The UW–Madison Nurses Alumni Organization proudly announces the 2024 NAO Award Winners, Barbara King and Adam Schneider-Price.
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UW–Madison School of Nursing Officially Kicks Off Centennial Celebration
The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing is commemorating its 100-year anniversary throughout 2024 with a year-long series of educational and social events to help observe the milestone. The celebration officially kicked off on the evening of Tuesday, January 23, at Signe Skott Cooper Hall, featuring remarks from both the School of Nursing’s Dean, Dr. Linda D. Scott, and UW–Madison Chancellor, Jennifer L. Mnookin.
Deans Who Dared
Celebrating the eight deans who served the School of Nursing over the last 100 years.
Bittersweet Gratitude
Advancement Manager Jordan Langer shares a story of personal heartbreak made lighter by nursing alumna Emma Kowieski.
Dean’s Letter | Fall 2023
It has been gratifying to spend the past year reflecting on the School’s legacy of excellence as we prepare to celebrate our centennial throughout 2024. In doing so, I have noted many times that our history is filled with individuals who innovated, broke barriers, advocated, and led change to meet the health needs of their time.
Zahner Awarded Prestigious Carol Graham Lifetime Achievement Award by WPHA
Susan Zahner, DrPH, RN, FAAN, associate dean for faculty affairs, professor, and Vilas Distinguished Achievement professor at the UW–Madison School of Nursing, has been recognized by the Wisconsin Public Health Association (WPHA) as the 2023 Carol Graham Lifetime Achievement award winner.
Nursing Trailblazer Barbara L. Nichols Selected as Inaugural Recipient of the UW–Madison School of Nursing Canary Savage Girardeau Award for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Nichols is known for her visionary leadership, advocacy, and political expertise throughout her 60-plus-year career.
Serving the Needs of a Growing and Diversifying Wisconsin
When the UW–Madison School of Nursing first opened its doors to students in 1924, it made history as the first collegiate nursing program in the state. Now, almost 100 years later, the School of Nursing is positioned, once again, to be at the forefront of nursing in Wisconsin as it tackles racial disparities in the profession. In the last few years, faced with dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racial inequality, the School of Nursing made several determinations about necessary steps for the future. Chief of which was addressing a long-established and immediate need to make greater strides in diversifying the nursing profession.
Building a Legacy
Becky Berkan ’03, RN, CEN, is no stranger to expanding her comfortable limits. After stepping away from participating in athletic activities for a decade, she decided to get back into a sport that she had always enjoyed – running. She set out to train for the Madison Marathon in 2012, which would eventually get canceled due to extreme heat conditions. Rather than shrug her shoulders and call it a day, Berkan persisted with her training and eventually ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 2013.
Legacies Grown From Roots and Branches
There is an old saying, “Like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.” For graduates of the UW–Madison School of Nursing, they become a branch on a great big family tree that anchors itself with roots that were established when the first 11 graduates of the School earned their degrees in 1927.