Justin LeMay

Even before setting foot on UNLV’s campus, Justin LeMay knew deep down in his heart that he was born to be a nurse. One thing he didn’t know: Why?

It wasn’t until he got a job helping java lovers nurse their caffeine buzz that he finally learned the answer.

“I always said, ‘I’m going to be a nurse.’ But I wasn’t necessarily sure why that was my calling,” LeMay says. “Then I worked at Starbucks. It might sound silly, but Starbucks’ mission statement is: ‘To inspire and nurture the human spirit — one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.’

“That resonated with me. Because I did — and do — want to inspire and nurture the human spirit. I want to heal. I want to help. I want to uplift. That realization is what led me to want to be a nurse. It became my passion and drive.”

That is precisely why LeMay enrolled at UNLV fully intending to study in the School of Nursing. Unfortunately, the transition from high school to university life didn’t come easy.

“I started off in a very rough state, and my grades reflected my poor performance,” he says. “As a first-generation college student from a low-income family, I did not have someone to walk me through the process. I didn’t have someone to coach me on the rights and wrongs of higher education.”

Realizing he needed to improve academically if he wanted to achieve his dream, LeMay chose to lighten his load by moving from a full-time to a part-time student. The move paid off, as he tweaked his study habits, improved his grades, and he cleared his first major hurdle: joining the School of Nursing.

By the time he completed his degree in 2019, LeMay not only had made the Dean’s List multiple times but he graduated among the top of his class.

“I truly believe my success in nursing school was in part due to the time I spent as a part-time student,” says the 2025 School of Nursing Alumnus of the Year. “That’s when I realized the importance of dedication, perseverance, and true discipline. I believe these characteristics helped me overcome my earlier academic shortcomings.”

Today, LeMay is doing exactly what he believes he was put on this planet to do: helping, healing, uplifting, and inspiring the infirmed — and, of course, nurturing the human spirit.

He spent the first four years of his career tending to cardiovascular patients in the intensive care unit at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada.

Recently, LeMay transitioned to an administrative role in which he’s responsible for improving the facility’s internal processes to ensure that patients receive the best possible evidence-based care. This includes reviewing outcomes for the hospital’s stroke and cardiac patients, making sure the results measure up to national standards.

LeMay’s commitment to providing and improving patient care doesn’t end with his day job, either. Shortly after completing his undergraduate studies, LeMay returned to the School of Nursing to pursue his master’s in nursing administration. He earned that degree last year, then remained on campus to educate the current crop of nursing students.

“I’ve always loved teaching,” says LeMay, who started as a part-time lecturer in the spring 2024 semester before moving to full time in the fall. “There’s a certain satisfaction that I get when I can help my students or colleagues understand a complex concept.

“I’m also driven to change the world. So now instead of one patient at a time, I can positively influence the next generation of nurses who will go out and make positive changes themselves. That exponentially increases my impact.”

About that impact: It isn’t just limited to the healthcare industry.

As an undergraduate student, LeMay enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard in an effort to offset his tuition costs. He’s still active in the National Guard, serving as a staff sergeant for the maintenance section of the 1864th Medium Transportation Company.

Among his duties: managing a platoon of 20 personnel that’s responsible for repairing and servicing (among other things) semitrucks, Humvees, and generators. He also helps coordinate convoys and responds to roadside emergencies when out on those convoys.

“I joined the National Guard to help pay for school, but I quickly gained an appreciation for the Guard and those who serve,” he says. “It’s why I’ve stayed in. I have grown to love the soldiers that I lead; they are some of my favorite people, and I want to continue to support them and watch them grow.”

Whether it’s caring for ICU patients, teaching and mentoring the next generation of nurses, or leading a National Guard platoon, LeMay certainly has done his part in the “giving back” department. But that hasn’t kept him from generously supporting his community and his alma mater in important ways.

For instance, part of his current job involves doing community outreach, which includes attending health fairs throughout the Las Vegas Valley. During these events, he educates attendees about managing health risks, such as how to monitor blood pressure and what signs to look for that indicate someone is having a heart attack or stroke.

Back on campus, LeMay has been a dedicated supporter of the School of Nursing. Late last year, he participated in Coffee with a Nurse Leader, where he spoke to students about his experiences as a caregiver and what they should expect as nursing professionals.

He also talks to high school students about the virtues of his profession as part of the School of Nursing’s annual summer camp, and offers critical mentorship to new nursing graduates, guiding them through the challenges of being young professionals while explaining the dynamics of working in hospital settings.

As if that wasn’t enough, LeMay is a regular financial contributor and is involved in building an alumni endowment program. In fact, he’s committed to one day sponsoring his own nursing scholarship.

“The School of Nursing’s administration has always been supportive of my goals and ambitions,” LeMay says. “They’ve always been there when I asked for their assistance, and always made me feel welcome and worthwhile. I’m incredibly grateful for all of that, which is why I’m more than willing to help and support the school whenever and however I can.”

You grew up with a goal of one day attending UNLV. Why was becoming a Rebel so important?

I wanted the prestige of attending a university. There’s a sense of accomplishment when you’re a first-gen student and you can say, “I did that.” There’s no shame in community or state colleges, but I believed it would be more of a personal accomplishment to attend and graduate from a prominent university.

Was there a moment when you absolutely knew you made the right call to study nursing?

Every patient interaction I’ve ever had convinced me it was the right call.

I’ve had so many positive experiences, from patients calling me an angel to them sharing their favorite song with me. If I can make someone feel good enough that they call me an angel — or if they are comfortable enough to share pieces of their life with me like their favorite song — then I must be doing something right.

That positive feedback will forever resonate within me. It makes me genuinely happy when I know that my patients appreciate what I am doing for them. 

Your early days at UNLV were difficult, but you persevered and eventually turned the corner academically. What’s your message to the current student who is struggling to find their way and considering throwing in the towel?

Don’t be afraid to step back, slow down, and reassess. Everyone thinks that they need to be a full-time student and need to complete their degree in four years or less. The reality is, it’s OK to be a part-time student, especially if you need to address any life changes or needs.

I’m a firm believer that it’s not about the path you take; it’s about arriving at the destination, however long it takes. So don’t let external factors rush you if you can help it. 

What is the most fulfilling part of a career in nursing, and what is the most challenging aspect of the job?

The biggest challenge is understanding the disease process in front of you and managing it accordingly. The ICU is filled with very sick patients, and everyone is different. You need to be nimble and think quickly to intervene. 

On the flip side, knowing what to do in those situations and how to handle a patient’s care is also very fulfilling. It boosts your confidence.

How did you end up as a vehicle mechanic for your company in the Army National Guard ?

I have always been interested in automation. Plus, I like the fact that I have the expertise to work on my own equipment/vehicles if I want to.

In a more general sense, I do believe it’s prudent to have multiple skillsets. The more exposed and well-rounded you are, the more opportunities open up for you.  

A recent UNLV nursing graduate who is hoping to enjoy a long, successful career approaches you and asks for some “must dos” and one “most don’ts”. What’s your response?

A few must dos:

• Be willing to separate yourself from distraction — and that includes stepping away from friends and other social constructs that can impede your future. Friends come and go. Your future does not. 
• Be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of your education. Stay up late, get up early, change your workout routine — do whatever you have to do to ensure that studying is a priority.
• Ask for help whenever and wherever you need it. Whether it’s academic assistance, financial assistance, mental health assistance — there are resources all around you. But you’ll never get that assistance unless you ask for it. Remember: Closed mouths don’t get fed.

As for a must don’t, some might disagree with this but I feel strongly about it: Don’t get caught up in the social life of college.

Nobody around you is going to earn your degree for you. If you waste time on distractions at the expense of studying, your grades almost certainly will suffer. So focus on the goal at hand, and achieve what you came to UNLV to achieve.