CU Nursing - Fall/Winter 2019 - 21

21

G R A D U AT I O N

to CU, Dengah has made entertainment connections, singing backup for
some of her local artist friends and
being part of two music videos.

program in August, leaving behind
her undergraduate years packed with
extracurricular experiences.
Dengah, who attended Colorado
Nurses Association meetings before even coming to CU through its
Integrated Nursing Pathway program, joined the CU Student Nurses
Association (CUSNA).

Her exposure landed her other jobs,
including as TV host for an adventure
show that had her doing everything
from paragliding to skydiving and as
a ring girl for a the national MMA,
which she still does.

"I fell in love with nursing associations, because I saw how people
came together and created change
and opportunity," said Dengah.
Dengah served as president of CUSNA
for more than a year, during which she
led a successful transition of unifying
student leadership between the south
and Anschutz campuses.
"I also trusted people to take full charge
of their roles," Dengah said of initiating
a roundtable-like leadership style. "I
think that produces better outcomes."

PROGRAM ALLOWS CHANGE:
ONE PERSON AT A TIME
Dengah also served as the reproductive work group leader for the DAWN
(Dedicated to Aurora's Wellness and
Needs) clinic as an undergraduate.
The student-staffed clinic provides
healthcare for the uninsured.
"For me, it just continued to underscore that idea that there are so many
people who want access to care," she
said of her time at DAWN. "And if we
all could just donate a little bit of our
time as medical professionals ... it's
not a fix, but it's a way we can at least
help this person right now."

CU CONNECTIONS SHINE LIGHT
ON RESEARCH, POLICY
Among about a dozen students selected
for the Honors Research Program,
Dengah went on to become one of
only three who finished. "And we were
able to present our research at the
WIN (Western Institute of Nursing)

But rock climbing is Dengah's chief
pastime. "It's my main go-to, my
moving meditation," she said.

I fell in love with nursing
associations, because I saw how
people came together and created
change and opportunity."
- Chantal Dengah

"When you are climbing, you have to
focus on the task at hand. The climb
is challenging, and it's tricky, and you
have to weigh out what your next moves
are going to be. You have to stretch
yourself mentally and physically to be
able to get through it," she said.
"But then you get to the top and you
look down and see all that you've accomplished. It's like, 'Wow, I did that.'
And you have this beautiful vista. It's
like an allegory for my life."

conference in San Diego, so that was
really cool."
Dengah worked with her mentor,
Lori Trego, PhD, a nurse midwife and
military veteran, on a study evaluating
the military environment's effect on
women members' health.

Dengah said she is glad she chose
CU Nursing. "There are a lot of

A valuable mentor, Trego helped in
Dengah's decision to not stop at a
master's degree, she said. Dengah will
pursue a PhD, and will work to influence public policy, an area in which she
was also able to cut her teeth at CU,
she said.
As student liaison on the Alumni
Association board, Dengah was chosen
to represent the university and testify
against a bill that the board deemed
detrimental to nursing. "It was really
a great experience."

ADVENTUROUS LIFESTYLE
TRANSLATES TO LIFE
Although it might seem Dengah is all
work and no play, that's not the case.
Dabbling in film school before coming

Dengah shows her
adventurous side from rock climbing
to skydiving.

opportunities that CU offers that I
wouldn't have had as much at other
schools. If you are a graduate of CU, it
means a lot."
CU Nursing - Fall/Winter 2019

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