Talisa's Story | Regis University

Creating a Community of Mutual Support

Now a government biologist with the USDA, Talisa Puentes-Ortega first began her career — and her relationship with Regis — as a senior in high school. An assignment in one of her high school classes was to send out ten college applications and Regis was among the list. After Regis eventually read through her application and essay, they offered her a life-changing scholarship.

In fact, it was more life-altering than she could have imagined. Several years after she graduated with her bachelor’s degree, she received an offer to advance her career that brought her back to Regis to earn her M.S. in Environmental Biology.

Talisa’s desire for a personalized experience led to more than just a degree. She cultivated a community that has continued to support her — and each other — through all of life’s endeavors.

Talisa Puentes-Ortega’s desire for a personalized experience led to cultivating a community that continues to help each other thrive.

Why Talisa Returned to Regis

"After finishing my bachelor's in Biology, I took time to explore what I wanted to do with my degree, and while I was working an internship in southern Colorado, I was offered a higher status in my field — but I needed to return to school.”

Talisa began researching programs to pursue, and naturally reached out to the faculty at her alma mater. When she learned more about the M.S. Environmental Biology program and its personalized approach, returning to Regis was an easy choice.

“I’d originally picked Regis for my undergraduate studies because I came from a small New Mexico high school of not quite 1,000 kids. I didn’t want to be just one more nameless, faceless member of a crowd. What I wanted as an undergraduate — and what I knew I would get in a masters-level environment at Regis — was a more personalized experience."

Hands-On Graduate-Level Experience

Regis University’s M.S. Environmental Biology program is a program that combines course work, field work and options to pursue either a research project or an externship. The program’s goal is to help graduates emerge fully prepared to become advocates for the health of our planet as they enter the environmental workforce.

“When I returned to Regis, I experienced the usual nostalgia. I thought, ‘Wow, look, I’m back, I can call my professors, I can sit in the bio suite and do my homework.’ Beyond that, though, I felt a focus from my classmates — and, most importantly, from the school and faculty — on leveraging the program to achieve real success. My peers and I arrived with the mentality that we knew we had already been in the world and working for a while. Now, we were at a stage in our lives where we could visualize the next step. We just needed Regis’ help to get there."

Embracing a Supportive Community

Both in and out of the classroom, the professors exuded the same amount of focus and dedication that Talisa and her peers did. There was a constant level of support that reinforced students’ existing abilities by honing in on their communication, analytical, and statistical skills.

“One of the biggest benefits I’ve experienced personally is the community we formed. Staying in contact with colleagues in my program has been a huge help, and we were encouraged to rely not only on each other, but on our professors. We can reach out to each other to say, 'Hey, I have an interview for something, can I talk to you about it?' and everyone — students and faculty alike — makes themselves available."

The Role Regis Continues to Play in Talisa’s Life

"Today, as a government biologist with the USDA, I can look back and easily say that Regis has played an enormous role in my success. As an undergraduate student, I knew I had to go to college, I knew what interested me and Regis helped me learn more about it. At that point in time, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but after I graduated, my mindset shifted. When I returned to my alma mater for my M.S. Environmental Sciences, I was on a specific path. I had a clearer idea of where I was going. With the ability to complete the program in one year, my peer community and the faculty’s support, Regis University gave me the masters level education I needed — and the experience I wanted — to achieve the next step in my career."

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