When Misty L. Pagán, DNP, MSN, APRN, AGNP-C, lost her grandmother due to preventable lapses in care at a rural hospital, her heartbreak changed her life’s direction. What started as grief quickly turned into a commitment to prevent others from experiencing similar losses. As a first-generation college student, she rose from being a certified nursing assistant to a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and is now working toward a PhD in Nursing at the College of Nursing. Her focus is on protecting society’s most vulnerable groups, including older adults, underserved communities, and those often neglected in care and research.

Meredith Casella Jean-Baptiste, CNM, a second-year PhD student at the College of Nursing, has been awarded the NEF CUPHSONAA/Penny Hund West Scholarship. With nearly 20 years of experience in midwifery and international maternal health, Meredith has led innovative programs with Partners In Health in Haiti and co-founded Journey Nine, a groundbreaking model of maternal and pediatric care. Her doctoral research focuses on respectful maternity care during obstetrical emergencies, aiming to improve outcomes for women worldwide.

The College of Nursing’s Chen X. Chen has been named one of only 12 fellows nationwide for the prestigious 2025–2026 Mayday Pain & Society Fellowship. As the program’s only nurse scientist, Dr. Chen will use this platform to advance her groundbreaking research on dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain), a common yet often overlooked women’s health condition. Through advanced training in communication and advocacy, she aims to break the silence surrounding dysmenorrhea, raise public awareness, and push for improved care. Her selection not only elevates her vital work but also shines a spotlight on the College of Nursing’s leadership in driving innovative, life-changing research.

Stephanie Gasser, MSN-Ed, RN-BC, CNE, a senior lecturer at the College of Nursing, has been named one of only fourteen recipients nationwide of the prestigious 2025 NLN Foundation Nursing Education Faculty Scholarship Award. A DNP student specializing in Executive Health Systems Leadership, her DNP project focuses on Stress First Aid for new nurses, addressing critical issues of burnout and attrition during a nurse’s first year. She provides evidence-based tools to build resilience, reduce stigma, and promote mental well-being, positioning her to make a lasting impact on both the nursing workforce and the patients they serve.

The College of Nursing is leading the new Center for Health and Technology (CHaT), a pioneering collaboration with engineering and industry to develop advanced wearable and implantable medical devices. Led by nursing researcher Shu-Fen Wung, CHaT ensures nurses’ real-world insights influence technology that genuinely supports patient care. Using state-of-the-art semiconductor processes, the center will develop smarter, more efficient health tools to meet growing healthcare demands.

Jasmine Solorzano, a senior in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Integrative Health program and a cadet in the U.S. Army ROTC, is balancing two demanding paths with a shared purpose: service. As the first in her family to pursue both a healthcare career and military service, Solorzano is driven by values of integrity, compassion, and resilience. Her experience in the BSN-IH program and the ROTC has shaped her into a future nurse and officer who leads with empathy and discipline. Despite challenges, she remains committed to serving others as she prepares for her next chapter after graduation.

The university reported more inventions in fiscal year 2025 than ever before, making this its most inventive year for the second year in a row.

Chronic pain affects millions, but what if we could rewire the brain to experience less of it? Chiyoung Lee, a researcher at the College of Nursing, recently received a prestigious national award to pursue this goal. Supported by the inaugural USASP-MAYDAY Clinical/Translational Research Scholar award, Lee is leading efforts in non-invasive brain stimulation to ease chronic, widespread pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis.

The College of Nursing is leading efforts to expand mental health care in Arizona’s underserved communities, backed by a $2.3 million federal grant. At the forefront is faculty leader and alumna Sara Edmund, PMHNP-BC, who authored the grant and is directing the project. Focused on rural impact, trauma-informed care, and interdisciplinary training, the program will prepare students to address urgent behavioral health needs across the state, shaping the future of mental health care in underserved areas of Arizona.

Meet the College of Nursing’s new research leader dedicated to boosting faculty success and advancing high-impact science. Learn how Dr. Marianne Matthias is supporting nurse researchers to expand their funding opportunities and why her vision is strengthening nurse-led research. Her arrival marks a key step forward in establishing a vibrant, collaborative research community that makes a difference in patients’ lives.