A Heart for Service
At Elmhurst University, Jackelyn Lopez Barrera ’26 has found purpose, community and a path forward. A nursing major and U.S. Army veteran, Lopez Barrera brings discipline, resilience and a deep-rooted passion for caring for others into every classroom, clinical and campus experience.
Her dream of becoming a nurse stretches back to childhood. When Lopez Barrera was 10, her godmother was diagnosed with brain cancer and seeing the impact nurses had on her loved one’s care made a big impression.
However, it was her experience serving for three and a half years in the 25th Infantry Division that really solidified Lopez Barrera’s interest in health care. “I took a combat life-saving course, and it really showed me how important those skills are,” she says. “That’s when nursing became something I knew I needed to do.”
Family Connection
Lopez Barrera’s decision to attend Elmhurst was shaped by both the proximity of the campus to her family’s home in Hillside, Illinois, and the powerful influence of her older brother, Alejandro Lopez ’23, an ICU nurse in the Trauma, Burn & Rehabilitation Unit at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County.
“He’s my role model,” she says. “My brother’s experience here had a lot to do with me choosing Elmhurst. He is also a prior service member, having served in the Marines, and he talked about how supportive Elmhurst is, especially for veterans.”
Building Community
Adjusting to college life after military service can be a challenge, but at Elmhurst, Lopez Barrera found ways to get involved and build relationships with both other nursing students and fellow veterans.
She started by joining the Student Veterans Association (SVA), eventually serving as the organization’s president. She also contributes as an advisor, helping fellow veterans navigate college life, and can often be found in the Jans Family Veterans and Military Center, located just off the lobby in the new Health Sciences Building, which also houses the nursing program.
The Jans Center provides a place for student veterans and military students to access support and resources, grab a bite to eat, study or just hang out, which Lopez Barrera appreciates. “It’s amazing to have the Jans Center be so visible and to be recognized with a designated space that says, ‘We’re here to be helpful; we’re here for you.’”
In addition to her work with the SVA, she’s volunteered in the nursing skills lab and participated in the Student Nursing Association, all of which helped her forge connections. “You get what you put into it here,” she says. “And Elmhurst gives you so many opportunities to get involved.”
Encouragement Meets Opportunity
Lopez Barrera has also found a learning environment that lives up to its reputation for support and connection. “It’s like a family,” she says. “Every day I come here, I’m challenged—but in the best way. I always leave knowing more than when I walked in.” She credits faculty members like Kristin Sciutto, Laura Brennan and Sara DePaul for creating a space where students feel seen, supported and pushed to succeed.
One of the highlights of her college experience was participating in a specialized semester-long study abroad program in Ireland during the fall term of 2025. Elmhurst’s partnership with University College Dublin School of Nursing offers an opportunity that is uncommon for nursing education programs.
While in Ireland, Lopez Barrera immersed herself in a new health care system, lived alongside students from around the world and traveled to 11 countries. “It was life-changing,” she says. The experience deepened her understanding of how the same end goal in patient care can be reached through many different pathways, a lesson she will carry into her career.
Lopez Barrera encourages other nursing students to take advantage of the study abroad program, sharing that scholarships like the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which she received, can help make it affordable.
Developing Her Passion
Back on campus, Lopez Barrera has embraced the Health Sciences Building as her second home. From the high-tech classrooms to the simulation labs and dedicated veteran space, she sees it as a reflection of the University’s investment in student success. “It has everything you need—it’s just missing a bed,” she jokes.
Lopez Barrera’s excitement about nursing has only grown stronger through the clinical experiences Elmhurst provides. “It’s about more than skills—it’s about passion,” she says. “You realize how much it means when you’re actually caring for patients.” She hopes to work in emergency medicine or critical care after graduation and is already preparing for the next step: passing the NCLEX and beginning her career.
Outside of academics, Lopez Barrera enjoys gardening with her mom, exploring Chicago and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She’s also known for her outgoing personality. “I’ve always been a talker,” she says with a laugh. “But it helps in nursing—I can connect with patients and make them feel comfortable.”
As a first-generation college student, Lopez Barrera takes pride in honoring her family’s sacrifices. She’s helping plan the annual “Lopez Barbecue,” started by her brother and sponsored by the Student Veterans Association. It’s a way to celebrate both her family’s journey and their shared commitment to service and success.
For Lopez Barrera, Elmhurst University has delivered exactly what it promises: a caring, inclusive community that fosters confidence, connection and growth. “This is home,” she says. “I’ve felt supported every step of the way—and that’s made all the difference.”
Go Far. Do Well. Visit elmhurst.edu/Admission to take the first step toward your future.