UTEP College of Nursing

09/01/2026

🌼 Congratulations to our Summer 2026 DAISY Award honoree, Nissa Ramirez!

From the beginning of her nursing journey, Nissa has stood out for the thoughtfulness, compassion, and intention she brings to every patient interaction. During her fundamentals experience at a long-term care facility, she formed a meaningful connection with an older patient who was known to be reserved and quiet. Through her kindness and genuine interest, he began sharing his stories, smiling when she approached, and expressing how happy he was to have her caring for him.

That same compassion was evident during Nissa’s NICU rotation, where she cared for a critically vulnerable infant while also supporting parents who were experiencing fear and uncertainty. Her comforting words, reassurance, and dedication gave them confidence that their baby was being cared for and protected even when they could not be there.

Nissa strives to treat every patient—regardless of age—with respect, kindness, and empathy, leaving a lasting impression on the patients and families she serves. 🧡💙

Congratulations, Nissa, on this well-deserved recognition and for embodying the true spirit of the DAISY Award! 🌼✨

08/31/2026

2026 Gold Nugget Award recipient Glenda Villatoro ’98 is the chief operating officer of Del Sol Medical Center and has spent her career serving the El Paso community through compassionate health care leadership. A proud alumna of UTEP with a B.S. in Nursing, she continues to make an impact both professionally and through community service.

“My education at UTEP provided me with far more than a nursing degree; it instilled the values of leadership, service, lifelong learning and advocacy,” she said.

Read more about Villatoro’s story and the rest of our 2026 Gold Nuggets: bit.ly/UTEP26GN

08/25/2026

🩺✨ Celebrating our Summer 2026 Pinning Ceremony!

Another unforgettable milestone for our UTEP College of Nursing students as they take the next step in their nursing journey. We were honored to welcome El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego as our keynote speaker for this special occasion.

This celebration is even more meaningful as we continue commemorating 50 years of nursing excellence, leadership, and impact at UTEP. 🧡💙

Congratulations to our newest generation of Miner nurses! ⛏️🎓

08/24/2026

Welcome back, Miners! ⛏️🧡💙

To our UTEP College of Nursing students, welcome to a new semester! 🩺 Every step brings you closer to making a difference in the lives of others.

Wishing you a great Fall 2026 semester! ✨

08/19/2026

🩺💙🧡

Another special ending and new beginnings. We want to make a special shout out to our UTEP Nursing Students. You all are amazing and we are very thankful for having you here. Best wishes on your next endeavor.
UTEP College of Nursing

08/19/2026

Long before becoming chief executive officer of The Hospitals of Providence East Campus, 2026 Gold Nugget recipient Tasha Phillina Hopper ’98, ’12 was already living her lifelong dream as a labor and delivery nurse.

Her first degree from the UTEP College of Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, fueled her passion for patient care, and her second degree, a Master of Science in Nursing Systems Management, advanced her path into leadership. She went on to lead the construction and opening of The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus.

“I learned how to lead, work as a team [and] embrace empathy for patients and my team,” Hopper said.

To read more about her story and the rest of the 2026 Gold Nugget honorees, click here: bit.ly/UTEP26GN

08/13/2026

As part of our 50 Voices of Nursing series, we proudly feature Arlene Castañon-Ortiz, Chief Nursing Officer at The Hospitals of Providence Sierra Campus and a two-time UTEP College of Nursing graduate (BSN, 2001; MSN, 2023).

Arlene shares that her UTEP nursing education taught her that nursing extends far beyond clinical skills—it is rooted in compassion, advocacy, and service. Learning alongside faculty and nursing colleagues challenged her to think critically, value cultural understanding, and keep patients at the center of every decision.

The clinical knowledge, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making skills she developed at UTEP continue to guide her leadership as she supports nursing teams, improves quality outcomes, and fosters professional growth.

🧡💙 Celebrating 50 years of excellence, innovation, and leadership.

08/06/2026

Welcome to the UTEP College of Nursing! 💙🧡

Please join us in welcoming our Fall 2026 Master’s and Post-Master’s students.

We’re excited to be part of your journey!

08/02/2026

Compassion, resilience, and the strength of a caring community shaped Michelle’s nursing journey. 🧡💙

During her undergraduate studies, Michelle experienced the unexpected loss of her grandmother. At a time when she considered leaving the program, the compassion and encouragement of her instructors—especially Ms. Monsivias—helped her navigate her grief and continue pursuing her calling. That support still influences how she cares for patients, families, and staff today.

Years later, Michelle returned to UTEP for graduate school while raising two teenage daughters, supporting their competitive sports activities, and serving in a leadership role at Providence Children’s Hospital. Through UTEP’s structured guidance and high expectations, she developed the patience, resilience, and confidence to persevere through life’s most demanding seasons.

A proud graduate of UTEP’s BSN (2009) and MSN Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (2016) programs, Michelle carries forward the belief that challenges are temporary—the rain will stop, the clouds will part, and the sun will shine again.

Her story is a meaningful addition to our celebration of 50 Voices of Nursing.

07/24/2026

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