麻豆果冻

Nearly 10 years after graduating from Mount Saint 麻豆果冻's University, Dahlia Maldonado '16, MSN, RN is giving back in the same ways she was once supported.

As a first-generation college student, Dahlia balanced the demands of nursing school while working multiple jobs to help pay for her education.  Along the way, faculty and staff provided encouragement, leadership and financial support that helped her persevere.

"There was always somebody helping," she said. "From the very beginning to the very end, someone from the Mount was always there."

Today, Dahlia serves as the Nursing Excellence Lead at UCLA Health and serves on nursing boards at both the state and national levels, including the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. She also regularly travels to Washington, D.C., to advocate for healthcare and nursing issues. She credits the Mount with giving her the confidence and leadership skills that continue to guide her career.

"The Mount taught me a lot about leadership," Dahlia said. "What can you do for others? That is a core tenet of my leadership style."

One conversation with Rosalyn Kempf, EdD, former director of women's leadership and student engagement and assistant vice president for student affairs, left a lasting impression. Kempf encouraged Dahlia to think about how she might one day create opportunities for others, just as the Mount community had done for her.

"I replay that in my head all the time," Dahlia said.

Years later, that promise would come full circle through the creation of the Dahlia Maldonado '16 Nursing Fund, which provides direct financial support for nursing students. Inspired by the scholarship she received as a senior, the fund helps students overcome financial barriers so they can focus on finishing their degree.

"If it had not been for that scholarship, I am not sure I would have made it," she said.

But the fund is about more than financial assistance. It is about helping future nurses overcome barriers to entering the profession while ensuring the healthcare workforce better reflects the communities it serves.

"I think it is crucial to support people who look like the people in our community," she said.    
 Giving back, however, extends beyond philanthropy.

Throughout her nursing career, Dahlia has mentored new nurses and emerging healthcare professionals. She hopes to create more opportunities for Mount students through job shadowing, mentorship, and professional development experiences.

"I had to do hard things, but that does not mean they have to," she said.

She believes investing in students created an impact that reaches far beyond one individual.

"It is not just you helping this one student, it is that student giving back to that community when they leave," she said.

As the Class of 2016 approaches its 10-year reunion during Homecoming 2026 Dahlia is also stepping into a new role as a Class Ambassador. For her, the role is another way of giving back. 
"Financially, that is one way," she said. "But I know that one of the things that is most valuable is your time and expertise."

For her, serving as a Class Ambassador is another way to strengthen the network that played such an important role in her own journey. It is an opportunity to reconnect with classmates, encourage engagement, and ensure future students continue to benefit from the distinctive Mount experience.

She believes alumnae sometimes underestimate the difference they can make.

"If you want to see the impact, go talk to students. See the future that you are shaping," Dahlia said.

As Homecoming approaches (October 3, 2026), she hopes more alumnae will discover their own path to involvement and invest in future generations of Mount students, just as others once invested in her.

"We are going to need these powerful, outspoken students, and especially women, to lead the way," she said. "Even if you don't have anything to give and you just have your time, that's going to make a difference."

For Dahlia, the impact of a Mount education continues long after graduation. It lives on through every student encouraged, every future nurse supported, and every opportunity created for those who will follow in her footsteps. Nearly 10 years after graduating, she is proving that giving back is one of the most powerful ways to move forward.