College of Nursing celebration marks 90 years of excellence















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Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean of the College of Nursing, proposes a toast to celebrate the college’s 90th anniversary.


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UNMC College of Nursing Dean Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., center, with distinguished alumni and emeritus faculty, from left, Gladys Sorensen, Ed.D., Martha Foxall, Ph.D., Rosalee Yeaworth, Ph.D., and Marcelline Harris, Ph.D.

The UNMC College of Nursing acknowledged 90 years of exceptional education, breakthrough research, innovative practice and community engagement during a special four-campus celebration on Oct. 19.

Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean of the College of Nursing and Patty Sherman, University of Nebraska Foundation Officer, announced eight new and future endowments that represent gifts totaling more than $3 million, and a 90th Anniversary Fund for Teaching Excellence, that now contains more than $40,000.

The future endowed gifts will be the:

  • Gladys E. Sorensen Endowed Chair in Nursing — to further clinical nursing education and research;
  • Kathleen Walker Johnson Endowed Chair in Gerontological Nursing;
  • Carol M. Wilson Advanced Nursing Administration Program;
  • Sharon Bonham Holyoke and Edward A. Holyoke, Jr., M.D., Nursing Scholarship; and
  • James Robert and Joan A. McVay Western Nebraska Division Nursing Research Fund.

Immediate endowed gifts are the:

  • Pauline M. Dougherty Memorial Nursing Scholarship, established by Mr. Robert Martina in memory of his wife, a 1942 alum;
  • Mary Ann Linder Memorial Nursing Scholarship, established by Dr. James Linder and the Linder Family Foundation in memory of their mother and grandmother; and
  • Family Nurse Practitioner Scholarship, previously established by the Class of 1968 in memory of Nancy Anderson Griffith. Graduates from the class of 1968 are now increasing their contributions to this fund in honor of their 40th reunion next year.

A focus for development throughout the 2007 90th year celebration, the 90th Anniversary Fund targets the College’s premiere nursing education programs and is dedicated to the College’s education mission. It will support:

  • Advancement of the science of nursing education;
  • Faculty’s novel approaches to teaching;
  • Faculty’s accomplishments in the scholarship of teaching; and
  • Student education to become future faculty.

The fund also may support global learning experiences for students and help expand UNMC’s service learning opportunities for students so they can practice with faculty in the college’s clinics.

“As we celebrate this anniversary, we reflect on all who have helped the college reach this milestone,” Dr. Tilden said. “The gifts are a symbol of the extent to which the college has changed lives for the better. Thanks to the dedication of generations of faculty and staff, the UNMC College of Nursing looks back on a proud history and looks forward to an excellent future.”

After Rubens Pamies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs, gave a welcome, a number of speakers, including distinguished alumni and emeritus faculty, made remarks about the college’s history and future.

Gladys Sorenson, Ed.D., presented an alumni perspective in her speech, “Nursing, Then and Now.” Marcelline Harris, Ph.D., spoke about how the Ph.D. program launched her successful career in her speech, “Building a Better Knowledge Trap.”

Martha Foxall, Ph.D., a former faculty member and department chair, gave a tribute to the faculty.

Finally, former Dean Rosalee Yeaworth, Ph.D., talked about progress and change within the college during her tenure and beyond.

The celebration was capped with a toast made simultaneously in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Scottsbluff to the college’s 90th year.

The celebration was taped and is available to view on the UNMC College of Nursing public home page at www.unmc.edu.