Nursing Alumna Selected for 2025 Dole Caregiver Fellow Leadership Program

Kylie Briest

At just 23 years old, Kylie Briest has spent nearly her entire life as a caregiver. In 2005, her father, U.S. Army Sgt. Corey Briest, was severely injured by an IED explosion in Iraq. The blast left him with a traumatic brain injury, resulting in limited mobility, vision and speech. Kylie Briest was only three years old at the time.

“When people ask me about my life as a caregiver, I explain that it is the only life I have known,” Briest said.

Her lifelong experience of caregiving made her transition into the nursing field a natural one. After graduating from Yankton High School, Briest enrolled in the University of South Dakota’s nursing program, completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in December 2023. She now works as a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls.

Even while working full-time as a nurse, Briest continues to help care for her father.

“To this day, I call my dad to check in every single day,” she said. “I’m still the only person who can calm him down on his hard days.”

Caregiving offers many rewards but also brings its own set of demands.

“My biggest challenge as a young caregiver is balancing work and caregiving while still trying to be a young adult,” she said. “It was hard to have a social life, go to school and enter the workforce when I knew what was at home. I often felt, and still feel, selfish when taking time for myself. There is a huge lack of caregiving support, especially in the Midwest—and especially for children.”

Briest was driven to connect with others like her and advocate for improved benefits for veteran families, prompting her to apply for a 2025 Elizabeth Dole Caregiver Fellowship. She was selected and joined a national class of 20 fellows chosen from more than 300 applicants.

The Dole Caregiver Fellowship is a prestigious, multi-year leadership development program of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the nation’s only nonprofit solely dedicated to supporting the 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers in the U.S. The program empowers caregivers to become advocates, leaders and connectors in their communities.

Through the fellowship, Briest has received specialized training, spoken to members of Congress on Capitol Hill, and moderated a national summit in Orlando, Florida for Hidden Helpers—children and teens who take on caregiving roles without formally recognizing it.

“Growing up in rural South Dakota, there weren’t a lot of kids like me. My peers, teachers and even adults didn’t—and couldn’t—understand what my home life was like,” she said. “This foundation gave me the opportunity to meet others like me. I was able to meet kids who grew up just like I did and listen to their stories. Throughout this experience, I have truly found my voice. I’ve learned to stand up for myself and others and for what I believe in.”

Briest says her nursing education gave her tools that extend beyond clinical care.

“USD nursing taught me how to advocate for myself and for others while always pushing for what’s right,” she said. “Throughout my journey in health care, I only want to be kind, understanding and humble. Kindness and bedside manner cannot be taught in a classroom or with a textbook.”

USD Nursing Student Services Director Regan Luken, who served as Briest’s academic advisor during her time at USD, praised her as a standout student and emerging leader.

“Kylie is very inquisitive, always willing to learn, and seeks out support when needed,” said Luken. “She exemplifies the strength, resilience and leadership nurses need. We are incredibly proud of her.”

Briest credits her parents as her greatest role models. In fact, her mother, Jenny Briest, is also a Dole Caregiver Fellow, making them the first-ever two-generation pair to be selected for the program. Her younger brother, Connor, followed in their father's footsteps, joining the same unit of the South Dakota National Guard that Corey once served in.

The Dole Fellowship has been a life-changing experience, Kylie said—one that’s helped her find community, purpose and power in her story.

“For all the sacrifices caregiving asks of you, it has also shaped me into who I am today."