Meet Angela Sugrim, Class of 2016

York alumna Angela Sugrim shares her path to becoming a nurse practitioner.

Angela Sugrim remembers walking into class and realizing she was the oldest student in York’s Nursing Program. “Even though I went to college later in life, I knew that once I started working toward my bachelor’s, I was going to do everything I could to excel.” Angela kept her promise to herself and graduated summa cum laude in 2016.  

The youngest of six children, Angela came to the states with her family from Guyana when she was 17 years-old. She is the first in her family to earn a college degree and the memory of her father, who was bed bound most of his life, proudly saying to his doctors, “don’t ask me, ask my daughter – she is a nurse,” will always hold a special place in her heart. “From a young age, I helped care for him and I realized I have patience and curiosity, which are essential to nursing.”

Angela also has tenacity: While at York, she juggled caring for two children, with the help of her Mother; a job at City MD; and a full course load, which included labs and taking national board exams.  She credits the family-like atmosphere of the nursing program in helping her to succeed. “We studied together, we prayed together before exams, we laughed together, and sometimes we even cried a bit together,” she recalls. “It was a rigorous program and the faculty supported us every step of the way. They were so dedicated to our entire cohort.”

With her York degree in hand, Angela fielded several job offers.  She chose NYU Langone and started as a registered nurse on the acute surgery floor right after graduation. To advance her knowledge and career, she earned her Master’s in Nursing at NYU and is now a nurse practitioner working with Langone’s surgery teams.  Angela’s future plans include pursuing her Ph.D. and teaching future nurses. “Going to York really changed my life and I want to help others follow their dreams of becoming a nurse.” Learn more about pursuing a nursing degree at York College.