Journeys Magazine Fall 2025 | Alumni Making an Impact

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

The following story was featured in the fall 2025 edition of College of Saint Mary's Journeys alumni magazine.

College of Saint Mary (CSM) alumni were honored for their professional excellence and service at the Alumni Achievement and Service Awards during homecoming weekend in September.

Awards were given to six distinguished alumni, and the class of 1975 was honored with the Women of Wisdom medallion.

“These awards recognize outstanding alumni whose accomplishments reflect the mission and values of College of Saint Mary and serve as an inspiration to both current students and fellow alumni,” said Nicole Gilmore Anderson ’03, Alumni Council member.

Honorees were chosen by awards committee members on the Alumni Council and three alumni.

Alumni Achievement Award Honorees

Christine Hill '04

CEO and co-owner of AOI

Bachelor of Science in Business

Hill credits CSM—its mission, its belief in the power of women’s education and its support of students at any stage—as the catalyst for a life and career beyond what she ever imagined.

Dr. Melissa Tobin Kimmerling '06, '07, '14

Occupational therapy doctorate program director at Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD

Bachelor of Arts in General Studies, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Education

“CSM was exactly what I needed, when I did not know that I needed it. CSM provided the female support that I was missing in my life after losing my mother. It showed me what being a strong woman looked like...The education I received there has led me to a career full of opportunity and growth. I learned about the impact and responsibility of service and have engaged in it throughout my career. The experiences I had at CSM shaped me into the person I am today.”

Dr. Nicole Kolm-Valdivia '06

Assistant dean of academic affairs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health, Omaha

Bachelor of Science in Biology

“Attending CSM was a transformative experience that shaped the core of who I am as a leader. I learned to speak with confidence, lead with purpose and challenge systems that uphold inequality. CSM fostered an environment that combined intellectual rigor with a deep commitment to social justice. Surrounded by peers and mentors who were bold, unapologetic and driven, I was empowered to see leadership as a responsibility to uplift others, especially those whose voices are often marginalized. That foundation made me a lifelong champion for equity and social change—and it continues to influence how I teach, serve and lead today.”

Megan Moslander, '08

Vice president of donor engagement at CenterPointe, Lincoln, Neb.

Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology and Human Services

“Because of my education at the CSM, I became the person I am today. One of the most pivotal moments of my life occurred during my freshman year, when I heard Sister Helen Prejean speak on campus about the abolition of the death penalty. I was incredibly moved by her passion for justice and her deep desire to make a difference—it lit a spark in me that continues to guide my work.”

Samantha Marquez '11

Physician assistant at the Department of Pediatrics at Sunset Health, San Luis, Ariz.

Bachelor of Science in Biology

“CSM has left a lasting mark on my life, it is where I found my voice. CSM helped me to build on my confidence and know that I deserve to take up space and belong in whatever situation I work towards. CSM taught me that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to and that there is always a strong female support system there to help me.”

Alumni Excellence in Service Award Honoree

Andrea Saavedra Gonzalez '17, '18

Occupational therapist in the cardiovascular intensive care unit and certified Spanish speaking brain injury specialist at Nebraska Medicine, Omaha

Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences, Master of Occupational Therapy

“CSM gave me more than an education; it gave me the confidence to believe in my own potential. At CSM, I found a supportive community that made me feel empowered. I realized that my identity—my culture, my family history and my journey - was not something to overcome, but something to celebrate and use as strength. CSM didn’t just prepare me to be an occupational therapist, it helped shape the kind of professional and woman I am today.”

Also during the award ceremony, CSM honored the class of 1975 by presenting them with the Women of Wisdom medallion to recognize their 50-year milestone.