Boise State nursing student Alice Mwamba grew up watching members of her refugee community hesitate before seeking medical care. For many, a lack of trust in the healthcare system, combined with language barriers, trauma, and limited access, kept them from pursuing routine screenings or preventive services. For Mwamba, those early experiences became the foundation of her calling.
“I’ve always loved caring for people and had a strong interest in science,” Mwamba said. “Nursing became a way to bridge those passions while advocating for underserved communities.”
As a first-generation student, Mwamba chose Boise State because it allowed her to stay close to home and connected to the community that shaped her. The nursing program, she said, has provided the mentorship, resources and opportunities she needed to grow into both a clinician and a researcher.
“Boise State has truly transformed my journey,” she said. “The faculty, scholarships and support here opened doors that allow me to fully pursue my goal of becoming a nurse scientist.”
A passion for interdisciplinary research
Mwamba’s academic path reflects a rare combination of fields: psychology, sociology, agriculture and biomedical science. To her, studying across disciplines isn’t just interesting, it’s necessary.
“No single field can fully explain the challenges that underserved or refugee communities face. Interdisciplinary research helps me understand people in a more realistic and human way.”
Whether exploring environmental factors, social influences or cellular pathways, she approaches research with the same guiding question: How can this improve patient outcomes?
By integrating community-centered perspectives with biomedical science, Mwamba hopes to design solutions that are not only effective, but also culturally responsive and accessible.
PathMakers and cancer research at Huntsman Cancer Institute
In the summer of 2025, Mwamba was selected for the prestigious PathMakers Program at the University of Utah Health and Huntsman Cancer Institute. There, she spent three months investigating targeted therapies for Mantle Cell Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in a laboratory.
Her work focused on a specific signaling pathway, examining the role of a specific gene and the effects of certain drugs on leukemia cell lines. The experience sharpened her skills in experimental design, data analysis and molecular techniques, all while demonstrating the real-world impact of translational research.
Beyond the lab, Mwamba found something just as meaningful: community.
“I went into the summer feeling discouraged after a difficult semester,” she said. “But the people I met, friends, mentors, peers, supported me in ways I didn’t expect. They healed a piece of my heart. I learned that peace isn’t always about a place; it’s about the people you surround yourself with.”
She presented her research at the program’s competitive symposium and returned to Boise State with a renewed sense of purpose.
Mentoring and supporting future nurses
Mwamba also dedicates her time to supporting pre-nursing students, especially those who are first-generation or uncertain about the application process.
“When I applied to the program, I didn’t have anyone to ask for guidance,” she said. “So I want to be that person for others.”
She regularly meets with students to practice interview skills, share resources and offer reassurance during the competitive admissions process.
“The goal isn’t to compete against one another,” she said. “It’s to support each other and help everyone succeed.”
Grounded in community, driven by advocacy
Mwamba‘s advocacy is deeply personal. She hopes to address the systemic gaps that prevent people from accessing or trusting healthcare, particularly in refugee and immigrant communities.
“To me, advocacy means not only supporting patients in the moment, but working toward systemic change,” she said. “Research helps us understand the barriers, and nursing gives me the chance to provide care that builds trust.”
Her research interests include breast cancer, lung disease and sickle cell disease, conditions that disproportionately affect the communities she comes from and serves.
Looking Ahead
After graduation, Mwamba plans to pursue a Ph.D. in nursing or a related research field. She hopes to combine clinical work, scientific inquiry and global health efforts, including missionary-style healthcare in developing regions.
“My goal is to make a meaningful impact both locally and globally,” she said. “If something matters to you, you will find time for it, and you will find a way forward.”
Her message for fellow students is simple:
“Never limit yourself to your major. Explore everything. Try new things. And always remember where you came from, because you’ve already won.”