Dear Alumni, Colleagues, and Friends,
I hope you all had a relaxing summer, enjoying the beautiful weather and time with family and friends! As we move into the Fall 2025 semester, I am delighted to share some exciting news and opportunities for us to come together in celebration.
I hope you’ll join us for our Alumni and Friends Tailgate on Saturday, September 13, at the Bryce Jordan Center, for some fun, food, and socializing prior to an exciting football game against Villanova! Also, please plan to join us on Saturday, September 20, for a ceremonial ribbon cutting event celebrating the Nursing Sciences Building expansion and renovation at University Park!
It is with great pleasure that I share how our faculty continue to shine on the national stage this year. This fall, Ying-Ling Jao will be inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), Sheridan Miyamoto will receive the AAN Edge Runner Award for her groundbreaking work in forensic nursing and telehealth, Sheldon Fields was re-elected as president of the National Black Nurses Association, and Marie Boltz was appointed associate dean for research and innovation. In addition, William “Bill” Conway Jr. and Joanne Barkett Conway (in memoriam), founders of the Bedford Falls Foundation and generous supporters of our college, will be recognized as Honorary Fellows of the AAN. These honors exemplify the excellence that defines the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing.
Building on our dedication to academic excellence, the college recently launched a new Second Degree program at the Behrend campus. The program, also offered at the Harrisburg and Altoona campuses, provides a pathway for those who already have a bachelor’s degree to make their mark on the nursing profession. On the graduate level, we recently launched a new Nurse Educator option for our DNP program—an important move in addressing the critical need for nurse educators nationwide.
Whether you are a nursing graduate, a longtime Alumni Society member, a donor, faculty or staff member, or a friend, I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. I hope you enjoy this latest newsletter, and I invite you to stay connected with us through our social media channels where we continually share the great work happening across our college and beyond.
Be well,
Laurie Badzek, LLM, JD, MS, RN, FNAP, FAAN
Dean and Professor
Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
