When Carolyn Zapata first heard the Dean of Nursing position at Ranger College was open, she didn’t initially give too much thought to applying. She was, after all, teaching Medical/Surgical nursing at Tarleton State University.
The more she thought about it, however, the more she knew becoming the new Dean of Nursing was her chance to make a difference – not only in her hometown of Brownwood but for people throughout the area.
“I feel very strongly about producing quality nurses,” said Zapata, who was appointed to replace former RC Dean of Nursing Marnita Guinn on September 1 by Ranger College President Dr. William Campion. “These are the nurses that are going to be taking care of our families. This was a chance for me to give something back by helping put out great nurses.”
Zapata, who has resided in Brownwood for more than three decades, had taught at Tarleton State University for the past eight years before deciding to take over the RC nursing program.
A Registered Nurse, Zapata received her Masters Degree in nursing from Angelo State University in San Angelo, and has worked in the nursing field for 42 years, including several stints at Brownwood Regional Hospital. She also worked in Brownwood for local practitioner, Dr. Stephen P. Kelly and taught a class on nursing at Regent College in London.“We’re thrilled Carolyn has joined our faculty,” said Campion. “She is someone whom we feel will make a huge impact in our nursing program and, through that, play a key role in the well-being of our students and, ultimately, the overall healthcare in the area.”
A native of San Saba, Zapata and her husband, Catarina, have been married for 45 years. They are the parents of two children: daughter, Julie Gomez, who works in the medical field in Brownwood, and son, Cate Jose Zapata, who recently retired from the 3M Company after 25 years of employment.
