Jenni Chiavola

About

Name: Jennifer Chiavola 

Title/s: Academic Advisor to the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program 

E-mail: jchiavola@luc.edu 

Department/School/Division: Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing 

Campus: Health Science Campus 

Years at Loyola: Two years 

What is your favorite thing about working at Loyola? There is nothing greater than being able to serve the next generation of students at Loyola and to share all that I have received. Having completed my undergraduate degree at Loyola, it is such a blessing to be back as a professional devoting my life’s work to the students at my Alma Mater.  I owe who I am to Loyola; I had an extraordinary experience as a student and can unequivocally say that my time here at Loyola was transformative and shaped me into the person I am today. The opportunity to work with and support my students through such a challenging program and help them to achieve their goals is the greatest reward. 

What is your most memorable achievement as a Loyola employee? Last year I received the Spirit of St. Ignatius award in the School of Nursing, which meant so much to me personally. It was such an unexpected and special honor to be recognized by my colleagues for showing a high regard and dedication to Ignatian values and a commitment to the success of the students and to the mission of the university.   However, my greatest personal achievement as a Loyola employee is when a student shares that we’ve contributed to their success in the program.  

What does Loyola's mission mean to you?  While the Jesuit - Catholic mission in higher education is so rich, the greatest way I can live the mission is to serve God by serving others. Every encounter I have with a student is an opportunity to love, support them and have a positive impact. A Jesuit education is so unique in that it creates a lens for students in which to see and be in the world.  We strive to bring that lens into focus for our students by incorporating ethics, social justice, a global perspective, the responsibility of each individual to build a socially just, diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist society, all within the framework of the highest standards of educational excellence. 

What motivates you to succeed each and every day?  Dorothy Day once said... “You will know your vocation by the joy that it brings you. You will know.  You will know when it’s right.”  I wake up each morning and say a prayer of gratitude that I have found the work I was created to do.  I don’t believe there is anything more fulfilling to the soul than discovering one’s vocation and in helping others to do the same.  Supporting students so that they can live their calling/vocation as nurses is so much more than a job.  I see this as service to God and others within the ministry of education. 

Tell us how you show your Rambler pride:  I am so proud to be a Loyola graduate!  I love to share with our incoming students how many of the staff and faculty graduated from Loyola and loved it so much that we came back!! Last winter, one of my favorite colleagues and I decorated a beautiful Loyola themed Christmas tree at the Health Science campus for all to enjoy, and hope to make this an annual tradition! We also made Loyola nursing cookies to share with the vendors of our nursing fair as well as for the nursing students for my University 101 course. 

Tell us something most people at Loyola would be surprised to know about you:  My educational journey was far from traditional and a very long and bumpy road with plenty of forks and unexpected turns!  Beginning college as single mom working two jobs, I was determined to put myself though college. I frequently faced challenges and setbacks that included paying tuition on a budget that was already maximized; yet, I felt that the opportunity to go college had become as integral a goal in my life as breathing.  After over a decade pursing my degree once class at a time at the College of DuPage, I finally earned an Associate’s Degree.  My resulting admittance to Loyola was a dream come true and I had the opportunity to pursue my education as a full time student. Although I was far from the traditional college student, simultaneously working 30 hours per week and caring for my family, it was the greatest experience of my life.  Subsequent to graduating from Loyola, my family and I headed east where I earned a Master’s Degree in Ethics from Yale University.  Now, just about ten years later, I am about to begin a Doctoral Degree in Education at Loyola University this fall.  I have been a student throughout much of my adult life and believe one of the greatest privileges is that of an education!