A convocation of firsts for Edson College

This May, more than 700 students were eligible to graduate from Arizona State University’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, stepping into a fast-changing health care landscape where their skills and education will be immediately needed.

“The world needs innovative thinkers, compassionate professionals and strong leaders like you,” Dean Judith Karshmer told the graduates. “The impact you will have on your patients, communities, and the broader field of health care will be significant, and we can’t wait to see what you accomplish.”

The Class of 2025 included several historic milestones for Edson College. For the first time, a cohort of Bachelor of Science in nursing students graduated with an official Polytechnic campus designation.

In total, 28 nursing students earned their diplomas from the Polytechnic campus this spring, including twin sisters Kennedy and Makayla Hartman.

Currently, Edson College offers nursing programs on three of ASU’s campuses, and its reach continues to expand into new territory. Through the upcoming Learn Where You Live initiative, the college is launching a cutting-edge approach to prelicensure nursing education that goes beyond the traditional campus model.

Online learning continues to grow as well. This summer, the first cohort in the Online RN to Master of Science in Nursing program will earn their degrees — a significant step in the college’s efforts to serve working nurses nationwide.

“I was really confident in how well thought out the program was, and I knew it would be a good experience,” said Catherine Lane, a member of the inaugural RN-MS cohort. 

Lane traveled with her family from Vermont to attend convocation in person.

“I’m interested in nursing informatics, so earning an MSN is essential to advance in my career. And this program saved me both time and money, and allowed me to continue working and raising my kids without uprooting my life,” she said.

Among the graduates were Kristen Bish and Dallas Salas, whose paths to their degrees reflect the resilience and drive of the Class of 2025. Both were spotlighted in Edson College’s graduate profiles this year, highlighting their individual experiences and future goals.

This year’s class also included several exceptional scholars, including Flinn Scholar Netia Unger and Obama Scholar Sasha Santamaria.

Unger, who earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing, was the first student speaker at the ceremony.

“Whether stepping into hospitals, community clinics, research labs, or health organizations, we’re bringing something powerful: the belief that health is a human right, and that care should always come with dignity,” she said. “We were taught to see the person behind the diagnosis, to treat not just the illness but the human experience of it.”

Following Unger was Santamaria, Edson’s Outstanding Undergraduate student, and a Bachelor of Science in health care coordination graduate. She spoke about the personal growth and shared purpose that defined her class.

“Edson has shaped each of us, regardless of major, into the leaders, advocates, and changemakers we are now,” she said. “Today is not just a celebration of our degrees. It's a celebration of our paths, our resilience, and our shared belief in a better future for health care.”

Weiqi Chen, Edson’s Outstanding Graduate student and PhD graduate in nursing and healthcare innovation, closed out the student speaker lineup. She spoke about what success really means and how the lessons learned at ASU will carry her and her classmates forward.

“I have always been inspired by the ASU charter, which states that ASU is measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed,” said Chen. “And I believe the same applies to us. Our success isn’t defined by our shortcomings — it’s defined by our growth, our dedication, and those inner voices that keep reminding us why we march forward.”

This was also the college’s first convocation ceremony in Desert Financial Arena.