Sitting in a decorated demonstration hospital room, Anne Stark is in her element after being a nurse for 51 years and counting.
The allied health and nursing lab coordinator recently won the Assessment Technologies Institute’s Educator with the Nurse’s Touch Award for being an example of an exceptional educator and nurse.
“This award is so prestigious and honorable that I feel validated in being recognized as someone who continues these principles and practices throughout my career,” Stark said. “I am absolutely thrilled in having received this.”
The award is given to four educators nationwide per year who are able to recognize that the nursing field is not only a science, but an art too.
“I see myself allied with ATI’s purpose by being effective and educating students because I am also of their world,” Stark said. “I have made a commitment to lifetime learning.”
She has worked at City College for 34 years and has been working at the college full-time for the last 15 years. Stark works with all the different levels of students from start to finish. Not only does she assist her own students, but also is willing to help students in the other nursing departments.
“I met Anne at a time when I was lost in the nursing program and almost gave up on my dream,” said Shawn Thies, a licensed vocational nurse and former student. “Anne noticed my struggle, sat down, and had a heart to heart with me. I was so emotional and scared of failing, yet Anne created a safe container for me to open up.”
Stark is known to come in on the weekends when her students need help. Her colleagues describe her as someone who goes above and beyond to make sure her students understand the covered material.
“She is just invaluable and wonderful,” said Ann Marie Kopeikin, director of the vocational nursing program. “We are so lucky to have someone who is such a highly skilled educator in that position.”
Stark holds a number of titles and degrees. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from CSU Dominguez Hills, a master’s degree in nursing education with an emphasis on leadership from Regis University, a California Community College Instructor Credential from UCLA, and a Director of Staff Development Certification.
It was when Stark worked at Sansum Clinic that she was referred to a part-time job at City College in the Allied Health and Nursing Lab. After she was offered the job, she worked in the lab from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and worked at St. Francis from 3 to 11:30 p.m. During this time, she was also raising her three children.
At first, Stark did not know she wanted to become a nurse. She had plans to become a math teacher and to receive a scholarship to attend the University of Michigan, but her fate twisted when she was relocated from the East Coast. Not only did her location change, but her career goals did too.
She had a friend whose mother was a nurse and suggested that they become nurses as well. Stark received her Certificate of Achievement in Vocational Nursing in 1964 with the nurses who started the program at City College. At that time, she worked as a nurse’s aid at Goleta Valley Hospital.
“I didn’t plan to be a nurse,” Stark said. “But I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.”
