teach me to be a competent and compassionate nurse. It makes me proud to say I attend the University of Missouri, as our students embody sincere community and teamwork. Campus truly feels like home to me, and I loved the idea of staying here in Missouri, as I am from Ballwin, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. I have an older brother, Ben, who graduated from Mizzou with his chemical engineering degree in 2023, and my dad earned his master’s degree here at Mizzou, too, so my entire family bleeds black and gold! I am grateful for all the opportunities and academic excellence Mizzou has to offer, which had a significant influence on my decision to attend Mizzou.
Why did you choose the Honors College?
I chose Mizzou’s Honors College because of its fantastic reputation. I knew I wanted to be in an engaging, challenging and rewarding environment while in college, and the Honors College here checked all those boxes. I am grateful to have participated in undergraduate research, studied abroad, earned scholarships and gained admission to Sinclair School of Nursing because of my involvement in the Honors College. Smaller class sizes, genuine and long-lasting faculty connections, and opportunities for a deeper pursuit of the nursing profession attracted me to apply for the Honors College, as well as pushed me to continue to work toward earning my Honors Certificate at graduation this semester!
What is your favorite part of the Honors College?
My favorite part of the Honors College is my research experience. I applied and was selected as a Discovery Fellow beginning freshman year here, and worked as a paid research assistant for LeeAnne Sherwin, an associate teaching professor at the Sinclair School of Nursing for two years. Dr. Sherwin is my biggest supporter and mentor, and I am very grateful for her love and guidance these past 3.5 years. Being a Discovery Fellow has been an extraordinary learning experience for me, and I am grateful for the relationships I have developed with the Mizzou nursing faculty and for their knowledge and expertise. I have gained hands-on experience and insight into the impact that nursing research has on the lives of patients and in creating positive health outcomes. As an undergraduate nursing student and fellow, I presented my research at various conferences, earned over 425 hours of research experience, and co-authored a clinical nursing research publication with Dr. Sherwin and other faculty members.
What are you involved in on campus?
Here at Mizzou, I am involved in the Mizzou Catholic Student Association and have led multiple Bible studies, one with nursing girls from my class, through Mizzou’s Newman Center. Other activities I am involved in outside of class include volunteering at M.A.R.K. (Mentors Aiding Refugee Kids), playing on a recreational basketball team and regularly volunteering with the Central Missouri Humane Society. I have been on the executive board of Mizzou’s Student Nurses’ Association and involved in the National Student Nurses’ Association as well for all four years. I was a student representative on Sinclair’s Inclusive Excellence Committee and Nursing Student Council and worked as a student ambassador for Sinclair School of Nursing to assist with recruitment events. Outside of campus, I am also a patient care technician at a local St. Louis Hospital, a Preferred Hospice-Columbia patient volunteer, and work at a sno-cone stand over school breaks with my twin sister.
What is your favorite Honors course you’ve taken and why?
My favorite Honors course was Spanish 4980: Andean Civilization and Culture, which I took while studying abroad in Peru in the summer of 2022. I participated in this month-long trip with the Spanish department. As part of the trip, we learned about how Andean culture informs and impacts Peruvian life still today, with its rich, beautiful history. However, my favorite part of this course was a volunteer experience in Pamplona Alta, which is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Lima. One evening, we played soccer with kiddos, and I remember my professor calling me over to help look at a boy’s injured knee because I was a nursing major. This was the most defining moment of my college career, as I was able to use my nursing skills and ability to communicate in Spanish to assist him. I realized at that moment that all the opportunities given to me at Mizzou, in both my academic coursework and involvement on campus, have led me to discover my passion and mission for life, which is to help others by integrating nursing and Spanish.
What awards/recognitions have you received at Mizzou?
While at Mizzou, I am grateful for these awards/recognitions:
- Inductee into Mizzou’s chapter of the Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society (a secret society here)
- MU Honors College Nursing Scholar
- National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) Leadership University Honor Society
- Recipient of several Mizzou and outside scholarships: American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Future Nurse Leader, Mizzou Scholars Award, MIZ Legacy Scholar Award, Bright Flight Scholarship, the Campbell Prize in Undergraduate Excellence in Spanish, Grand Lodge of Missouri Ruth Lutes Bachmann Nursing Scholarship, Emily Kirk Memorial Scholarship, Dennis R. and Randy L. Harper Scholarship, Senator Wayne Goode Scholarship (through the Honors College), Fall 2024 School of Nursing Endowed Scholarship, and the Flo Dickey Funk Endowed Memorial Scholarship.
- S.T.A.R. (Student Training for Advancing Research): I earned this recognition from the MU Office of Undergraduate Research in fall 2022.
- Student Spotlight (Sinclair School of Nursing): I was chosen to be featured in an article by Sinclair School of Nursing administrators, highlighting my work as a Discovery Fellow, a future nurse-researcher, and an example of what it means to be a “Mizzou Nurse.” https://nursing.missouri.edu/student-spotlight-emma-morrow/
- Graduating Summa Cum Laude this semester (4.0 GPA)
- Dean’s List (fall 2021 – fall 2024)
What are your future plans/ultimate goal and how has the Honors College helped you towards that?
I will be returning home to St. Louis to work as a pediatric critical care nurse at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in their Heart Center. Through my clinicals and Honors courses here at Mizzou, I was selected from a competitive field of student nurses to work as an extern at this hospital over the winter break of 2023, which has opened up this job opportunity for me post graduation. I am grateful for the immense knowledge and support I have gained here through the Honors College, faculty, peers and the community at Mizzou. I owe it to Mizzou for teaching me how to be the compassionate and selfless nurse at someone’s bedside, making them feel comfortable and loved during a vulnerable period in their lives.
My ultimate goal is to work for a nonprofit, hopefully somewhere in South America to aid impoverished communities, after earning my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. I recognize that there is always a need for bilingual nurses because of language barriers in a hospital setting. I am striving toward using Spanish with my nursing education to assist people and their health, creating a safe environment in a hospital where patients feel safe and can connect with the healthcare team. I can achieve all this with the title ‘Mizzou grad’ after my name, knowing I can positively impact others from all I learned here.
What research, study-abroad, or campus opportunities did you utilize during your time at Mizzou?
- Discovery Fellows Research
- Study Abroad in Peru with the Spanish program: July 2022
- Being very involved with the Sinclair School of Nursing (I have been on the Executive Board of Mizzou’s Student Nurses Association and involved in the National Student Nurses’ Association as well for all four years. I was a student representative on Sinclair’s Inclusive Excellence Committee and Nursing Student Council. I also work as a student ambassador for Sinclair School of Nursing to assist with recruitment events.)
- Another experience that has been such a joy and highlight of my college experience was a month-long mission trip to India with my church here on campus, the St. Thomas More Newman Center, in July 2024. Along with other Catholic college students, we worked alongside the Missionaries of Charity, a religious order of Catholic sisters founded by St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I volunteered as a nurse, providing medical care to the impoverished of India. Having the opportunity to be a part of international service and deepening my faith life here in college have been major inspirations for my dreams post-graduation.
What piece of advice would you give to future Honors tigers?
One piece of advice I would give to future Honors tigers is to find your people! Mizzou is such a diverse and welcoming community – you can and will develop lifelong friendships by just being yourself. After adjusting to the transition into college life, I hope you get involved in clubs and activities you are passionate about while allowing your curiosity to run wild, and please have fun while pursuing excellence in your studies. Your fellow intellect-seekers and Honors peers are great companions in this journey – don’t be afraid to try a new hobby or club here on campus, and take advantage of the beautiful nature here in Columbia together. As I look forward to my graduation from the nursing program, I reflect on the wonderful friends I have made with members of my cohort. We have bonded through seeing each other every day in class and learning together in clinical experiences and simulations. I am proud to be a part of their nursing journey and know they are going to be great Mizzou Made nurses. I hope and pray for the same for the future Honors Tigers! MIZ!