From Soldier to Caregiver

Meet the military veteran who earned her nurse practitioner degree while serving her country

by Eric Holsomback

Stevonica Logan, M.S.N. ’22, was able to complete her family nurse practitioner degree while being deployed for a lengthy part of her nursing education, thanks to immense support provided by Samford’s Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing.

“While deployed, my professors became my family,” Logan said. “They often sent me care packages and emails to let me know I was in their thoughts. As a service member and a student, I really appreciated that.”

During her deployment, Logan could tell her professors that she was away on military duty, but she was not allowed to disclose where she was stationed. “We had assignments due where we had to record ourselves performing a physical assessment,” she said. “I had to cover wall maps and confidential information that would give away my location.”

After completing a six-month tour in Southeast Asia, as Logan was starting to enjoy life back at home with her family and focus on her fourth semester in school, she got a call she’ll never forget—a 48-hour notice that she was being tasked with another six-month military assignment, this time to Poland.

Logan was in disbelief. She promptly emailed Jill Cunningham, professor, associate dean and chair of the nurse

Cunningham, professor, associate dean and chair of the nurse practitioner program.

“She called immediately,” Logan recalled. “I was in tears over the phone at the thought of leaving my family behind again. Dr. Cunningham was extremely understanding and told me she, as well as the staff, supported me.” still choose Samford again,” she said.

Fast forward to December 2022 and Logan was able to walk on stage, receive her hood and eventually her diploma. Logan acknowledged it was a long, complicated and demanding process, but noted that she wouldn’t change a thing. “I’d