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Meet the advisors behind Coug Nursing student success. From listening when students feel stuck to celebrating them at graduation, their impact shapes every step of the journey.

More than 37% of Washington State University College of Nursing students are the first in their families to attend college. For many, that path is shaped by a desire to serve their communities and address real gaps in health care access.

Students like Jorge Gaytan Garcia and Edith Torres are turning personal experience into purpose—returning to rural and underserved areas with the skills to make a difference. With strong support systems and a shared commitment to care, first-generation Coug nurses are helping shape the future of health care across Washington and beyond.

The 2026 Celebration of Giving at WSU Spokane highlighted how donor support shapes nursing students’ journeys and extends into patient care. Speakers shared stories of mentorship, opportunity, and the lasting impact of giving.

WSU nursing honors students presented research on real-world health care challenges during the April 3 symposium. Topics ranged from neonatal care to Parkinson’s disease, with Cadence McLin, BSN ’26, earning top SURCA honors.

The Healthy People + Healthy Pets clinic returned to Spokane on April 2, offering free health services to underserved community members and their pets. Nursing and veterinary students worked together to provide care while gaining hands-on experience.

In a special partnership program with “Empowered Hosted by Meg Ryan,” a nationally syndicated television segment that sheds light on underrepresented storylines and industry sectors, experts in WSU’s College of Nursing presented the challenges and solutions to addressing national nursing shortages.

WSU College of Nursing students took part in a high-intensity mass casualty simulation in Yakima, working alongside medical students, EMS, and law enforcement. The full-day event challenged students to apply triage, trauma care, and clinical judgment in real-time scenarios.

Kate Ann Pieper, RN–BSN ’18, returned to school during one of the most difficult seasons of her life. What she gained through WSU’s RN–BSN program reshaped her confidence, expanded her leadership skills, and set her on a path from bedside nursing to nurse educator, mentor, and PhD student.

Cadence McLin, an honors nursing student at Washington State University College of Nursing, received a Crimson Award at SURCA 2026—one of the event’s top honors. McLin’s honors research focuses on improving care for newborns experiencing withdrawal after birth, with findings that could support changes in hospital practice.

The life of a local firefighter and WSU nursing student changed in a matter of seconds Feb. 17, 2025.

After finishing a grueling 48-hour shift with the Pullman Fire Department, Pita Lopez was involved in a devastating head-on collision with a semi-truck.

The accident left her with catastrophic injuries: an open femur fracture, shattered tibia and fibula, spinal vertebrae fractures, facial fractures and an internal abdominal tear that caused life-threatening hemorrhaging.

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With three young children at home and a full-time job, Kim Hoover wasn’t sure she could manage nursing school again. “Failure wasn’t necessarily an option,” she said. Through WSU’s Concurrent Enrollment Program and a clear semester-by-semester roadmap from her advisor, Hoover earned her BSN and gained the confidence to bring stronger evidence-based practice to the bedside at Legacy Health.

Nursing students from Iwate Prefectural University, Japan, visited Spokane for a 10-day study abroad tour for academic and clinical exchange with WSU College of Nursing and regional partners. The visit focused on clinical learning, simulation, and cross-cultural dialogue, offering a deep dive into US nursing education while building lasting global connections.

Washington State University and Spokane Public Schools (SPS) are partnering to create the Logan Family Clinic, a new community-based primary care clinic located inside Logan Elementary School. Opening March 2, the clinic is intended to increase community access to health care by delivering services right where young people and their families need them most — in our public schools.

Washington State University’s College of Nursing will transition its Yakima-based undergraduate and graduate students to the WSU Tri-Cities and WSU Spokane campuses for degree completion at the end of the spring 2026 semester. The College will continue to work closely with healthcare partners in the Yakima Valley for clinical rotations and to support the nursing workforce needs in the region.

The WSU College of Nursing welcomed its Spring cohort of BSN students with a two-day orientation focused on academic readiness, clinical preparation, and connection across campuses. Students gathered in Spokane, Yakima, and Tri-Cities to begin their journey as the Class of 2028.

Adam Richards (MBA ‘15, BSN ‘02, RN) and Chief Nursing Officer for Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital, is a self-described “through and through Coug.” He and his wife, Meredith (BSN ‘02), built careers in nursing while raising a family. Their niece, Taylor Richards (BSN ‘25), continues the Coug Nurse legacy. Richards advocates for new nurses, emphasizes being confident, because nursing is a lifelong calling you “don’t get to turn off.”

In 2025, the stories that resonated most from Washington State University College of Nursing were rooted in people. From first-generation students and proud graduates to nurses stepping in during real-world emergencies, these moments reflected why nursing matters—and why our community continues to show up, share, and celebrate together.

After 100 days as interim dean, Dr. Anne Mason reflects on coming home to WSU, celebrating more than 13,700 Coug Nurses serving communities nationwide. She highlights new programs, research growth, student success, and the partners and donors who make this work possible. The focus ahead stays clear. Educate nurses. Strengthen communities. Serve Washington and beyond.

After a thoughtful national search to replace former director Chris Sogge, the WSU College of Nursing welcomes Dr. Lesley Hernandez-Silva, ’17, as the new director of the Center for Student […]

Charlene Clark helped build Washington State University College of Nursing from its earliest days. She and her husband, Bob, continue that commitment through monthly support of the Charlene E. Clark Simulation and Practice Center Endowment. Their giving strengthens a lab environment where students practice skills, build confidence, and learn with structure and support. Charlene encourages others to join them: give consistently, stay engaged, and help future nurses thrive.