2016 COMMENCEMENT
& GRADUATE RECOGNITION AND AWARDS CEREMONY
Saturday, May 7, 2016 9:00 a.m. Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Storrs, CT Reception to follow at School of Nursing
Congratulations Class of 2016 Regina M. Cusson, PhD, NNP-BC, APRN, FAAN Dean and Professor Every ending is also a beginning, philosophers and poets tell us. In the peculiar language of academia, we call the ceremony that marks the end of your undergraduate career a “commencement,” a beginning. With all the festivity of family and friends that today entails, I hope you will take a moment to remember how you came to this day. For many of you, it started with a family member in nursing or another health profession. That person’s career thrilled and inspired you. For others, it started with a medical crisis, either your own or a family member’s. You were comforted and supported by skilled nurses. Your journey to UConn took many paths. While most of you started here as freshmen, some began the academic journey at a community college or state college. You were drawn to a School of Nursing that values both clinical practice and nursing research, with globally-ranked scholars and nursing leaders. You were attracted by rich clinical opportunities, a unique study abroad clinical program, and dedicated teachers. You did not arrive here alone. Family, friends, fellow students, and faculty guided and encouraged you. The citizens of Connecticut invested in your education. Professional nurses and other health care professionals in your clinical settings mentored you. And you don’t leave alone: beside you is a vast network of UConn nursing alumni. We hope that your professional journey will lead you back to UConn for graduate study in advanced practice nursing. But I am confident that regardless of your future paths, one thing is certain: Every day your work will be important. Some days it may be tedious; some days it may be frustrating; but your work will always be important. No matter how routine to you, your skill and care will be important to every patient and fellow health professional. There is an old saying that, as one door closes, another door opens. While the door of your college days closes today, the door to the nursing profession is about to open. Know that the School of Nursing’s doors will remain open to you, our newest alumni. Congratulations!
Order of Exercises Bagpipe Introduction Tabitha Heavner Prelude and Processional Grand Marshall Jacqueline McGrath Associate Dean and Professor, School of Nursing Singing of the National Anthem Sarah Lerch ’16 and Anne Michaud ’16 Welcoming Remarks Regina M. Cusson, Dean & Professor, School of Nursing Sally Reis, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Recognition of School of Nursing Faculty Cheryl Tatano Beck, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Commencement Address Marguerite Littleton Kearney Director of the Division of Extramural Science Programs in the National Institution of Nursing Research Presentation of the Candidates Conferral of Degrees Regina M. Cusson, Dean & Professor, School of Nursing Sally Reis, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Alumni Greetings Jane Presnick Lyon, ’78, President, Alumni Society Closing Remarks Regina M. Cusson, Dean & Professor, School of Nursing Recessional The Ceremonial Brass
School of Nursing Administration Regina M. Cusson, PhD, NNP-BC, APRN, FAAN Dean and Professor Jacqueline McGrath, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN Associate Dean, Research and Scholarship and Professor
Full-Time Faculty
Ivy M. Alexander, PhD, APRN, ANP-BC, FAANP, FAAN Kyle Baumbauer, PhD Cheryl T. Beck, DNSc, CNM, FAAN Sandra Bellini, DNP, NNP-BC, APRN, CNE Denise Bourassa, MSN, RN, CNL , CNE Anna Bourgault, MSN, CCRC, RN Xiaomei Cong, PhD, RN Colleen Delaney, PhD, AHN-BC, RN Christine DiLeone, MSN, RN Meredith Dodge, MSN, RN Joy Elwell, DNP, FNP-BC, APRN, CNE, FAANP Arthur Engler, PhD, RN Lisa-Marie Griffiths, MA, MS, APRN Maureen Judd, MSN, RN Michelle Judge, PhD, RD, CD-N Amy Kenefick, PhD, CNM, FNP-BC, APRN Annette Jakubisin Konicki, PhD, ANP-BC, FNP-BC Anne Krafft, MS, RN Joan Kuhnly, DNP, NNP-BC, APRN, IBCLC, CNE Kelly Newlin Lew, DNS, RN Thomas Lawrence Long, PhD Ruth Lucas, PhD, RNC, CLS Millicent Malcolm, DNP, GNP-BC, APRN
Full-Time Staff
Constance Bedan, MS Elise Bennett, MA Christopher Butler, BS Pamela Cartledge, MA Sylvie Clavette Jill Finley, BA Kathe Gable, MS Betty Garrison
Nancy Manister, DNS, CNS, FNP-BC Annette Maruca, PhD, RN-BC Paula McCauley, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, CNE Deborah McDonald, PhD, RN John McNulty, MS, RN, CNE Mikki Meadows-Oliver, PhD, RN, FAAN Robin Miller, PhD, RN Denise Panosky, DNP, RN, CNE, CCHP, FCNS Carol Polifroni, EdD, CNE, NEA-BC, RN, ANEF Louise Reagan, PhD, ANP-BC, APRN Melissa Rembish, MSN, RN-BC Shirley Sargent, PhD, RN Juliette Shellman, PhD, RN Deborah Shelton, PhD, RN, NE-BC, CCHP, FAAN Angela Starkweather, PhD, ACNP-BC, CNRN, FAAN Peggy Stolfi, MSN, MED, APRN, CS Minakshi Tikoo, PhD, MBI, MS, MSc Thomas Van Hoof, MD, EdD, CMQ, CCMEP Stephen Walsh, ScD, MTS, SCM Carol Ann Wetmore, MSN, RN Erin Young, PhD Helen Zakewicz, MS, CNM, RN
Christopher Gracia, BS Amelia Hinchliffe, BA Thany Litrico, BA Nikolai Lukin, MS Giuseppe Macri, BS Joyce McSweeney, MA Anne Mengers, MS Dorine Nagy Divya Ramesh, PhD
Catherine Salai, BA Jodi Salmon, MBA Sarju S. Shah, MPH Barbara Slater, BA Lisa Soder, BS Gabriel Stalnaker, BA Judith Vigneau, BA Nikki Woolsey, BS Carl Zimmerman, PhD
Part-Time Faculty Darlene Abbate, MSN, RN Sandra Aiello, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC Alice Anderson, MSN, RN Leah Anderson, MSN, RN Sanh Angkhavong, MS, RN Tsampika Apostiledes, MS, RN Michele Beaulieu, DNP, APRN, NNP Domenic Biello, MS, RN Joanne Blum, MS, RNC Kristen Bott, MS, ACNP-BC Lauren Boule, MSN, RN Tanya Bourne, MSN, RN Pamela Bouten, MSN, RN MaryAnn Brescia, MSN, RN Bridget Brown, APRN, MSN Suzie Burke-Bebee, DNP, MSIS, MS, RN Donna Bys, EdD, MS, RN Jennifer Campbell, MSN, RN Peggy Chinn, PhD, RN, FAAN Carole Codianni, MSN, FNP, RN Barbara Cordts, MSN, RN Debra Cratty, MSN, RN Nancy Cronin, MSN, RN Julie Culmone, MS, ANP-BC Amanda Darcey, MSN, RN Janet DeFrancesco, MSN, RN Christopher Desmond, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC Jacqueline Dietrich, MSN, RN Joleen Donovan, MSN/Ed, RN Laura Eiss, MSN, RN Timothy Elwell, MBA Lisa Enslow, MSN, RN-BC Jenelle Fiano, MSN, RN Camylle Francis, APRN, MS Robert Gable, EdD Kimberly Giwa, MSN, RN Lori Godaire, MSN, CNL Agnes Gutowski, MSN, RN Andrea Hagstrom, MSN, RN Lisa Harrison, MS, RN Dawn Hurdle, MSN, RN Barbara Jacobs, PhD, RN Katherine King, MSN, RN Beata Kubacka, MSN, RN Amalia Labinson, MS, APRN
Betty Leef, MS, RN Nancy Maydea-Brescia, MSN, APRN Michele McKelvey, PhD, RN-BC Brenda McNeil, MSN, RN, APRN Julia McNeil, MS, RN Nancy Miner, MS, APRN Ifeoma Mogor, MSN, RN Jennifer Moller, MSN, RNC-OB Denise Morris, MSN, RN Sharon Nelson, MSN, RN Christine Nieves, MSN, APRN Patricia Niewinski, MSN, RN Tyann Nordness, MSN, CNM, RN Christine Patterson, MS, RN Frances Penny, MS, RN Samantha Piazza, MSN, RN Elaine Pratt, MS, RN Melissa Rembish, MSN, RN Jennifer Rivers, MSN, RN, FNP-C Deborah Rossi, MSN, RN-NIC, CNL Jessica Saimininkas, MS, RN Eileen Sharp, MS, APRN Sharon Shenberg, MSN, RN Petronella Stoltz, DNP, MSN, PNP-BC, CCRN Jane Straut, MS, RN Maria Tackett, EdD, MS, RN Colleen Teevan, PharmD Marc Uyekliong, MS, APRN Michelle Taylor, MSN, CMSRN Karen Wexell, MS, RN Mary Whalen, DNP, NNP-BC, APRN Natalie Wheeler, MS, FNP, APRN Jeannette Wick, MBA, PharmD Marisa Wilson, DNC, MHSC, RN-BC Mimi Wright, NNP Celeste Yanni, PhD, RN
Doctor of Philosophy Amy D’Agata Infant Exposure to Potentially Traumatic Events in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Major Advisor: Dr. Jacqueline McGrath Cynthia French Effect of Labor Epidural Analgesia With Hydromorphone on Neonatal Neurobehavior and Breastfeeding Behavior in the First 24 Hours of Life Major Advisor: Dr. Xiaomei Cong Alison Moriarty Daley The Essential Elements of Adolescent Friendly Care in School Based Health Centers: A Mixed Methods Study of the Perspectives of Nurse Practitioners and Adolescents Major Advisor: Dr. Carol Polifroni Emily Tuthill Infant Feeding Among HIV-Positive Women in Limited Resource Settings and the Promotion of Exclusive Breastfeeding Major Advisor: Dr. Regina Cusson Victoria Vazquez Relationships of Parent-Infant Contacts and Postpartum Depression Symptoms in Mothers of Pre-term Infants in the NICU: A Mixed Methods Approach Major Advisor: Dr. Xiaomei Cong
Doctor of Nursing Practice Julie Culmone Impact of Project RED Discharge Checklist on Readmissions and Adherence to Initial Follow-Up Appointment in Trauma Service Patients. Major Advisor:Â Dr. Paula McCauley Yvonne Joy The Influence of a Palliative Care Education Intervention in Increasing Knowledge and Self-Efficacy of Nurses Practicing in Long-Term Care Major Advisor: Dr. Colleen Delaney
Master of Science Adult/Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Joshua Alderman Amanda Bahler* Rebecca Bennett Diane Cichy Jessica Grillo* Elizabeth Kozak* Morgan McDermott Emily Ritter* Roxanna Robbins* Nathan St. Louis* Elizabeth Sweeney Carolyn Tschummi Margaret Wallace* Christopher Yi Adult/Gero Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Amanda Antonino Odelia Brew* Jessica Cave* Yunmi Choi Melissa Dest* Luriza Glynn* Kelly Heilman Carol Michalak Samantha Nesbeth* Jessica Prisco* Carnetta Stewart Lauren Vo Julia Wells Stephanie Wills*
Postmaster’s Adult/Gero Acute Certificate Suzanne Franzoni-Kleeman Family Nurse Practitioner Kendra Damon-Smith Jaclyn Jermine Gina Lattanzio* Lindsey Madden Carly McDonnell Kara Nelsen Samuel Peckham Christian Rodriguez* Vrunda Shah* Matthew Witkovic Clinical Nurse Leader Mary Ellen Green* Franklin Jones Tracy Jullarine Uyen Nguyen Alyssa Yardis Neonatal Marissa Carbone Jennifer Godin Serena Harris Stephanie Tarasuk
* Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society
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Bachelors of Science Kaitlyn Angiletta Cassandra Arpin Haley Aubert Hawlatou Bah Alissa Barbier Abigail Blakeman Taylor Bomely Sarah Boyadjian* Kristen Bryant* Joanna Bucior Hanna Buckle Trishanna Bunsie Leah Buress Megan Cavanaugh Disha Changela Federico Crocitta Brendan Crook Aaron Csehak Veronica Devine Katherine Dinisi Allison Dufour* Jacquelyn Ellis Rachel Farrel Melenie Fernandez Laura Ferretti Morgan Feshler* Alexandra Finstein Iris Foley Sharon Fong* Shaina Forte* Goetti Francois Daniel Gallagher Franz Garay Monica Geiger Michelle Gleason Danielle Hercules* Linda Hoang
Alba Hoxha Whitney Jarrett Sydney Jeanloz Lauren Johnson Shannon Jones Julie Kaetzer* Ashley Kaminski Amalia Kanaris Katherine Kasuga Allison Katilius Rumi Kc Jessica Kearney Andrew Keens* Alyssa Kemp* Abigail Koehler Rubby Koomson Roxanne Lapierre Jessica Laprise* Michael Larrea Megan Lawlor Angelica Lee Jhennelle Lee Kyle Lemere Sarah Lerch* Elayna Lindblom* Kimberly Lipes* Patricia Madrio Kaydeen Maitland Jay Maltz* Laura Mandell* Ola Mansour* Lacey Mantovani Alexandra Marchinkoski* Stephanie Martinenas Christina Massoni Theresa McIntyre Anne Michaud*
Bachelors of Science Amanda Miller Meteyana Miller Kelly Monaghan* Allison Murphy* Hayley Nati* Sandy Nguyen Tan Nguyen* Jessica Olson Haley Payne* Vicki Pehmoeller Jennifer Pilchik Colin Plant Daniel Portnoy Georgia Priestley Kevin Reutenauer Michelle Roberge Lauren Roberts Hanna Robinson* Rebecca Rogers* Megan Ryan Lindsay Saaristo
Lauren Sauer* Allison Schlegel* Alison Scott Meagan Self Taylor Selig Brianna Sheetz Irene Spanos Danielle Springer Samantha Stilwell Jaclyn Strickland Meaghan Sullivan* Erica Swanson Eleanor Taber Victoria Taylor Elizabeth Twigg Anh Vu Jack Winters Casey Zalagens * Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society
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School of Nursing Awards Carolyn Ladd Widmer Undergraduate Leadership Award Carolyn Ladd Widmer Graduate Leadership Award Clara Williams Award — Holistic Nurse Eleanor K. Gill Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice Sigma Theta Tau International, Mu Chapter Awards Robert Cleverdon Award Mu Chapter Award for Doctoral Mu Chapter Award for Masters Zara Thomson, ’84 MS Award
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Laura Mandell
Honors Students Katherine Dinisi Shaina Forte Rubby Koomson Roxanne Lapierre Jessica Laprise
Laura Mandell Meaghan Sullivan
Senior Class Officers President, Amanda Miller Vice President, Lauren Sauer
Treasurer, Kimberly Lipes Secretary, Abigail Blakeman
Acknowledgements Student Nurses Association President, Patricia Madrio
Commencement Speaker Marguerite Littleton Kearney, PhD, RN, FAAN
In January of 2015, Marguerite Littleton Kearney was named as the Director of the Division of Extramural Science Programs in the National Institution of Nursing Research (NINR). Just prior to joining NINR, Dr. Littleton Kearney served as the Interim Dean of the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing at the Uniformed Services University.
Dr. Littleton Kearney began her career in nursing after graduating from Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland in 1971. She continued her education by earning both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. From Georgia she studied at Rush University in Chicago, earning a PhD, and then in 1986 a Postdoctoral Fellowship. During the 29 years following her study at Rush, Dr. Littleton Kearney has held a variety of positions at varying institutions in both civilian and military service. During her military life, she was a dedicated nurse clinician and administrator. She retired from the US Navy in 2010 after nearly 23 years of service, retiring with the rank of Captain. In her civilian life, Dr. Littleton Kearney worked first as a staff nurse and dedicated herself to various specialty areas. She then changed course to academia, bringing her prodigious clinical skills to nursing education. She was a tenured professor, the Associate Dean for Research, and the Director of the Faye G. Abdellah Center for Military and Federal Health Care Research at the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). Prior to that, she served as an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Medicine, and held faculty positions at the Rush College of Nursing and the University of Maryland. Areas of Dr. Littleton Kearney’s academic expertise cover hormone status and platelet biology, cerebral ischemia, microvascular blood flow, shock and mediators of shock and ischemia. Her clinical expertise covers trauma and critical care nursing as well as disaster management and emergency preparedness. Shortly after the 9/11 disasters, she used her military experiences to design a School of Nursing program that prepares nurses for those pivotal leadership roles during disasters and mass casualty incidents. Her varied and extensive portfolio of publications spans her 44 year career.
In 2001, Dr. Littleton Kearney became a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), the highest honor bestowed in nursing.
F
or over a half century, the UConn School of Nursing has prepared professional nurses who have gone on to provide leadership at state, national and international levels. The UConn School of Nursing was the first public institution in Connecticut to offer a program leading to a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Hallmarks of the School’s development include the founding of the School (1942), the establishment of the master’s degree program (1971), and the establishment of the first doctoral degree program (1994).
Historical Highlights In 1942, Carolyn Ladd Widmer, a Phi Beta Kappa Wellesley College and Yale
University School of Nursing graduate, welcomed the first class of 14 students to the School. Widmer served as dean from 1942 to 1967.
In 1944, Josephine A. Dolan was appointed as the first-full time instructor.
Dolan’s revision of Goodnow’s History of Nursing became Dolan’s History of Nursing, and later was known as Nursing in Society (15thed).
In 1955, Mu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of
Nursing, was chartered.
In 1991, Center for Nursing Research was founded, and UConn acquired
the professional book collection of renowned nurse leader, Virginia A. Henderson, enhancing research resources for students and faculty.
In 1992, the Josephine A. Dolan Room was dedicated during the school’s 50th
anniversary; three years later Miss Dolan donated a valuable collection of papers to the Archives of Nursing Leadership, in the Dodd Research Center.
In 1994, the first PhD program in nursing was opened in Connecticut. In 2003, the Master’s Entry Into Nursing (MEIN) program was initiated to
help stem the nursing shortage. *Now named the CEIN/BS program.
In 2008, the school opened its Doctor of Nursing Practice to combine
advanced practice skills with organizational leadership knowledge.
In 2011, groundbreaking for the first-ever nursing education
facility, the Widmer Wing, designed especially for the teaching - learning needs of the profession.
In 2012, dedication for the Carolyn Ladd Widmer Wing took place.