Rojann Alpers
Professor Emerita of Nursing, Arizona State University
Industry: Bioscience & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Pima Elementary School, Scottsdale High School
Graduated: 1973
How did SUSD prepare you for success?
"Life Skills, Making Friends, How to Study, Accountability, Rigor in Assignments, Enthusiastic Teachers, Diverse and Innovative Teaching Strategies, Extra-curricular Clubs and Activities, Community Building, Self Structuring, Organization, Responsibility, Critical Thinking, Creative Assignments, Homework that advanced our learning."
Sarah Becker
School Nurse, Tonalea K8, SUSD
Industry: Bioscience & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Navajo Elementary School, Mohave Middle School
Graduated: 2005
How did SUSD prepare you for success?
"SUSD provided a great education in a supportive environment and encouraged me to always keep trying."
Christopher Biggs
Medical Director, Oncology Service Line, Honor Health; Chief Managing Officer/Co-founder, Arizona Center for Cancer Care; Radiation Oncologist.
Industry: Bioscience & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Ingleside Middle School, Arcadia High School
Graduated: 1984
How did SUSD prepare you for success?
"A strong science program, amazing and inspirational teachers, a safe and nurturing environment, great friends."
Stephanie Beran
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Arizona Autism
Industry: Bio-science & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Anasazi Elementary School, Mountainside Middle School, Desert Mountain High School
Graduated: 2009
Jodi Boyd
Massage and Bodywork Practitioner, Elements
Industry: Bio-science & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Cochise Elementary School, Cocopah Middle School, Chaparral High School
Graduated: 1996
How did SUSD prepare you for success?
" I was able to find a niche and community to belong to at Chaparral Highschool. My freshman year started out rough and the caring administration and teachers helped my parents and I drop one of the classes that I was struggling in and put me in Art 1 class with Mrs. Joy (Marilyn Joy Kolesar) in the middle of the year. My life immediately changed for the better. Marilyn was such a positive, fun, motivating, down-to-earth teacher that kept me engaged and interested. I stayed in art classes throughout all of high school and received scholarships through art for college. I actually graduated college with a minor in Studio Arts because my love of creating and expressing myself through art was nurtured and encouraged in high school. Not only did Art class at Chaparral High school give me skills and technique needed to be an artist; it also gave me confidence, the ability to accept myself for who I am and so many wonderful memories and friends!"
Sarah Darden
Healthcare Administration, Mayo Clinic
Industry: Bioscience & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Sequoya Elementary School, Aztec Elementary School, Desert Canyon Middle School, Desert Mountain High School
Graduated: 2003
How did SUSD prepare you for success?
"Teachers who care and leave a lasting impression. Expectations of doing your personal best to be successful."
Courtney Lowman
Director of Rehabilitation Services, Independence Rehab
Industry: Bioscience & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Zuni Elementary School, Desert Canyon Middle School, Saguaro High School
Graduated: 2003
Chloe Harris
Medical assistant, Honor Health
Industry: Bio-science & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Pueblo Elementary School, Navajo Elementary School, Pima Elementary School, Mohave Middle School, Coronado High School
Graduated: 2005
How did SUSD prepare you for success?
“Teaching me the fundamentals I will need in my future.”
Leah Hill
Human Resources Manager, Mayo Clinic
Industry: Bio-science & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Cochise Elementary School, Mountainside Middle School, Saguaro High School
Graduated: 1997
How did SUSD prepare you for success?
"I am grateful for SUSD’s dedicated educators and rigorous and relevant curricula that provided me with invaluable life skills and enriched my desire to become a lifelong learner and to also commit to teaching others."
Elizabeth Nava
Clinical Laboratory Medical Technologist, Valleywise Health
Industry: Bioscience & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Tavan Elementary School, Tonalea Elementary School, Supai Middle School, Coronado High School
Graduated: 2003
Heather Noll
Nurse Practitioner, CareMore Health
Industry: Bioscience & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Anasazi Elementary School, Mountainside Middle School, Desert Mountain High School
Graduated: 2004
How did SUSD prepare you for success?
"While I feel that all of my education throughout my time in the SUSD helped prepare me for success, it was the Healthcare Careers course offered at Saguaro HS that truly laid the foundation for what is now a successful career in healthcare. This course not only provided both HS and college credit, but it also allowed me to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, starting work at what is now HonorHealth Shea Hospital the day after I graduated HS. This is where my love for healthcare started, leading to me obtaining my Bachelor’s in Nursing degree from ASU, and eventually my Master’s in Nursing from GCU. I have now been working as a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner for the last 9 years."
Michelle Pabis
Vice President, Government & Community Affairs, HonorHealth
Industry: Bioscience & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Zuni Elementary School, Mountainside Middle School, Saguaro High School
Graduated: 1997
How did SUSD prepare you for success?
"Great teachers and opportunities outside the classroom (clubs, sports)."
Adam Roussas
Emergency Room Physician, Harris County Hospital
Industry: Bioscience & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Pueblo Elementary School, Cocopah Middle School, Chaparral High School
Graduated: 2010
How did SUSD prepare you for success?
"Spent many hours reading, playing sports and mastering violin and guitar."
Casey Solem
Emergency Physician, Scottsdale Emergency Associates
Industry: Bioscience & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Zuni Elementary School, Desert Canyon Middle School, Chaparral High School
Graduated: 2003
Donna Knicely Shaver
RN, Wycliffe Bible Translations
Industry: Bio-science & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
Mohave Middle School, Saguaro High School
Graduated: 1975
Andrea Romano Torres
Medical Assistant, Insperity
Industry: Bio-science & Healthcare
SUSD Schools Attended:
ANLC : Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center (Echo Canyon K-8), Arcadia High School
Graduated: 2009
How did SUSD prepare you for success?
“We did JAG programs, Career Days. Were given the option to do college classes during high school, EVIT programs.”
