Introducing Margo Vargas-Ayala

MCALLEN, Texas – South Texas College has a new interim dean of nursing and allied health – Margo Vargas-Ayala, DNP.

Vargas-Ayala brings over three decades of experience in nursing and education to the post, including more than a decade teaching in STC’s vocational nursing program.

“My true passion lies in helping others grow. It’s something I deeply care about. Becoming a leader was never my original goal, but I’m grateful to have found myself in a position where I can lift others up and support their growth,” Vargas-Ayala said. “Now, as the leader of this incredible community at STC, my focus is on expanding opportunities for our students, ensuring they have the resources to succeed in health care and beyond.”

Vargas-Ayala gave the Rio Grande Guardian a video interview at the conclusion of STC’s recent 3rd Annual Workforce Summit. Asked what she was doing before joining STC, Vargas-Ayala said: “Before STC I was working in a hospital at the bedside. I’m a cardiac nurse by practice, and I also have home care agency experience, school nursing experience and case management. But I came from case management to education.”

Asked what attracted her to STC, Vargas-Ayala said: “I didn’t have the privilege of attending South Texas College’s nursing school because it didn’t exist when I went to nursing school. But I had always heard about the wonderful nursing programs at South Texas College and I I was privileged enough to work alongside many of the LVN and RN graduates from the programs. And so I thought that’s where I need to be.”

In the interview, she said STC has a large EMS program that currently includes dual credit students from Roma. She said these students are attending classes at STC’s Starr County campus in Rio Grande City.

“We have a we just acquired the previous Texas A&M building (in McAllen), which we’re calling Nursing & Allied Health Building E. In this building, we’re focusing on starting our dental hygiene program and our surgical tech program. We did receive a million dollar grant from the Department of Labor to assist us with the dental hygiene program, so we’re really excited about that,” Vargas-Ayala told the Guardian.

Here is the video interview:

The post Introducing Margo Vargas-Ayala appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.