50th Anniversary
As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the UTEP College of Nursing, I am filled with pride, gratitude, and excitement as we reflect on our journey from 1976 to 2026.
For five decades, our College has stood on the foundation of excellence, leadership, and innovation, educating nurses who not only meet the needs of our community but help shape the future of health care. What began as a vision in 1976 has grown into the region’s largest producer of nurses—graduates who lead with skill, compassion, and a deep commitment to service.
Today, the impact of UTEP Nursing is unmistakable. More than 60% of all nurses in El Paso are UTEP graduates, and over 90% of our BSN graduates choose to remain in the region for their first professional role, strengthening local hospitals, clinics, and community agencies. Our graduates reflect the community we serve—bringing culturally responsive care, diverse perspectives, and innovative thinking to every setting they enter.
This milestone anniversary is more than a celebration of the past—it is an invitation to engage with our story. Throughout the year, we will highlight special features and experiences that honor our legacy and inspire our future, including a College of Nursing timeline showcasing key moments across five decades, a graduate plaque gallery honoring alumni from across the years, and 50 Voices of Nursing, a powerful storytelling initiative featuring the people who helped build, lead, and advance our College.
We are also looking forward to a truly special 50th Anniversary Gala, where alumni, students, faculty, partners, and friends will come together to celebrate this historic moment. Alongside the gala, we will host a variety of events, activities, and digital experiences designed to connect our College to the community—and to the world—while highlighting the innovation and leadership that continue to define UTEP Nursing.
As we honor 50 years of impact, we do so with deep appreciation for everyone who has been part of this journey. Your dedication, passion, and belief in our mission have made the UTEP College of Nursing what it is today—and what it will become in the decades ahead.
I invite you to join us as we celebrate this remarkable milestone and continue writing the next chapter of our story—together.
Go Miners!
Leslie K. Robbins, PhD, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, PMHNP-BC (NM), FAANP, ANEF
Dean and Professor
