Mega Doctor News
By Selene Rodriguez
When South Texas College faculty member Cynthia Salinas attended commencement last December one last time before retiring, she wasn’t just marking the end of her career, she was also witnessing the future as her daughter walked across the stage.
After nearly four decades working as a nurse and later as an educator, Salinas retired the same year her daughter earned her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from STC, turning the ceremony into a powerful passing of the torch.
“This has been an amazing experience for me, watching students grow into nurses. That is the beauty of this job, knowing I played a small part in helping them reach their dreams and goals,” she said. “Watching my daughter do just that felt like a passing of the torch and the right time to go.”
Born and raised in McAllen, Salinas, 62, built her entire career without leaving the Rio Grande Valley. She earned her associate degree in Nursing in 1986 as a first-generation college student and spent 21 years working as a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse.
“My mother worked at a hospital as a switchboard operator and saw a huge need for nurses, which is what planted the seed for me,” she said. “A close friend started working with premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit so that was the first job I applied for and I fell in love with it. It felt like a calling and I never thought I would leave.”
It was that same friend who later encouraged Salinas to make a career change and move into education. In 2007, she was hired as faculty at STC’s Vocational Nursing program, fully transitioning into the classroom and dedicating herself to her students.
“I knew I enjoyed teaching because every time students would come to the hospital for their clinicals, I loved showing them around,” she said. “I fell in love with it immediately and moved from nursing to teaching full time because I felt a great sense of responsibility in shaping future nurses. I had to give the job 110%. I was also motivated to go back to school and continue preparing myself to prepare others.”
By 2014, Salinas completed her bachelor’s degree in Nursing and her master’s degree in Nursing Education, both from the former University of Texas at Brownsville, now University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
“From the moment I came to STC, everything was student-centered. The students always came first,” she said. “We had a culture of caring before there was a name for it. It is a hard program, but students know everything we do is to help them succeed.”
Salinas said the most rewarding part of her time at STC was watching students graduate, sometimes more than once with additional degrees as they furthered their education, and later seeing them thrive in the workforce.
“Watching them grow is like a gift that keeps on giving,” she said. “They start with us, in the Vocational Nursing program, then you see them move on to the ADN program and sometimes beyond. You remember the day they walked in crying because they did not think they could do it, and later you see them working as nurses and even stepping into leadership roles. It is incredibly emotional. I feel like a proud mama when they graduate and your heart is just bursting.”
Salinas, known among the faculty for her caring heart and focus on student success, leaves behind a lasting impact on the program and the students she served.
“Ms. Salinas brought courage, compassion and calm to every space she entered” said STC Vocational Nursing Program Chair Jessica Neely. “She supported students and colleagues with intention and heart and her influence as an educator will be felt for years to come. We are grateful for the time we shared with her and celebrate her as she begins a well-deserved retirement.”
Salinas’ career in health care mirrors the paths chosen by both of her children, each of whom pursued jobs centered on serving others. Her son is an STC alumnus of the Emergency Medical Services program and now works as a firefighter in Edinburg, and her daughter, a Marine Corps veteran, chose to follow in her footsteps.
“This last graduation was really special. When they called her name to walk across the stage, I thought, ‘This has come full circle,’” Salinas said. “I do not want to say I am done because once a nurse, always a nurse. I still think I have much to offer. As far as STC, maybe I will come back as adjunct faculty, but in the meantime, it is incredibly rewarding to watch my daughter begin her journey.”
As Salinas retires to spend more time with her family and help care for her elderly parents, she said she remains grateful for her 18 years at STC.
“It was not just a job. It was a family and a community,” she said. “The Vocational Nursing program is very united, with a presence across the RGV, from Weslaco to Rio Grande City and we work together to ensure every student receives the same quality of education. I loved being part of that team and to all the students who came through my classroom and taught me along the way, they gave me so much. Every cohort was unique and each one left me with something I will always carry.”
Looking ahead, she said she is ready for a new chapter and remains deeply grateful for the support she received during her years at what she described as her second home.
“STC gave me support, encouragement and opportunities to grow beyond anything I imagined,” she said. “Throughout the years, I was continually encouraged to grow as an instructor and better connect with my students because the culture at STC is like nowhere else. It truly is a village coming together for the students and the community. I feel blessed to have been a part of it. Thank you for everything, STC.”
