The University of Colorado Anschutz College of Nursing Alumni Association Board of Directors proudly welcomes several new members. These accomplished professionals will help govern the college's alumni community, honor fellow alumni, organize events, mentor students, and offer professional development opportunities.
Bekah Nelson, BSN (’17), RN, RNC-MNN
|
Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Presbyterian St. Luke’s on the Mom/Baby Unit
Bekah Nelson’s passion for caring for others started from an early age. As a child, she was always the first to get Band-Aids to care for anyone injured around her. Later in her academic career, she pursued the integrated nursing pathways program.
CU Anschutz Nursing gave her the skills she needed to succeed. “The clinicals and sim lab helped prepare me for the real world,” she says.
Now, Nelson loves working with newborns and finds that helping new parents care for themselves and their babies is especially rewarding.
Joining the board gives her “a great opportunity to reconnect with the school and give back to my community that I love so much.”
Cliff Vanvoorhees, BSN (’24), RN
|
Surgical Oncology RN, UCHealth
Vanvoorhees turned to nursing later in life after a career in finance. He wanted to find his passion, so he started working as an EMT, where he learned from nurses caring for critically ill patients. He looked up to their ability to connect with patients on a human level and make them laugh, even when they were suffering.
Now, Vanvoorhees says he lives every day with the mentality that “I don’t have to be a nurse, I get to be a nurse.” He says that it is an honor to be a trusted guide on a patient's healing journey.
Vanvoorhees is looking forward to being on the board so he can give back to students. “A lot of people helped me get where I am, and now it is my opportunity to turn around and help the next generation of nursing students”
His advice for nursing students? “Make a commitment to yourself that you will show up each day and try your best, and each day you try to do a little better than the day before.”
Lina Stanchev, BSN (’20), RN, MS
|
Child Fatality Review & Maltreatment Prevention Coordinator
Lina Stanchev was drawn to nursing because she knew she wanted to make a meaningful difference during people’s most vulnerable moments. So, her next step was choosing a program to become a skilled nurse. “CU Anschutz’s outstanding reputation for clinical training and its location in a reputable medical campus made it the clear choice for me,” she says.
CU gave Stanchev the preparation she needed to thrive as a nurse. “The rigorous curriculum and diverse clinical rotations gave me the confidence and skills to provide exceptional patient care from day one,” she says.
Now she says the best part about her job is witnessing patient resilience.
Her advice to students: “Embrace every challenge as a learning opportunity and never underestimate the power of human connection in patient care.”
Alison O’Dell BSN (’24), RN
|
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Children’s Hospital Colorado
Alison O’Dell’s experience helping her grandmother through end-of-life care after a cancer diagnosis inspired her to follow a pathway into nursing. “I saw firsthand how much her nurses impacted not only my grandma’s life, but my entire family’s experience as well,” she recalls.
She carries that value of relationship building with her as a nurse every day. “Working in pediatrics has shown me how impactful compassion, communication, and simply being present can be,” she says.
O’Dell co-founded the Legacy Fun Group in 2024, where she worked closely with the alumni association. She says the relationships she built with the alumni community had a positive impact on her experience. As a new board member, “I want to continue being involved beyond graduation and carry forward the impact it had on me,” she says.
Shannon Haas BSN (’09), RN
|
Director of Nursing Excellence, HCA Health One Aurora
As a first-generation college student, Shannon Haas thought her dream of becoming a nurse was unachievable. But after being inspired by her aunt, who was a nurse, and working as a CNA, Haas decided to pursue a degree.
For Haas, CU was the only choice in her mind. She says, “If you are going to become a nurse, you want to go there, its reputation is top notch.” Her favorite experiences at CU Nursing were the relationships she built with instructors who went the extra mile to facilitate learning.
As an RN, she says the most rewarding part of her job is making an impact on patients during vulnerable times. She especially loves working with post-op patients.
As a new board member, she is excited to support continuous professional nurse development.
Her advice to students? “It is a lot, but it's all going to be worth it. Just keep swimming.”
Ramey Johnson
|
As a little girl, Ramey Jonson (MS '93) always wanted to be a nurse.
“At age six, a nurse snuck me up the stairs to see my mother alive for the last time. I will always remember her white stockings, shoes, and hat,” she says.
Johnson earned her master’s degree in community health nursing, and she says the processes she learned served her well when she was elected to the state legislature and later on the Lakewood City Council.
“What people told me, what I saw, I made an assessment and looked for ways to help solve the problems,” she says.
And she has this advice for current nursing students: “As you move from the classroom to the greater society, remember nursing is a calling. You are a person who genuinely and sincerely loves your fellow man- it is internal, not learned. You are the link between humanity and an ever-growing use of high tech.”
