By Sara Hinds
For many students interested in healthcare careers, post-graduate learning is required. It’s like a one-two punch to the brain, schedule and wallet: you’re applying to graduate programs while completing your undergraduate journey and starting your master’s or professional degree in less than a year. It doesn’t allow much time for you to relax or rejoice.
“I was like, ‘Heather [Lambert, professor of psychology at Doane], I don't know how I'm going to pay for grad school without working at the same time,’” senior Meghan Gallagher said.
Lambert knew of BHECN Scholars, which was looking for its second-ever cohort of students. The program supports undergraduate seniors who want to pursue a secondary degree in a Nebraska-based behavioral health program. Scholars receive $5,000 in tuition support, mentorship and networking opportunities.
The program only accepted 11 students in its inaugural 2024-25 cohort. But Gallagher had the brains and drive to earn a spot.
“I'm not very shy when it comes to what I want to do in my future and how I want to get there,” Gallagher said . “She's [Lambert] seen that through me with how much effort I put in, either in classes, when we're in advising meetings, or just anything I do around Doane in general.”
Gallagher is steadfast in her goal of becoming a sports counselor for student-athletes like herself. She views every class, connection and internship as a step toward that destination, or a valuable resource. BHECN has proven to be both.
The summer before her senior year, Gallagher was named to the 2025-26 cohort, and became the first Doane student selected as a BHECN Scholar.
She’s attended events and presentations with her BHECN peers, like a Community Alliance event that featured meteorologist and mental health advocate Ginger Zee. And most recently an all-day conference that offered education workshops in niche topics.
Like her cohort peers, she was assigned a mentor who’s a licensed, active professional in behavioral health. Gallagher said she’s asked her mentor “anything and everything when it comes to grad school.” Come fall 2026, Gallagher will start at UNO for a master’s program in clinical mental health counseling, during which she’ll continue her mentorship.
But first, there’s graduation from Doane in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in substance use counseling. It’s another step, a goal achieved on the pathway toward her ultimate goal.
