Texas State University’s Department of Nursing completed their 4th Annual Study Abroad Panama Service-Learning experience in January. Twenty-two students and three nursing faculty members spent 10 days in rural Panama, engaging in meaningful, hands-on community work.
During the trip, students conducted community assessments, participated in clinic days hosted in schools across remote areas, and delivered health education sessions—known locally as charlas—for families and Community Health Workers (CHWs). A particularly impactful aspect of the experience was student involvement in CHW education, helping to support sustainable improvements in community health.
Over the course of the program, students connected with more than 200 community members and provided training for 10 CHWs. Educational topics included first aid, diabetes management, breastfeeding, hypertension, oral hygiene, and other essential health concerns.
This immersive experience not only strengthened students’ clinical and cultural competencies but also contributed to lasting health benefits within the communities served.
Nayelly Granillo-Rios ’26 has experienced many firsts throughout her academic career.
She is the first in her family to pursue a college degree. The first of her loved ones to leave New Mexico and move to Texas. And now, she is helping shape history as one of the first graduates of the new nursing program at St. Edward’s University.
The Summer Earn and Learn (SEAL) program provides students with disabilities, aged 16–22, with work readiness training and paid work experience. SEAL is a statewide strategy that includes employability skills training and paid work experience for students with disabilities.
Benefits for employers
The SEAL program helps businesses meet workforce demands by providing a risk-free opportunity to engage young workers with disabilities. Benefits for employers include:
Temporary Summer Employees (5-7 weeks)
Wages & Workers’ Compensation Insurance – Covered by us!
Reasonable Accommodations Provided
Work Readiness Training for Students
Ongoing Support & Site Visits
Ready to support the future workforce—at no cost to you?
Contact Kesha Gardner, Student HireAbility Navigator, to get started!
Heather Severson used her undergraduate degree in molecular biology and physiology to start a career as a scientist. Though she found lab work interesting and had earned a few promotions, she felt disconnected from the families that her efforts benefited.
Unfulfilled, Severson decided on a career change and enrolled in the Accelerated Second Degree Nursing (ASDNU) program at Fairfield University’s Austin Campus. Thus began her journey to become a registered nurse and to work directly with patients.
Severson graduated from Fairfield University in August 2025 and was hired at Ascension Seton Northwest Hospital as a labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum nurse. Such assignments are notoriously difficult for a new nurse to land, and Severson credits her internship experience with helping to secure that role.
“I was a student nurse intern on the same floor during my last semester at Fairfield, and that experience served as a steppingstone into my position,” Severson said. “It allowed me to build relationships with many of my coworkers and managers before starting orientation. That undoubtedly helped me land my current role and made everything less stressful.”
Severson chose Fairfield’s 15-month ASDNU program for its small class sizes and hands-on experiences. Accelerated BSN programs move at a quick pace, and she wanted every opportunity to maximize her potential.
“We learned a lot in a short period of time,” Severson said, “and the skill labs and simulations are where I gained the confidence needed for the floor.”
That Severson developed confidence through Fairfield’s robust simulation program is not only expected but also deliberate. Fully accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, the program provides hands-on training in a variety of real-world simulations. In Austin, the facility features a 21-bed learning laboratory and eight simulation rooms for creating fully immersive learning scenarios.
As for her classes, Severson appreciated the personalized and positive atmosphere at Fairfield. “I was lucky to attend the ASDNU program at the Austin Campus because my classes were relatively small,” she said. “This was a great help throughout the program because our professors were very responsive to our questions.”
She added: “My classmates and I were very supportive of each other. They amazed me daily and provided so much inspiration along the way.”
We’re honored to welcome Darren Okruhlik to the Board of Directors at Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS).
Darren is a seasoned construction professional who has been building infrastructure in the Austin area for over 20 years. He is known for his operational leadership and ability to deliver complex infrastructure projects with a focus on constructability, quality, and community impact. He currently serves as Area Manager at Sundt.
In Darren’s own words:
“My commitment to building a stronger local workforce has both professional and personal roots. As a manager at Sundt Construction, I’ve seen firsthand what success looks like when you truly invest in your employees. Giving them the tools to be successful and then providing a strong support foundation allows for internal career growth. With this structure in place, we are able to both develop and retain a workforce capable of achieving great things.
On a more personal level, my tie to developing a local workforce was formed through lived experiences. Having called Austin home for over 20 years, I’ve seen various industries thrive in both the good times and the bad. One true constant in weathering whatever challenges are faced are the employees that continue to show up. Yes, they show up for a salary to support their livelihood. Yes, they show up to develop tenure to eventually move up in title. But they also show up to support those working alongside them and show up to help create a better Austin. This is only achievable if we continue to commit to developing these employees and supporting workforce initiatives.”
Grow your business through talent: Workforce Solutions is uniquely positioned to help employers of all industries directly connect with local job seekers and talent. We’re collaborative and can tailor services based on your company’s needs. Get started.
We’re honored to welcome Emily Gupton to the Board of Directors at Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS).
A seasoned entrepreneur, executive, and passionate community builder in Austin, Emily is passionate about empowering women and fostering a network to make Austin a hub of technology, innovation, and next-gen leadership. She currently serves as Chief Technology Officer at SKG.
In Emily’s own words:
“I’m committed to building a stronger local workforce because I believe equitable access to opportunities, learning, and building new skills will transform lives and strengthen our Austin community. My work as a woman in the C-suite, along with my engagement in the technology community, has shown me the transformations that result by connecting people with the resources they need to grow and thrive in the world today. I’m passionate about preparing people for the jobs of the future, and ensuring our workforce is skilled, inclusive, and prepared.
I am honored to join the board of directors for WFS. I am excited to engage our local tech companies to understand what they need from a local talent pipeline, allowing WFS to develop impactful training programs, apprenticeship programs, scholarships, job search assistance, and more for the Austin community.”
Grow your business through talent: Workforce Solutions is uniquely positioned to help employers of all industries directly connect with local job seekers and talent. We’re collaborative and can tailor services based on your company’s needs. Get started.
Students from The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing made an impressive display at the 7th Annual Interprofessional Health Showcase, hosted by the Center for Health Interprofessional Practice and Education. Held in April 2025, the event brought together students from across health disciplines to present innovative, collaborative projects aimed at improving patient care, health systems and community well-being.
This year, nursing students contributed to award-winning work across a range of categories, including quality improvement, community engagement, literature review and interprofessional projects.
We’re honored to welcome Dr. Larry Wallace Jr. to the Board of Directors at Workforce Solutions Capital Area.
A veteran, former mayor, author, and longtime nonprofit leader, Dr. Wallace has shaped policy, championed community health, and built bridges across sectors throughout his career. He currently serves as Sr. Director of Operations at the Black Men’s Health Clinic and brings a perspective grounded in both leadership and lived experience.
In his own words:
“What drives my commitment to building a stronger local workforce is the lived reality that too many people fall through the cracks—not because they lack talent or work ethic, but because the system wasn’t designed with their path in mind.
After retiring from the military, I experienced this firsthand. Despite years of leadership and service, my experience didn’t clearly align with traditional civilian roles, and I often found myself at the starting line all over again. The opportunities I’ve had since then weren’t part of some strategic career plan—they came from moments of chance, where people saw a need and believed I could meet it. Those moments shaped my path, and they’ve made me passionate about ensuring that workforce decisions reflect real, varied journeys—not just the traditional ones.
That’s why I’m honored to join the Board of Workforce Solutions Capital Area. I believe we have a responsibility to build a system that doesn’t just replicate what worked for some, but reimagines what’s possible for all. When we do that, businesses don’t just meet their staffing needs—they tap into a deeper well of talent, creativity, and resilience that’s too often overlooked.”
Grow your business through talent: Workforce Solutions is uniquely positioned to help employers of all industries directly connect with local job seekers and talent. We’re collaborative and can tailor services based on your company’s needs. Get started.
Tatum Nordin and Taylor Walker, nursing students at Fairfield University’s Austin Campus, were honored by St. David’s North Austin Medical Center with Flower Bud Awards. The prestigious award recognizes exceptional students who embody the core qualities of compassion, empathy, and professionalism during their clinical rotations.
Driving the news: Nordin and Walker are in their third semester of the Accelerated Second Degree Nursing program at the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies. They were assigned to St. David’s as part of their Medical-Surgical Nursing II course.
What they’re saying: “The qualities for which Tatum and Taylor received recognition are fundamental to Fairfield’s Jesuit identity and the Egan School’s vision, mission, and purpose,” said Christina Trezza, MSN, RN, CNE, CCM, instructor of the practice and clinical coordinator in Austin. “It is no surprise that these exceptional students are turning heads with their outstanding and compassionate care for patients. I am so proud of them.”
Why it matters: The Flower Bud Award draws inspiration from the DAISY Award, an international nomination-based award given to registered nurses who demonstrate extraordinary compassion and outstanding clinical skills. The DAISY Foundation recognizes the Flower Bud Award as a companion award for nursing students.
Catch up quick: Nordin and Walker received their award certificates in a ceremony attended by several of their Fairfield classmates, the nurse manager, and the chief nursing officer at St. David’s. The two students were celebrated for their dedication to excellence, exemplified by their enthusiasm for learning and clinical experiences.
“Nursing school is incredibly challenging, so this recognition is a sign that all my hard work is paying off,” said Walker. “I am genuinely grateful for the acknowledgement and support from St. David’s.”
Modest and sincere, Walker was quick to recognize her friends and faculty at Egan Austin. “I would not be at this point without my classmates, clinical instructor, and nursing professors,” she said. “This award honestly belongs to everyone!”
We’re awarding $1.2 million in bonuses to our child care providers through our Capital Area Retention and Elevation (CARE) Program!
Why it matters: CARE provides financial incentives to eligible early learning providers to support staff retention, motivation, and satisfaction. We want to recognize and reward providers’ dedication to high-quality childcare and strengthen the long-term well-being of families in our community.
This year, we selected 51 providers with a total of 483 staff for awards, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 per person, depending on how many people each provider employs. Providers can distribute bonus funds to their staff based on individual performance and contributions.
What’s happening: These providers participate in Texas Rising Star, a quality rating and improvement system for Texas early childhood programs. All center based and home based child care providers in Texas can be certified in Texas Rising Star if they meet certain eligibility criteria. Programs that participate in Texas Rising Star meet higher quality standards than many other child care programs.
Katelyn H. is a director at a child care center in Austin.
Katelyn H. is a director at a center caring for 67 children receiving scholarships. Her center has participated in Texas Rising Star for 10 years.
“This has helped teacher retention, especially when we cannot afford to give raises each year,” Katelyn said.
Other providers shared how CARE impacts their Early Learning Programs:
“It has been such a blessing to my program. It has made such a positive impact to my center to have the extra assistance to provide more quality childcare to my children,” Tanya Joiner said.
“This funding helps providers because the limited funding and the low enrollment we are not able to give raises to our staff do to limited funds. With this funding we are able to show appreciation as well as retain good teachers and directors,” Ramonica Williams said.
“It allows us to hire with sign-on bonuses and allows to keep our current staff and show appreciation. This is very helpful for centers to show appreciation and support to their staff,” Alejandra Gardner said.
Any licensed or registered provider of child care services in Austin/Travis County may apply to have a provider agreement with Workforce Solutions Capital Area Child Care Services. As part of our commitment to quality child care, Workforce Solutions Child Care Services offers quality rated programs, quality initiative activities and other community resources to child care providers who strive for quality. Learn more about how to participate.
