Ashley Sneed, ’07, ’10 MS, ’21 MPH : Family Nurse Practitioner
What was your path to graduation from The Ohio State University?
Coming into Ohio State, I was on the fence about what my actual major would be. Within the first quarter, I declared my major as pre-nursing because I knew the healthcare field was interesting to me. I liked the idea of being a detective trying to get to the bottom of something and uncover something. I like the intellectual curiosity required to take some vague symptoms or results and put them together into something that's meaningful and will help.
Why do you support the Office of Diversity and Inclusion?
I was a Morrill Scholarship recipient, and that was the program that supported me and allowed me to go through this journey about debt-free. One resource I did tap into was the tutoring program. I was able to identify that I was having some challenges with my chemistry class, and I knew I had access to this resource, which I took advantage of. Present day, I'm more aware of the programs within the office, and I think they are amazing. I wish some of them were around when I was in school.
What do you do now?
I'm currently a family nurse practitioner. I see patients in an outpatient setting clinic setting. I help them with all kinds of things ranging from a wellness visit to managing chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, depression, and anxiety. I also just finished a survey and focus group study on Black women in the area of body image. I'm (also) taking a Spanish class. I took Spanish classes through high school yet once I graduated, I wasn't able to retain the skills that I had developed because I didn't practice them. I maintained an interest in the language and finally decided to enroll in a local Spanish class.
What is your advice for current students?
Academics are important, but the connections are also important. So much of your professional life depends on having good connections with people and having the skills of good communication and collaboration. You never know what opportunities may present themselves as a result of a good impression you left on someone. I would have encouraged college-aged me to be more proactive and engaging with people and smell the roses a little bit more.