Meet your 2018–19 APhA–ASP National Executive Committee

Nimit Jindal, President
Hi everybody! I just want to say I am so honored and humbled to serve as your APhA–ASP National President this year. I was born in the beautiful Cataract City, Niagara Falls, Canada, in 1995, and immigrated to the United States in 1998. I attended Morris Hills High School in New Jersey, and after I graduated, I went to Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy. As a student pharmacist, I became enthralled with the student organizations on campus and tried to become as active as I could. My first year I was a member of NCPA, Class Council, and the Rutgers University Debate Union. It wasn’t until my second pre-professional year that I learned about APhA–ASP and have been an active member ever since. Throughout my time in pharmacy school, I have been so fortunate to have been able to serve in a variety of chapter roles, including Chapter Delegate, Policy Committee Chair, and Policy Vice President. I have even had the opportunity to serve the profession and gain valuable leadership skills as an APhA–ASP Regional Delegate. Last year, I was honored to serve as the APhA–ASP National President-elect, where I helped students around the country to Begin Your Legacy. This year, I am so excited about serving alongside our extraordinary National Executive Committee (NEC) and APhA staff as the APhA–ASP National President to inspire and empower student pharmacists to Embrace Your Calling! I am so excited for everything that the next year has in store.

Kelli Jo Welter, President-elect
Hi all! I am a third-year student pharmacist at Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. APhA–ASP became a part of my life just a few short months after starting my pre-professional coursework at Drake. I have served as my chapter’s Generation Rx Chair and President-elect, and as the APhA–ASP Region 5 Regional Member-at-large. I am so honored to serve as the 2018–19 APhA–ASP National President-elect. During my 2-year term on the NEC, I hope to develop and implement programming to enhance the health and well-being of student pharmacists. I also hope to create a culture of advocacy for all student pharmacists by breaking down the policy process and recognizing unique forms of advocacy via social media. Another goal I have is simplifying and spreading out the chapter achievement reporting process to more than once a year to track and report our numbers of patients reached and services provided. One of the most exciting prospects for my time on the NEC is Student Outreach Visits! I am so excited to travel to your campuses in the fall and work with you individually to learn about and improve your chapter. Back home in Monticello, IA, I love road tripping in the RV, singing along with country music at the Great Jones County Fair, and attending my siblings’ sporting events. When I am not studying, I enjoy exploring coffee shops in Des Moines, practicing hot yoga, and cheering on the Drake Bulldogs as a member of the Drake Dance Team.

Grace Baek, Speaker of the House
I was born in Daegu, South Korea, and grew up in sunny southern California, where I attended Beckman High School in Irvine. After graduation, I majored in biology at Columbia University in New York and subsequently moved to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. At the college, I have been involved in the Center for Leading Healthcare Change, the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic, Phi Lambda Sigma, and Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity. My APhA–ASP journey has allowed me to serve as the Region 5 APhA–ASP Regional Delegate, the Carl F. Emswiller Summer Intern, and Chapter President. I am passionate about advocating for the profession and am equally passionate about empowering others to raise their voices. During my term as APhA–ASP Speaker of the House, I strive to increase engagement in policy and advocacy initiatives via educational opportunities, open communication, and strengthen relationships (including interprofessional relationships). I also aim to help maximize your network for policy development and advocacy efforts within APhA–ASP. We must continue to communicate pharmacists’ value as essential providers of patient-centered, socioeconomically conscious care, and innovators in health care delivery. Voted “Most Likely to Never Retire” by my classmates, I look forward to working tirelessly with the NEC to help student pharmacists Embrace Your Calling!

Mark Gilliam, Member-at-large
I am a final-year student pharmacist at the Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy in Birmingham, AL. Along with serving as the 2019 Class President, I have spent the last year as a member of the APhA–ASP National Standing Committee on Communications as well as a student representative on the Alabama Pharmacy Association Board of Trustees. Born and raised in Kentucky, I attended the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University with aspirations of attending medical school. However, when I got a job as a pharmacy technician in college, I quickly fell in love with what the profession of pharmacy had to offer. To this day, I work in a community pharmacy where I strive to make a positive impact on everyone I interact with. I have truly embraced my calling! In my free time, I love to solve crossword puzzles, play/watch soccer, rock climb, and channel my inner George Strait at karaoke night. My fiancé Allyson and I have a wedding photography/videography business that keeps us busy, on top of planning a wedding of our own. Finally, there are few things I love more than acting like a big kid when I entertain my four (soon to be five) nephews. Over the next year, I will strive to continue to recognize the successes and achievements of the student pharmacists and chapters that make up our Academy. I look forward to meeting you at APhA–ASP meetings and conferences, and hopefully on Student Outreach visits.

Kara Provence, Member-at-large
Hey there! Excited cannot even begin to cover how I feel about being able to serve APhA–ASP as one of your National Members-at-large. I come from a family of pharmacists—grandpa, mom, dad, aunts, uncles, and cousin are all pharmacists. I grew up in Millington, TN, which is a small town outside of Memphis. After receiving my BS in biomedical sciences from Auburn University, I came back home to The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) for pharmacy school. Outside of school, I like to travel to new places and play with my amazing family and friends. At UTHSC, I quickly became involved in APhA–ASP as a first year, serving as a Chapter Member-at-large. Eventually, I became our Chapter President, which has been my most cherished leadership position. I wanted to take my love for this Association to the next level and serve you nationally. I am excited to work alongside the NEC and the Member Engagement Standing Committee. Together, I hope to update the resources available to chapters, get every member exploring their membership to the fullest potential, and look for more ways to involve student pharmacists in patient care initiatives. Like I asked over the course of my national campaign, “What’s your spark?” I believe every single student pharmacist in America has a spark! I want to help you find yours, plug it into this Academy, and watch you ignite the profession. It is time to Embrace Your Calling and I am thrilled to serve you along the way.