Angela Gopher, a nursing graduate from Montana State University (MSU), is preparing to take the NCLEX exam after earning her Bachelor of Science in nursing. Her journey toward a nursing career began when she was hospitalized as a child for a rare illness and was cared for by nurses whose compassion and skill inspired her.
“It was a frightening time for both my mother and me, especially because it took the doctors several days to figure out what was wrong. During that vulnerable experience, I remember the nurses who cared for me — how compassionate, reassuring and skilled they were,” Gopher said.
“Their impact stayed with me, and I knew I wanted to be that kind of support for others,” she continued.
Gopher is among eight students graduating this fall from MSU’s Caring for Our Own Program (CO-OP), which supports Native American students in nursing who plan to serve their tribal communities. She is affiliated with the Chippewa Cree and Navajo tribes and grew up in Rocky Boy. Gopher decided on MSU partly due to her mother’s positive experience there as a student.
She gained early experience through certified nursing assistant training at age 18 and later worked as a medical assistant at an Indian Health Services clinic. Scholarships from Montana Advantage Nursing and Indian Health Services helped fund her education at MSU. While studying, she also worked in emergency medical services and participated in the Montana Student Nurses Association.
Reflecting on her time at MSU, Gopher credited CO-OP mentors with helping her navigate academic challenges: “I had amazing mentors who guided me through choosing classes, finding tutoring and navigating the challenges of school. They cared about me not only academically, but personally — they regularly checked in on my well-being and supported my mental health,” she said. “I have always known that I wanted to serve a rural Native American community, and this program helped prepare me for that path. My professors equipped me with the support and opportunities I needed to step into nursing in an underserved community with confidence.”
Gopher also appreciated cultural events at American Indian Hall on campus: “I was grateful for cultural events at American Indian Hall, including guest speakers and activities such as beading, sweetgrass picking and dinners with traditional foods from a variety of tribes, which made the MSU campus ‘feel like a home away from home,’” she said.
During difficult times, Gopher relied on support from her parents: “Whenever I felt discouraged, I would call them, and their advice and support helped me push through,” she said.
Now considering options after graduation—including possibly moving to Arizona or staying in Montana—Gopher says her goal remains making an impact as a nurse: “My experiences at MSU strengthened my passion for nursing and confirmed that this is the career I’m meant to pursue,” she said.
The CO-OP program started in 1999 to increase qualified Native American nurses serving Tribal areas. According to Sarah Shannon, dean of the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing at MSU: “We are so proud of our students who have a passion to educate themselves and work to make a difference in their communities. Angela, and every one of our graduating seniors, have shown a deep commitment to strengthening the health of this state. Montanans are very lucky to have such a great group of MSU-educated future nurses eager to start their careers here.”
Montana State University enrolls more than 17,000 students across over 250 undergraduate programs along with 115 graduate offerings according to its official website. The university operates from its main campus in Bozeman here as Montana’s first land-grant institution since its founding in 1893 here. As part of its mission here, MSU focuses on blending education with research initiatives while fostering community engagement.
