Jackie Harris ’98

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with Dr. Jackie Harris, a 1998 Benedictine College graduate and Director of the School of Nursing, to reflect on a journey that brought her from student to nurse practitioner, educator, and leader at the college she never imagined would become home.

Jackie shares the unlikely story of helping build Benedictine’s nursing program from the ground up and stepping into its director role in March 2020, just as the pandemic transformed healthcare and education. Through uncertainty and growth, one thing has remained constant: a commitment to forming nurses who see their work as more than a career, but as a vocation rooted in human dignity, compassion, faith, and service.

As Benedictine looks toward the future with a new medical school and expanded opportunities for healthcare education, Jackie reflects on the potential to form even more professionals who will carry that mission into the world. Her story is a reminder that being a Raven means giving back what was first given to you — helping the next generation become who they are called to be and sending them out to make a difference.