Donors and Friends

THE DEAN’S CIRCLE

The Dean’s Circle recognizes donors who annually give gifts of $1,000 or more to the College of Nursing.

As a Dean’s Circle donor, you have an immediate and substantial impact on our ability to increase outreach, expand student scholarships, and ultimately change the future of nursing for the better. Additionally, you will receive exclusive invitations to College of Nursing events and have the opportunity to take part in roundtables with the College of Nursing faculty and staff.

“I have fond memories of my days as a South

Carolina nursing student and received federal assistance for my tuition. I am a Dean’s

Circle member to help support nursing students in the future.”

BELINDA RUTLEDGE, ‘73 BSN, ‘78 MSN

“I joined the Dean’s Circle as a way to show appreciation for the opportunities given to me as a student. I am grateful for my education and The University of

South Carolina. Dean Andrews supported my teaching administrative journey, and now is my time to give back.”

KIMBERLY GLENN, MSN ‘86 AND FACULTY EMERITA

Carole Cato, a longtime donor and supporter of the College of Nursing, grew up on a family tobacco farm in rural southern Virginia where health and educational opportunities for women were scarce and often out of reach because of C

cost.

That experience sparked her passion for women’s advocacy and supporting the College of Nursing was a natural fit. She joined the college’s Partnership Board and was impressed by the faculty’s dedication to improving the health of people across the state and the world.

Cato funded a fellowship to support Ph.D. students interested in teaching. This fellowship is helping to increase the number of nursing faculty, with the further goal of increasing the college’s capacity to educate more nurses who are critically needed to meet South Carolina’s growing health care needs. Additionally, she donated her entire estate to the college to ensure that it can expand its women’s health research and policy initiatives.

Cato says she is excited by the momentum at the college: cuting-edge programs in telehealth mental health services, a state-of-the-art simulation lab, perfect first-time passage rates on the nursing board exams, and a successful advocacy campaign that broadened the scope of practice for nurse practitioners in South Carolina, to name a few.

DONORS AND FRIENDS

I see miraculous things happening at the University of South Carolina’s College of Nursing all the time.

For more information on how you can support the College of Nursing, contact Monica Cromer, Senior Director of Development, at 803-777-3848 or monicam@mailbox.sc.edu.

CATCHING UP WITH MARY ANN PARSONS, DEAN EMERITA

As the longest-serving dean at the University of South Carolina College of Nursing, we could have spent a full day reflecting on her time at the college. Since retiring, Parsons hasn’t had much time to relax. In efforts to stay current with the nursing field, she has worked with fellow nurse leaders to revise the seventh and eighth editions of the “Health Promotion in Nursing Practice” textbook. In her personal time, she stays busy enjoying her four grandsons and spends time at her Georgia cabin. Her loyalty to the College of Nursing is shown in her financial commitment to the Dean’s Circle, membership in South Carolina’s Guardian Society, and in establishing the Mary Ann Parsons Excellence in Leadership Endowment Fund.

Parsons’ roots run deep when it comes to South Carolina and the College of Nursing. She enthusiastically shared that she will be returning this fall as a student taking a political science class. When she began her tenure as dean in 1988, she had a vision of expanding research, practice, and leadership opportunities for nurses. Over her seventeen years as dean, she accomplished many “firsts” and built numerous programs. Her achievements include developing the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program, designating the Amy V. Cockcroft Program, building the nurse-managed center, and increasing the emphasis on research by growing the number of research centered faculty. During a time when many nursing programs focused on BSN education, Parsons saw a need to develop and specialize nursing leaders further. “We looked at the progression of the greater nursing community and wanted to offer programs that met the needs of the evolving nurse, and that’s why we began the DNP program,” Parsons affirmed. She fondly remembers the jubilation she felt when the first clinical doctorate graduated, “Her name was Linda Morphis, and it was so exciting.” She continued to say, “The inaugural program was rigorous, and it set the standard high for years to come.”

Back in the present day, Parsons spoke about the growth happening in the nursing field and at the College of Nursing. She noted positive development in the nursing arena, “Improvements have been made in legislation, and educational opportunities have excelled, this has allowed nurses to specialize and practice at a wider scope.” As for the direction of the College of Nursing, she proudly expressed, “The direction Dean Andrews is taking the college is significant. She has been able to enhance funding, increase quality faculty, and implement innovative programs.”

IN MEMORIAM 2018 ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS

BETTY MARIE JOHNSON (1931- 2018)

Betty Johnson served as dean of the College of Nursing from 1975 – 1980. She established various nursing programs and participated in organizations overseeing the accreditation of nursing schools throughout the nation. In 2005, she created the Betty M. Johnson Excellence in Teaching Awards, which is awarded to selected faculty for teaching development. To learn more about this program, please contact the college’s development office.

OUTSTANDING NURSE ALUMNUS Kevin Lowe ‘09 BSN

OUTSTANDING YOUNG NURSE ALUMNA Megan George ‘12 BSN

Read their stories online at sc.edu/nursing/alumni

CELEBRATE NURSING GALA

Last Spring, the University of South Carolina College of Nursing hosted the biennial Celebrate Nursing Gala. Over 150 guests attended and raised nearly $25,000 for student support and scholarships.

The event was held at 1208 Washington Place in downtown Columbia, South Carolina, and featured a silent auction and the presentation of the 2019 Philanthropy Awards.

Thank you to the organizations and individuals that helped make the event possible through generous sponsorships.

OUR HONORED AWARD RECIPIENTS

DEAN’S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Carole Cato

RUTH AND RALLIE SPIRIT OF GIVING AWARD The Class of 1967, represented by Renatta Loquist, Lucy Marion, and Caroline Seigler Sue Heiney

LEGACY OF CARING AWARD Rebecca Dangerfield Barbara Nagy

EXCELLENCE IN CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY AWARD Providence Health, represented by Maria Calloway

South Carolina Oncology Associates, represented by Dr. Fred Kudrik 40/COLLEGE OF NURSING