Mann met his wife, Angela, a pharmacist, at the hospital where they both work. The couple was married in October 2021.

While Jeremy Mann ’18 was still a student at Bethel University, he began thinking of ways he’d like to give back once he graduated. Now, four years into his nursing career, he’s given faithfully and generously, even being recognized at the 2021 President’s Christmas Reception with the Woodrow Goodman Award, in appreciation of service and support to Bethel University. In the future, he hopes to become involved in medical missions with Bethel’s nursing faculty and students.

“I knew I wanted to give back financially at some point … because I really did benefit from what Bethel gave me,” he says. “Now that I’m a little older, I still see the fruits of my labor from while I was a student here – [I now have] the privilege of taking care of very sick patients.”

Mann currently works as a float nurse at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, in Mishawaka, Ind., rotating to different units as needed. Previously, he served as a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), ICU stepdown and Emergency Room (ER). Though he’s only been in the field a short time, the harsh realities of the COVID-19 pandemic exposed him to experiences of someone with more years on the job.

“I feel old now – living through the pandemic and seeing a lot of people die,” Mann explains. “It was like a war zone in the ER with 20-40 people in the waiting room from mid-November through January [during the Omicron surge].”

While many nurses were walking away from their jobs, Mann persevered, because of his desire to help people – a desire that drew him to be a nurse in the first place.

He came to Bethel to study nursing and run track, for which he received a scholarship. Through his studies, he gained knowledge to be excellent in his work, especially through a focus on evidence-based practice. He explains that this means looking at the clinical picture holistically – how it applies to a single patient and a people group.

“When you get out there [into the field] you see why this is so important,” he says.

At Bethel, he also developed a faith to cling to in difficult times, and deep relationships that have endured. He gives back so other students can have this same experience.

“It’s not about me. I have no problem giving back to the people here … it’s a long list … I want to give because these people gave me something. I want to be a small part of that.”

Visit BethelUniversity.edu/Give to join Jeremy in giving back.

Mann receives the Woodrow Goodman Award, in appreciation of service and support to Bethel University, from President Barb Bellefeuille at the President’s Christmas Reception in 2021.