The GW School of Nursing announced today that Rep. Lauren Underwood, (D-IL) will serve as the keynote speaker at its virtual graduation celebration on May 13, 2021.
The school is delighted to have Rep. Underwood, a registered nurse, speak with its graduates at a time when the nursing profession needs a shot in the arm. As nurses courageously navigate the COVID-19 pandemic amid staffing shortages due to retirement, burnout and fatigue, our graduates will have the benefit of hearing from an accomplished nurse leader who will inspire them to make a difference, whether at the bedside, in the boardroom or in the halls of government.
Representative Underwood received a degree in nursing from the University of Michigan and two master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University. She started her career as a policy professional in the Obama administration in 2014 and later worked as a senior advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services.
In 2018, Underwood was elected to the United States House of Representatives. Upon her swearing in, she became the youngest Black woman to serve in Congress. She was reelected in 2020.
The GW Nursing 2021 virtual graduation celebration will be streamed on Facebook Live on Thursday, May 13 beginning at 1:00 p.m.