Talia Broekers

Talia Broekers, a junior from Westfield, Indiana, who plans to specialize in public health care, wanted to become a nurse after doing a project in eighth grade. 

“They made us pick two or three careers that we were interested in and do research on it. I picked nursing for one of my careers, and I don’t know why. It just seemed interesting,” she says. “I stayed with it in high school and volunteered at a nursing home across the street from my high school. I liked helping take care of the residents, interacting with them and looking at critical aspects of their care.” 

Broekers also is interested in food security and has done research on the issue with Vicki Simpson, assistant professor of nursing. 

“It helps to have professors to guide me where I want to go, and there are so many ways to get involved at Purdue,” she says. “It’s sort of like you can choose your own adventure. I’ve been active in the ACE Campus Food Pantry that addresses food insecurity on campus. There are a lot of people who help run it, and we all have different majors. I love that and interacting with people studying other things.” 

Broeker says Purdue’s direct admission to the nursing program, and her personal ties to the University, also played a part in her decision.  

“Both of my parents are alumni of Purdue,” she says. “I remember going to basketball games there while I was growing up, and I always loved the atmosphere here.