Fiscal Year 2024-2025 was flled with opportunities and accomplishments across the SDSU School of Nursing, which were made possible through the dedication of our faculty, the support of our clinical partners, and, most importantly, the generosity of donors like you.
Your contributions have enabled us to expand our oferings and foster a diverse and inclusive learning environment where future nurse leaders are nurtured and empowered. I extend my deepest appreciation to each of you for your continued support and belief in the mission of the School of Nursing.
Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare through education, research, and compassionate care.
Karen Macauley, PhD, DNP, FNP-BC, GNP-BC Professor and Director School of Nursing College of Health and Human Services
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward
Colwell Family Endowment for Nursing
This gift supports the general operations of the SDSU nursing program in San Diego with a specifc focus on faculty support and current-use needs. The use of funds is directed to the greatest needs of the program, which include:
Infrastructure Improvements: Improvements to existing facilities, facility rental expenses, technology purchases, and equipment expenses.
Faculty and Staf Support: Faculty research/stipends, books and other equipment, travel/accommodations, professional development, and curriculum development.
Student Awards: Scrubs, equipment, travel to healthcare facilities and conferences, research expenses, and collaborative community projects.
Nursing Program Expansion Fund
Signifcant contributions were made to the Nursing Program Expansion Fund this year.
This fund provides support for the School of Nursing program expansion, including the formal Needs Assessment to present to the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), Clinical Partner Recruitment, and enhanced Skills, Assessment, and Simulation Spaces (equipment and materials).
SDSU Nursing Students
Thriving in the Aztec Experience
Omari Shelton, Class of 2025
Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Health and Human Services Major: Nursing
Omari recently graduated summa cum laude from San Diego State University’s Accelerated BSN program and was honored with awards for overall academic achievement and nursing leadership.
During the program, he built a strong foundation in clinical skills, leadership, and academia. His clinical rotations exposed him to diverse patient populations and cultures, deepening his passion for providing safe, high-quality, and compassionate care. He completed externships in both the emergency department and pediatrics, where he developed confdence, adaptability, and clinical judgment in fast-paced settings.
He also served as president and secretary of the Student Nurses Association, Imperial Valley, advocating for student success and helping to build a supportive community among student nurses.
Omari is excited to have recently accepted an ER nurse resident position at El Centro Regional Medical Center. He looks forward to growing into his role as a future emergency room nurse, committed to delivering excellent care to patients and families in all situations.
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Honored for academic and leadership excellence, Omari built confdence in fast-paced clinical rotations. Now an ER nurse resident, he’s committed to compassionate, patient-centered care.
Jennifer Juarez, Class of 2025 Class Level: Graduate Student College: College of Health and Human Services
Major: Master's in Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems
Jennifer’s time at San Diego State University began with the completion of her RN to BSN in December 2022, though it truly started six years earlier when she met then-director Helina Hoyt, who stayed in touch and encouraged her journey.
After graduating from an ADN program, applying for a BSN felt intimidating, but that decision marked the start of an unexpected academic path. Despite challenges such as balancing work, studies, and self-doubt, she applied and was accepted into the MSN in Nursing Leadership program in Fall 2023 as the sole applicant from Imperial Valley.
Returning to bedside nursing after six years in hospice and home health inspired her graduate project—a comfort care screening tool designed to reduce rehospitalizations. Her project was recognized for excellence in research at the 2025 Honors Convocation and will continue into her DNP-FNP program, beginning in Spring 2025.
Jennifer is a double SDSU alumna, a graduate student, and recipient of multiple scholarships—a refection of her passion, growth, and belief in the power of self-belief.
“Through perseverance and strong mentorship, Jennifer transformed challenges into success—creating award-winning nursing research and advancing her education to better serve her community.
Patrick Clavillas, Class of 2025
Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Health and Human Services
Major: Nursing
Patrick demonstrated the importance of leadership during his role as president of the Student Nurses Association at SDSU. In addition to his regular duties as president, he coordinated this year’s Road to Success Conference, where 150 nursing students earned their ACLS or PALS certifcations and received six months of access to UWorld for their NCLEX preparation.
He also advocated for his fellow nursing students when SDSU Student Nurses Association’s resolution passed at both the state and national levels, subsequently becoming one of the state directors. His eforts led to his selection for the Army Nurse Leadership Award.
Beyond his leadership experience, Patrick was selected as a teaching assistant for the Nursing Fundamentals lab, a role he held for three semesters. He also completed a 120-hour externship in the Defnitive Observation Unit at Kaiser SDMC. Finally, he graduated summa cum laude in May 2025.
“I hope to continue growing as a nurse, and eventually, work in the ICU. I have always aimed to become a CRNA, so I will continue working to earn my qualifcations and achieve this goal. My time here at SDSU’s School of Nursing has been invaluable and will remain an important part of my journey!”
— Patrick Clavillas
“My time here at SDSU’s School of Nursing has been invaluable and will remain an important part of my journey!
Celebrating Shared Success
Recent Rankings
The Master’s in Nursing (MSN) program is ranked #50 in Best Nursing Schools: Master’s. Our ranking improved from 55 last year to 50 in 2025.
Statistics of Interest
Main Campus – NCLEX (RN Nursing Exam) pass rate for 2025: 97%
Imperial Valley Campus – NCLEX pass rate for 2025: 100%
Recent Highlights
The School of Nursing maintains strong clinical partnerships and advisory councils with leading healthcare institutions, providing students with valuable clinical experiences at UC San Diego Health, Rady Children's Hospital, Scripps Health, Sharp Healthcare, and VA Medical Center. Current plans are underway to develop SDSU South (in Chula Vista) and to launch a second bachelor’s in nursing and an RN to BSN program in collaboration with the SDSU Global Campus.
Top Rankings
Strong Partnerships
Ranked #50 in Best Nursing Schools: Master’s (up from 55). NCLEX pass rates for 2025: 97% at Main Campus and 100% at Imperial Valley Campus.
The SON partners with top healthcare institutions, ofering students clinical experiences at UCSD, Rady Children’s, Scripps, Sharp, Kaiser, and the VA.
Julie-Kathryn Graham, PhD, APRN, ACCNS-AG
Title: Associate Professor
College: College of Health and Human Services
Achievement: Dr. Graham has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure, efective AY 2025-26, recognizing her signifcant contributions to science, service, and teaching.
Dr. Graham is one of the world's most prolifc nurse scientists in the feld of sepsis research, and in late 2024 published the frst directional model of metabolic and immunologic dysregulation in sepsis, The OO(H)NO! Model: (Graham, J., & Scruth, E. (2024). A Conceptual Model of Sepsis as a Dysregulated Host Response: Depicting Directionality of Immunologic and Metabolic Dysregulation: The OO(H)NO! Model.
She is currently testing a predictive model of sepsis based on her years of research, which promises to improve specifcity in sepsis recognition over existing models.
"Most of my career has been dedicated to understanding sepsis, and contributing novel scientifc research to improve early recognition of this deadly condition. I have witnessed frsthand the devastation this condition causes in many patients under my care, and I am determined to make a diference in sepsis outcomes during my lifetime. Current mandates for sepsis care are outdated, and not evidencebased. This is a barrier for providers to ofer the best care possible." — Dr. Graham
Learn more about Dr. Graham's sepsis research.
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I am determined to make a diference in sepsis outcomes during my lifetime. ”
Stephen Jaime, PhD, RN, CNS, CCRN
Title: Assistant Professor College: College of Health and Human Services
Achievement: I’m thrilled to share my recent participation in the 2025 Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress in Washington, D.C., alongside my daughter, Olivia, who had the honor of serving as a delegate.
As part of this experience, we traveled to Capitol Hill from July 7–9, 2025, to meet with members of Congress, including legislators from California, to advocate for continued investment in diabetes research, access to afordable insulin, and comprehensive support for families managing this chronic condition.
As a nurse, a person living with diabetes, and a parent of a child with type 1 diabetes, this experience was deeply meaningful. It represented a powerful intersection of my professional life and personal journey. My family lives with the realities of this disease every day—the constant blood glucose monitoring, insulin dosing, emotional toll, and the uncertainty it brings. Sharing our story on a national stage was an opportunity to humanize the challenges behind the statistics and highlight the urgent need for change.
This experience also reinforced my belief in the power of advocacy as a pillar of nursing. Nurses are trusted voices in both health care and policy. Participating in this work reafrms my commitment to patient-centered care, health equity, and systems-level change.
This experience brought to life the essential role nurses and families play in shaping policy. It reminded me that beyond the clinical setting, our voices can drive change. It reafrmed why I became a nurse: to stand with patients and families and push for a more equitable, compassionate health care system.
Nurses are trusted voices in both health care and policy.
