Hillary Parcell, '08

2019 recipient of the Nelson Distinguished Young Alumni Award 

Hillary Parcell is a 2008 graduate of WVU Tech with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. After graduation she spent time practicing as an RN in a hospital setting while furthering her education. In 2011 Hillary graduated with a master’s degree in nursing. Shortly thereafter, she started her career as a nursing faculty member at a private university, which eventually led her back home to WVU Tech where she is currently an assistant professor in the School of Nursing. 

Hillary has a passion for helping Southern West Virginians. In her current role as a nursing professor she is able to impact the lives of her students and the patients they will care for throughout their nursing careers. This great responsibility is not taken lightly, and it encourages her to stay focused on educating future nurses. Hillary’s hope is that her enthusiasm for teaching and the nursing profession inspires her students to be the nurses that our communities so desperately need. Hillary is the faculty advisor to the Student Nurses’ Association at Tech. In this role she has coordinated multiple service projects in the communities surrounding our university.

There was never any question where Hillary wanted to attend college. She was honored to be accepted in the well-respected Nursing program at Tech. She wanted a quality education close to home and received just that and so much more. While at Tech, Hillary was named Freshman of the Year in 2004 and received the Presidential Leadership Award her senior year. Her volunteer work in the local communities and abroad, combined with her academic standing, contributed to this recognition.

Hillary was recognized in 2017 as an emerging leader in her profession in the Future of Nursing West Virginia 40 Under 40. Her most recent accomplishment is being chosen as the 2019 recipient of the Nelson Young Alumni Award. 

A Fayette County native, Hillary currently lives in Charlton Heights, West Virginia with her husband Zack and daughter Amelia. She enjoys spending time with her family, at her church and in the outdoors. Their newest family adventure is remodeling a farmhouse to make their new family “home” in Hico, West Virginia. To Hillary, WVU Tech and Southern West Virginia will always be “Home.”