Fellows for 2025 – 2026

Jia Elworth

Jia Elworth is a second-year nursing student at UConn from Chicago. On campus, she is an active member of the Student Nurses Association and America Reads, a volunteer program devoted to improving literacy for K-5 students around Connecticut. Jia has always had a passion for healthcare, so she is excited to explore how innovative technologies can be applied to address real-world healthcare issues.

Joshua Barnes

Joshua Barnes is a sophomore at UConn, who is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is also a part of the Scholars Learning Community and a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). The summer before his sophomore year, Josh took part in the Sophomore Summer Bridge Program here at UConn and was a part of the NavyStem practicum, in which he, along with a group of other students, constructed and tested Underwater Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs). Josh is skilled in using power tools and techniques such as soldering and 3D Computer Aided Design (3D CAD) and he is excited to perfect those skills and learn new skills throughout his time as part of the NursEng Innovation Fellowship.

Muzan Ali

Muzan is a nursing student at the University of Connecticut with a passion for health equity, innovation, and patient advocacy. As a certified nursing assistant, she provides direct care and support to patients and their families. At UConn, she actively engages with communities that uplift underrepresented voices in healthcare, including the African American Cultural Center, the Black Student Nurses Union, and Minorities in Medicine. She is also pursuing a minor in Human Development and Family Studies to deepen her understanding of holistic care.
She is especially interested in how technology, including machine learning, can be used to improve patient care and reduce healthcare disparities. In the future, Muzan hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in nursing to advance research, education, and leadership in the field.

Jeanne Badiane

Jeanne Maria Badiane is a sophomore double-majoring in Robotics Engineering and Computer Science. She has a strong passion for robotics design, programming, and integrating technology to solve real-world problems. Throughout her academic journey, Jeanne has served as a mathematics tutor. Beyond academics, she is an active member of the Husky Ambassadors program, where she enjoys connecting with prospective students and sharing her enthusiasm for her university community. Jeanne’s interests extend to innovation in healthcare technology, where she hopes to apply her engineering and computer science background to create tools that promote equity, accessibility, and improved patient care.

Miyu Hasegawa

Miyu Hasegawa is a first-year nursing student at the University of Connecticut. She has a strong passion for patient education and health equity as well as healthcare innovation and research. Additionally, she is planning on pursuing a minor in either Human Development and Family Sciences or Biomedical Engineering. She is looking forward to being involved in clubs on campus where she can help others. Beyond her nursing education, Miyu hopes to advance her experience and understanding of technological innovation. She is interested in using this as a pathway to advocate for patients and how their treatments work. Miyu also hopes to advance her education in the future by pursuing a master’s or doctorate degree in the field of nursing.