What’s next for the Class of 2026: Ellie Barton

“What’s next for the Class of 2026” is a series that features Lafayette grads—where they’re headed, and the mentors, resources, and experiences that inspired their future path. Stay tuned for more stories throughout April and May.

(Photo | JaQuan Alston)

By Maddie Pedone ’26 

Major/minor:

Psychology with a biology minor  

Destination/future plans:

Attending an accelerated nursing program at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

Involvement on campus: 

Ellie Barton ’26 played field hockey at Lafayette throughout her entire college career. She was also a member of Psi Chi, an international honor society in psychology that recognizes students majoring in the field within the top 35% of the individual’s graduating class. 

Barton also worked in sports medicine at Lafayette in the training room, where she assisted the team with scheduling appointments for student athletes and helped coaches with various tasks. 

The experiences that mattered most: 

When looking back on the last four years Barton said playing field hockey at Lafayette stands out because the experience taught her important life skills.

“Being on the field hockey team has taught me a lot about discipline and time management,” she says. “Everyone who’s supported the team, who’s been part of Lafayette, whether it’s staff or professors who are willing to help make accommodations, I think that all plays a role into my sense of flexibility, time management, and commitment.”

Making connections with students and professors across campus also shaped her experience. 

“Meeting people from all over the place, not just girls on my team, but meeting everyone and forming connections with certain professors, especially those who helped me with my nursing school applications, I’d say, has been the most important to me,” Barton says. 

How Lafayette shaped your future: 

During her time at Lafayette, Barton participated in two externships gaining direct experience in the field of nursing. At her first externship, Barton shadowed a nurse practitioner in Somerset, N.J., at Central Jersey Internal Medicine. For her second externship in January 2026, Barton worked with a physician assistant at Northwell Greenwich Hospital in New York City. 

During the January break, Barton participated in Gateway Career Center’s externship program, gaining experience at Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital. (PHOTO | Matt Smith)

“I definitely would say that the externships helped a lot because it gave me firsthand experience and really showed me into worlds beyond Lafayette,” Barton says. 

Why Lafayette? 

Barton believes there are many aspects that make Lafayette a special place, but she specifically loves the balance of work and social life on campus. 

“I chose to come here because [Lafayette] has the perfect balance of everything, in my opinion,” she says. “Whether it’s school spirit for athletics or the social aspects of it, (combined with) how much every single student cares about their education.”

She also enjoys that there is a “tight-knit community” at Lafayette, which allows for close connections with professors. 

“Because it’s a smaller school, you form relationships with your professors, which I think is super important,” Barton says.  

The people who inspired you along the way: 

Throughout her career at Lafayette, Barton received a lot of support both on and off the field. She said her three field hockey coaches, Jennifer Stone, Meghan Reese, and Jop Beuger, helped frame her personal values. 

“All three of [my coaches] really helped shape a lot of the core values I have today and my beliefs, like not just about working hard or how I collaborate with other people on the field, but also outside of the field,” Barton says. 

Barton says Susan Hannan, assistant professor for psychology, and Peter Kish, who has been serving as a visiting assistant professor with biology, inspired her to develop a passion for her academic field. 

“They really helped shape my love for learning and just really wanting to be in class and be attentive,” Barton says. 

Advice for future leopards: 

Barton says her advice to incoming Lafayette students is to enjoy your time on campus and to meet as many people as you can. 

“I would say to just really try to enjoy every single moment because you’re never going to get these college experiences again. Savor the relationships you have with your friends, be kind to everyone, and try to meet as many people as possible,” Barton says. “Don’t take everything so seriously; it’ll all work out.”