Indiana University Bloomington
Health Professions and Prelaw Center
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HPPLC Staff

Our entire staff is devoted to helping Indiana University students become thoughtful, well-prepared applicants to professional schools. If you are an Indiana University Bloomington student we encourage you to make an appointment to meet with a HPPLC advisor in your area of interest.

If you are a current Indiana University student please call 812.855.1873 or stop by Maxwell Hall 010 any time from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday to schedule an appointment. Please note that advisors cannot schedule appointments over email. If you are a prospective high school or transfer student, we encourage you to contact the IU Undergraduate Admissions Office to schedule a campus tour (812.855.3512). As part of your visit, you may also ask them to schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Health Professions and Prelaw Center. We would enjoy the opportunity to discuss your interests, tell you more about HPPLC, and answer your questions.

Photo of Mac Francis

Mac Francis

Director and Prelaw Advisor

Mac Francis, J.D., is an attorney and labor arbitrator with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. He has an extensive background in academics at Indiana University, and is especially concerned with helping prelaw students achieve their professional, intellectual, and personal goals. Mac is currently President of the Midwest Association of Prelaw Advisors.

Photo of Rachel Tolen

Rachel Tolen

Assistant Director and Premedical Advisor

Rachel Tolen, Ph.D., specializes in advising premedical students. Rachel grew up in Bloomington, attended Indiana University as an undergraduate student, and went on to earn a Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. She returned to Indiana University and worked for a number of years advising international students before joining the Health Professions and Prelaw Center. Rachel is interested in the ways that a strong and broad undergraduate education can prepare students to become thoughtful, well-trained providers in the healthcare fields.

Photo of Natalia Schau

Natalia Schau

Health Professions Advisor

Natalia has been advising freshmen and sophomores for the past ten years and began specializing in health professions advising four years ago. She enjoys helping students find their academic home, whatever it may be. With a background in physical science, social science and the humanities, she strives to help students find and develop their strengths. Her interests include environmental issues, textile art, Native American history and entrepreneurship.

Photo of Eric Beckstrom

Eric Beckstrom

Health Professions and Prelaw Advisor

Eric Beckstrom, M.A., has taught at Ivy Tech, Indiana University, and St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, and he advised freshmen and continuing students in University Division before joining the HPPLC staff. He especially enjoys helping students plan their professional development during their undergraduate years. In addition, Eric has an affinity for literature and for classical Hollywood and world cinema, especially classic American horror and science fiction. He has done graduate and post-graduate work in English, Film Studies, and American Studies.

Photo of Betty Bridgewaters

Betty Bridgewaters

Recommendations Secretary

Betty has completed fifteen years of service to Indiana University. She left the university after 11 years to work in corporate America and returned to IU to do the historical research and photo collection for the opening exhibit of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, a CASE Silver Medal Award winner. She has been active in the IU Alumni Association where she served as president of the Boston Alumni and the Neal-Marshall Alumni Clubs. Betty enjoys historical research and was the researcher for the Banneker History Project a collaborative effort between IU the City of Bloomington and Monroe County Community Schools. She especially enjoys being supportive of pre-professional students as they transition from adolescence to adults.

Janine Bullerdick

Office Coordinator

Janine was raised in Lafayette, IN and graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Business. She worked in the Agricultural Economics Department at Purdue and published statistical bulletins on retail fertilizer and chemical plants, while assisting with continuing education classes for plant managers at the Center for Agricultural Business. After moving to Bloomington, she worked in the financial sector. Janine is enjoying being back in an academic setting. Managing the HPPLC office, while coordinating the MAPLA Law Day and the Health Programs Fair keep her busy. She loves spending time with her family and hiking in Brown County.