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We are proud to honor our outstanding students, faculty, alumni and preceptors. They make a huge impact on our College and our community. An award is the least we could do.
Each autumn, the College recognizes the positive impacts these individuals have made in health care and nursing education.
MSN 2007 & PMC 2019
Director of Advance Practice Specialty Providers and Psychiatric APPs
University of New Mexico
University Hospitals
For the past 24 years, Aisha has accomplished a great deal in her nursing career. including empowering her patients to understand and to actively participate in the improvement and maintenance of their health. She is a native New Mexican and graduated high school as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She then went on to get her bachelor's degree in nursing from New Mexico State University and her master’s degree as a Nurse Practitioner from the University of New Mexico (UNM). Her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is from the University of Alabama and she also has a postmaster certificate as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She is a devoted practitioner, mother, and considered a friend.
BSN 2022
Registered Nurse
University of New Mexico
University Hospitals
Adult ICU
Sophia is currently a registered nurse working in the Adult ICU at the University of New Mexico (UNM) Hospital. She has worked on this unit for roughly one year and has already made a significant impact in the nursing world through her leadership capabilities in the ICU. She is skilled at collaborating with other health care professionals and has earned the respect of her colleagues through their hard work and dedication. Most recently she was nominated for a Daisy Award and was very proud of this moment because compassion in the nursing profession is so important. She is currently working on achieving her CCRN and continuing growth on her unit. In the future she plans applying to a perfusionist program or become a DNP working in critical care.
Infusion Nurse
University of New Mexico
Comprehensive Cancer Center
Tara is an oncology nurse who moved to New Mexico last year to pursue an MSN in Nursing Education at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Originally from Iowa, she enjoys working at the Cancer Center full-time and learning about her new hometown after many years as a travel nurse. She finds purpose in travel, family and lifelong learning. Her ability to engage students with their individual learning style has set her apart as a preceptor. Her greatest passion in nursing is the ability to empower patients through compassionate and accessible education, and hopes to instill that in her future students.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Presbyterian PMG Espanola
Pediatrics Clinic
Katherine is a pediatric nurse practitioner with over 40 years of experience in pediatrics. She did her undergraduate work at Columbia University and her graduate training at Yale University. She promotes student learning by asking fair, challenging questions and encouraging their own research to better understand a diagnosis or a treatment and management plan. She treats each patient and family with respect and dignity and looks first at what they're doing well and builds from this knowledge. She is also a poet with two books of poetry published by UNM Press.
Health Sciences Rio Rancho Nursing Director
University of New Mexico
College of Nursing
Karin helped open the UNM Health Sciences Rio Rancho extension campus in 2018, which admitted the campus’ 11th cohort this year. She is currently entering her 22nd year in nursing education. She has extensive experience working in the areas of maternal child health, pediatrics and public health as it relates to school nursing. She holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Education from the University of New Mexico (UNM) and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from New Mexico Highlands University.
Student
Luis has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by patients and their loved ones during hospital stays, and he has gone above and beyond to provide effective care. In addition to his commitment to individual patients, he has also shown a strong dedication to advocating for the needs of patients and their families more broadly. He has worked closely with hospital staff to develop programs and resources that provide support and guidance to families during their time in the hospital and has demonstrated a willingness to ensure that patients and their loved ones receive the best possible care.
Courtney was born and raised in Waco, Texas. She began her health care career as a candy stripe junior volunteer. After graduating with her BSN in May 2005, she came to New Mexico as a travel NICU nurse. That 3-month travel contract changed her life. She became a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner in 2007 and since then, has served New Mexico families, initially at UNMH, and now at Presbyterian Hospital. She serves on the board of Lexiam Heart Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at helping families affected by congenital heart defects in the state of New Mexico. She reentered the education realm because she saw a need for more behavioral/mental health care providers who could help both the parents that came through the NICU and the families of children with complex medical needs. She is currently in the Post Master's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at UNM College of Nursing.
The UNM College of Nursing is honored to present a Clinical Partner Award to Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS). HMS is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQCH) delivering care to rural and medically underserved communities in the southwestern region of New Mexico. They have been a committed clinical partner for nearly a decade, providing quality clinical rotations to family and pediatric nurse practitioner learners at a multitude of community clinics, as well as school-based health centers. The rotations offer opportunities for learners to hone their clinical skills to deepen their knowledge through hands-on learning in the field and develop expertise in caring for vulnerable populations, which is a key component of the CON’s mission. Additionally, HMS has collaborated on the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) Grant for the past three years. Their partnership in the ANEW grant has been instrumental in helping the CON increase the distribution of workforce-ready primary care APRN’s in communities most in need across New Mexico. Thanks to HMS’s willingness to create a vibrant culture of learning, we can make a difference in improving the delivery and quality of care for all New Mexicans.
Marketing, Alumni & Outreach Officer
Marlena Bermel, MBA
College of Nursing
1650 University Blvd, Office 3603
1 University of New Mexico