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.

	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.
	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.
	Richard Hvale Health Professions Advisor Richard began working as an academic advisor for IU Bloomington during the summer of 1992.  Before joining the Health Professions and Prelaw Center in August 2009, he advised first-year students, continuing students, and students in academic difficulty.  He worked for two and one-half years as an academic advisor in the Kelley School of Business.  Richard derives satisfaction from helping students determine, strive toward, and achieve their academic goals.  His interests include reading history, watching classical movies, and going to museums.
	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.
	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.