Palmer Trinity School

ALUMNEWS I wanted to leave that environment because I felt everyone was exactly like me. I wanted to expose myself to people from different parts of the world, with different backgrounds and perspectives. I wanted to expand my mind." Rosa remembers one experience in her junior year Religion class at Palmer Trinity. During one class discussion, "one of my friends mentioned that they didn't believe in God – It was shocking to me," she says. But Rosa also appreciated the fact "that we were in a safe environment, where students could share what they really believed." Another important memory from Palmer Trinity was seeing how the school supported all students to try, in whichever area they wanted to try. "It is not a cookie cutter school," Rosa remarks. "Not everyone has to be a strong athlete to do well, or have strong grades. Palmer Trinity has a place for everyone. I became a more well-rounded individual myself thanks to this environment." Besides her studies, Rosa played volleyball, lacrosse, softball, and basketball during her time at Palmer Trinity. ese experiences gave her lessons that she still appreciates today. "One thing I really miss about being younger is playing on a team sport. Team sports teach you time management, teamwork, and real-world skills. One of the important lessons of team sports is that you try hard, give it your all and you win – sometimes you try hard, and you don't win. Often when we're trying to communicate behaviors to children, I wish we would say, 'put your mind to it and you'll achieve it – but there will always be people who perform better than you or mistakes that you make. Continue to enjoy the game'." Rosa also participated in PTS Student Government, and outside of school she was dedicated to service and mission trips to the Dominican Republic. "We volunteered in both rural and urban areas, and I was really touched by the inequalities I witnessed. It was a surprise to me that no matter how hard the people tried to get ahead, based on where they were born, they were unable to move from their situations." Rosa worked with a group of Catholic nuns who were public health nurses while in the Dominican Republic. ese experiences, combined with her exposure to many different cultures and perspectives she discovered at Palmer Trinity, became the seeds for her future career. College Counselor Danny Reynolds encouraged Rosa to look beyond the familiar colleges closer to home, and Rosa applied to Georgetown University where she was accepted into a unique program in the school of nursing that concentrated on international health. "Georgetown was crucial in my development," Rosa remembers. While in Washington, D.C., Rosa worked on a research project involving cancer among Hispanics. She realized the work that was most interesting to her was on a local level, studying inequalities, how wealth and resources and the lack thereof for minorities and the impoverished affected public health. "I had a mentor at Georgetown that motivated me and turned me on to the idea to go to Johns Hopkins University for their dual-master's program in nursing and public health." However, she deferred her acceptance for a year to travel to Spain, and also work as a nurse in Miami. "As my experience in the community working with the Hispanic population grew, I identified the need for more research from Spanish-speaking health professionals. During a particular outbreak of syphilis in Spain, I tried to seek out the evidence- based research and best practices for treatments, and there was none. I realized I wanted to provide service and care, and that I had to be a part of developing the research myself." After Johns Hopkins University, Rosa pursued an interdepartmental Ph.D. in Nursing, Epidemiology and Psychology from the University of Miami, and joined the faculty of the School of Nursing and Health Studies. Today, Rosa spends approximately 60% of her time on research activities, 40% on education. She also remains active in community service, especially in Spain where her students spend time during their studies. She appreciates working with students across all levels, from undergraduate to Masters and Ph.D. programs. "I really love community-based research, and hearing real-life experiences of people," Rosa remarks as she considers what she enjoys most about her work. "Research and service keep me connected to more than just myself – to my university community, and the local and national nursing communities." Rosa has received several honors and awards, including a scholarship with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and an appointment to an Institute of Medicine committee on the future of nursing. She is currently the principal investigator of a community-based participatory research study aiming to develop a teen dating violence prevention program for Hispanic youth. At home, Rosa is mother to three active boys. "Being a mom helps me, I think I connect with even more people," she says. Balancing work and home life comes naturally because of the nature of an active household: "When I get home I am so focused on my family that I'm pretty disconnected from anything else!" To current Palmer Trinity students, Rosa recommends keeping an open mind. "You go through a door that's open, and several other doors open to you. I think it's important to know the type of person you want to be. Don't be so rigid about your path in life – be open to opportunities, examining them, and taking advantage. Don't stress so much in the moment. But instead, enjoy those moments." "I think it's important to know the type of person you want to be. Don't be so rigid about your path in life – be open to opportunities, examining them, and taking advantage. Don't stress so much in the moment. But instead, enjoy those moments." (opposite page) Rosa engaging in teaching at the University of Miami (bottom) Rosa, her husband Luis, and three "future Falcons" visiting the PTS campus last fall.

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