Jenna Koppelsloen
Growing up surrounded by sports — from volleyball and basketball to soccer, softball and track — Jenna Koppelsloen always knew athletics would be part of her college journey.
But a middle-school project sparked an equally powerful interest in healthcare, introducing her to the field of anesthesia and setting her long-term goal of becoming a nurse anesthetist.
Through her experiences at UND, Jenna has developed the empathy, resilience and discipline that defines the kind of healthcare provider she hopes to become.
“I’ve always been interested in anesthesia, and I found that there is more hands-on work as a nurse anesthetist,” she said. “And I’m really interested in figuring out why and how the body works, and why specific processes happen. It was always really interesting to me.” “I am able to be the eye in the sky to support the troops on the ground,” she said.
After gaining early acceptance to UND’s nursing program — a guarantee that she would have a spot once she arrived and maintained the requirements of the program — her path felt clear and secure from the start.
When UND also offered her a place on the track and field team, it became the perfect combination of academic and athletic opportunity, solidifying that UND was where she belonged.
You can tell that all of the professors care about their students as people before students.
Once she arrived on campus, Jenna quickly discovered that UND’s nursing program was even more immersive than she expected.
The combination of rigorous coursework, supportive faculty and early hands-on clinical experiences allowed her to step confidently into the world of patient care. And what she found there not only strengthened her skills but also reshaped the way she viewed the profession itself.
“It’s not just a procedure — it’s something that you are doing to a real person,” she said.
“When they’re in the hospital, they are very vulnerable.” Interacting with patients in these moments has changed Jenna’s perspective, helping her see the importance of empathy and genuine connection.
Being a student and on the Track and Field team became the perfect combination of academic and athletic opportunity, solidifying that UND was where she belonged.
Jenna has a long-term goal of becoming a nurse anesthetist.
Looking to her future in anesthesia, she hopes to help shift the culture of healthcare toward that same mindset.
“I think it’s really important that we realize they are people, they have family, and we should treat them as such,” she said. “Not just a task that needs to be completed.”
As she settled into life at UND, Jenna quickly discovered that the support she felt during the recruitment process extended into both the nursing program and her athletic experience.
“You can tell that all of the professors care about their students as people before students,” she said. “I haven’t met a professor yet that wasn’t open to meeting with you about anything.” Her coaches and advisors offered that same understanding, especially as she navigated the realities of a demanding major.
“My coaches are very supportive of my very busy schedule...and the professors are also really understanding that I have track meets, and I need to go to practice,” she said. “They’re all really helpful, and I can tell that they want me to succeed.”
Her week is filled with early classes, afternoon practices and weekend track meets, each one requiring a different kind of focus and energy. But despite the long days, Jenna never questioned the value of investing fully in both.
"My education is the most important thing...but I’ve made a commitment to track and my team,” she said. “It’s important to show up for them.”
I’ve always been interested in anesthesia, and I found that there is more hands-on work as a nurse anesthetist.
As Jenna looks to what comes next, she holds more than just technical skill. Through her experiences at UND — in the classroom, in clinical settings and on the track — she has developed the empathy, resilience and discipline that defines the kind of healthcare provider she hopes to become.
With the unwavering support of her family and the foundation she’s built at UND, she is ready to step into her future, equipped with the knowledge, resilience and empathy that will define her career.