News
Previous Legislative Session Helped Strengthen Nursing Program Faculty
Feb 15, 2025
Nursing students benefit from extensive training provided by nursing faculty members as well as clinical work.
’s Nursing Program is thrilled by the addition of three faculty members for the current 2024-25 school year.
Alyshia Fairbanks, a graduate of ’s Nursing Program and a seasoned healthcare professional;
Erika Holiday, a doctorate degree recipient from Johns Hopkins University; and Amber
Price, well-schooled in nursing and emergency medical services, brought their vast
skills and knowledge to share with students starting with the recently completed
fall semester.
"We are excited to have enlisted such qualified new faculty,” said Director of Nursing Dr. Audrey Auer. “Amber, who has worked in many healthcare disciplines; Alyshia, who is also a alumni; and Erika, who has earned her doctorate at an esteemed university are excellent additions to our faculty team."
The nursing faculty positions were partially funded through the 2023 Legislative session.
Alyshia Fairbanks
"With the expected growth of our nursing program in the coming years, the additional faculty members couldn't come at a better time,” President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe said.
Fairbanks is a long-time resident of the rural community, attending the nursing program in Fallon and now is the full-time Fallon nursing instructor. Fairbanks started her nursing career as a surgical-orthopedic nurse at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, then transferred into the emergency department before becoming a per-diem clinic nurse with Banner Health. Prior to becoming a RN, Fairbanks was a medical assistant for 13 years and an endoscopy tech for two years.
She obtained her BSN through Nevada State University and is nearing completion of her Master’s degree in Nursing Education through Western Governors University. Fairbanks’ goal as an Academic Nurse Educator for the Fallon campus is to bridge the gap between the campuses and serve a resource for the pre-nursing and nursing students.
Holiday holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Doctorate
degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. After two years of part-time
work at , she is excited to embark on a new journey as a full-time Nursing faculty
member.
A passion for education inspires Holiday to help mentor students and make a positive impact as a nurse educator and clinical coordinator. Outside of academia, Holliday enjoys painting and engaging in various craft projects, finding inspiration and joy in creativity.
Erika Holiday
Price is a mother of six and grandmother to one! She has more than 24 years of experience in the medical field — all of which started at . She began as a Certified Nursing Assistant, then became an Emergency Medical Technician (through again) for Search and Rescue and then continued her devotion to helping others by dedicating herself to ’s Nursing Program.
She has served as an RN at Carson Tahoe Hospital, where she worked her way up to the
Charge Nurse of Surgical Orthopedics and then the relief House Supervisor. The
alumnus is now helping Western nursing students learn and grow as the new clinical
instructor and Readiness and Retention coordinator.
The Nursing and Allied Health Division at offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) in Nursing. The mission of the division is to prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and/or to provide them with the knowledge they need for their careers.
To learn more about the program, visit wnc.edu/nursing. For more information about becoming a nursing student at , phone 775-445-4425.
Amber Price