Hello! My name is Leslie, and I am so excited to be part of the writing team and help support the School of Nursing's writing needs! Writing is an individual’s way of expressing themselves. Even if it is a skill that doesn’t come naturally to you, it doesn’t mean you can’t write! Writing takes time, effort, and humility. A big part of higher education is enhancing our communication skills, which can be time-intensive and frustrating. Never be afraid to ask for help because we all need it – even me!  Born and raised in Portland, OR, I returned home after living out of state for 8 years to attend OHSU’s Acute Care NP D.N.P. program in 2023. I have been an RN for 11+ years, specializing in hematology/oncology, stem cell transplant, and palliative care/hospice. My desire to enhance the learning of future nursing students led to my MSN-Ed in 2019. Even as the pandemic wreaked havoc on nursing education, I was blessed to obtain clinical and didactic teaching experience while helping transform how education is delivered and student knowledge obtained.  When I’m not studying or helping students, I enjoy snuggling with my three cats (Princess, Tiberius, and Lucy), writing fanfiction, buying more books (1600+ physical books and counting!), and rewatching all of Star Trek and Star Wars.