A Calling to Care: Anna Windisch ’28 Builds Her Future in Nursing

Posted On

March 17, 2026

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Philanthropy

Profiles

On most afternoons, Anna Windisch '28 can be found balancing the rigorous demands of nursing coursework with tutoring sessions in the Academic Resource Center, helping fellow students navigate the intricacies of anatomy.

It is a role that reflects both her discipline and her purpose: a steady commitment to helping others.

Windisch arrived on campus from New Hampshire with a clear sense of direction. She knew she wanted to pursue healthcare, drawn to the combination of scientific precision and human connection that defines the nursing profession. What she did not yet know was just how quickly her Emmanuel experience would begin shaping that path.

This semester marks a milestone. Windisch will begin her first clinical placement at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown, an opportunity that places her directly in one of Boston’s leading clinical learning environments and gives her early, hands-on experience working with patients recovering from injury and illness.

“Being surrounded by hospitals and healthcare professionals every day is incredibly motivating,” she said. “It reminds me why I chose this path.”

Her long-term goal is to become a nurse practitioner, though she is still exploring potential specialties. The operating room, with its intensity and teamwork, currently holds strong appeal, as does pediatric oncology, where compassionate care can make a profound difference for young patients and their families.

Alongside her academic work, Windisch serves as a Class of 2028 representative within the Nursing program, participates in the Nursing Club and Fitness Club, and works as an anatomy tutor. The pace is demanding, but she credits Emmanuel’s close-knit learning environment — particularly supportive faculty mentors such as Assistant Professor of Nursing Kristen McDonald, Carol Femia, the Director of the BSN program, and her academic advisor, Susan Aguiar — with helping her maintain both confidence and momentum.

The Impact of the Rogers Scholarship

Equally significant has been the support she receives through the Rogers Scholarship, which has played an essential role in her ability to focus on her education.

“Nursing school is a big commitment financially,” Windisch explained. “The scholarship gives me peace of mind. It allows me to concentrate on learning and preparing for my career instead of worrying constantly about the cost. Knowing that people believe in my future and are helping make it possible means a lot.”

Scholarship support also enables her to remain actively engaged on campus — tutoring, participating in student leadership, and preparing for upcoming clinical rotations — experiences that will ultimately strengthen her readiness for the profession she hopes to enter.

Windisch’s story is emblematic of Emmanuel’s nursing students more broadly: ambitious, community-oriented, and deeply aware of the responsibility they are preparing to assume. While she hopes to begin her career in Boston after graduation, she is also considering travel nursing opportunities that would allow her to serve patients in different parts of the country before eventually pursuing advanced practice certification.

For now, her focus remains on the immediate horizon — clinical placements, continued leadership within the nursing community, and the steady accumulation of skills that define the making of a nurse.

“I just want to keep learning and gaining experience,” she said. “Every step brings me closer to being able to help people in the way I’ve always hoped to.”

Through the Rogers Scholarship and the mentorship she has found at Emmanuel, Anna Windisch is doing exactly that — building a future grounded in service, preparation, and the quiet determination to make a difference wherever her nursing career leads.