Pinning program 2017

The University of Texas at Tyler School of Nursing

Convocation Ceremony Friday, May 5, 2017 Ten O’ Clock in the Morning The Cowan Center Auditorium The University of Texas at Tyler Tyler, Texas

Program Processional Welcome…………………………………………………………. Dr. Barbara Haas, Ph.D., RN David G. Braithwaite Professor of Nursing Associate Dean, College of Nursing & Health Sciences; Executive Director, School of Nursing

Invocation…………………………………………………………Pam Heasley, MSN, RN Back to the Future…..…………………………………………… Dr. Barbara Haas, Ph.D., RN

Awards Inaugural School of Nursing Outstanding Alumni Award…….…Dr. Melinda Hermanns, Ph.D., RN UT Tyler Regional Alumni Chair

Graduate Nursing Excellence Award…………………………….Dr. Amy Roberts, Ph.D., RN, APRN, FNP-BC Advanced Practice and MSN Program Director

Dr. Doris J. Riemen Professionalism in Nursing Award...…….…Dr. Belinda Deal, Ph.D., RN BSN Program Director

Presented by Dr. Doris J. Riemen Dr. Marian Rowe Community Service Award...……….……...…Dr. Belinda Deal, Ph.D., RN Presented by Dr. Marian Rowe Most Caring Award………………………………………………Dr. Belinda Deal, Ph.D., RN

Recognition MSN Pinning…………………………………………………….. Dr. Amy Toone, Ph.D., RN, APRN, FNP-BC

BSN Pinning………………………………………………………Dr. Belinda Deal, Ph.D., RN

Closing Nightingale Pledge………………………………………..............Dr. Belinda Deal, Ph.D., RN

Benediction………………………………………………………..Pam Heasley, M.S.N., RN

Recessional

History of Pinning This is a very special day for all of us as we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates. Pinning ceremonies are a time-honored tradition held at nursing schools across the country.

The Nursing Pin signifies a rite of passage. For the baccalaureate graduate, it signifies initiation into the brotherhood and sisterhood of nurses. For the master’s graduates, it is a rededication of their own initiation into the profession. This rite of passage can be traced back nearly 900 years ago to the crusades of the 12th century. Monks in the “Knights of the Order of the Hospital of St. John the Baptist” tended to sick injured crusaders. When the new monks joined the order, they were given a Maltese cross, representing the first badges given to those who nurse.

More recently, Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George in recognition of her service to the wounded of the Crimean War. She, in turn, presented a medal of excellence to her best nursing graduates. The first pinning ceremony in the United States was held in 1880 at The Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing.

Each pin is specifically designed for a particular school of nursing. The UT Tyler pin is unique in that it is shared by every other nursing school within the UT System. A star is added to represent each individual program. Graduates wear the pin proudly as a reminder of joining the honorable profession of nursing.

Inaugural Outstanding Alumni Award Recipient Congratulations to Dr. Charleen C. McNeill, Ph.D., RN, the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Nursing Alumni Award.

Dr. McNeill grew up in Detroit, Michigan and Clarence, Iowa. After graduating high school, she moved to California, joined the U.S. Army, and proudly served for 13 years, starting in 1989. Dr. McNeill was the first female selected to be in a combat arms occupational specialty, the 14J Air Defense Early Warning System. One must be able to multi-task and perform under pressure in this specialty and Dr. McNeill carried these skills over to her extensive nursing career.

Dr. McNeill earned her ADN from the Coastal Georgia Community College, her BSN from the University of Arkansas, her MSN from the University of Texas El Paso, and her PhD in Nursing at the University of Texas at Tyler. Her academic experience includes teaching Human Biology, Nutrition, and Human Health and Disease at the University of Maryland University College (Asia/Europe Division) and Basic Nursing Skills at Midwestern State University. She is currently at the University of Arkansas teaching undergraduate courses in Disasters, Emergency Management, and Preparedness, Gerontology and Research. In the graduate program, she teaches courses in Leadership, Economics, Finance, Scholarly Writing, and Hospital Operations. She also developed an entire master’s degree program in Nurse Executive Leadership. She and her husband of 25 years, Perry McNeill, currently live in Fayetteville, Arkansas and they have two wonderful children, Darian and Perry Junior.

One of Dr. McNeill’s nominators noted, “She sets goals and achieves them. She does this by accurate assessment of needs. Then she fearlessly approaches the right expert, gathers the right resources, and then will work hard at achieving success.” Dr. McNeill’s experience in emergency preparedness, in the military and in nursing, has led to her latest endeavor that is revolutionizing the way the State of Arkansas prepares the community for disasters. Her emergency preparedness module is training agents across the state, which then teach citizens across the state how to improve health outcomes in the wake of disaster, especially in communities most at risk. We are so proud of Dr. McNeill, inaugural recipient of the School of Nursing Outstanding Alumni Award!

UT Tyler School of Nursing Founding Mothers Barbara Cushing

Dr. Doris Riemen

Dr. Marian Rowe

Barbara Cushing received her Diploma RN in 1949 and worked in Austin and Galveston in surgical nursing while getting her BSN from the University of Texas at Galveston. Barbara originally graduated from a diploma program. After working at Parkland Dallas for over a decade her and her husband, Ivan E. Cushing moved to Tyler in 1966 with their three children Cathy, John, and David.

Dr. Doris Riemen graduated with Honors from the University of Colorado with a BSN in 1949 and began her career as a pediatric nurse in Denver and Madison, WI. Doris married Bill Riemen in 1954; they had four children Kathy, Carol, Barbara, and William.

Dr. Riemen taught pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, University of Guam, and Kilgore College. In 1979 she earned her MSN from Texas Women’s University (TWU) and joined the faculty at Texas Eastern University, becoming Department Chair in 1981. During the next 11 years she lead the development and accreditation of the BSN and MSN programs. In 1983 she received her PhD in Nursing from TWU. Her research, Patient’s Perception of Caring and NonCaring Interactions with Nurses, is referenced in nursing, education and social science textbooks as an exemplar of phenomenological research.

Dr. Marian Rowe received her BSN from UTMB in Galveston followed by her MSN degree from TWU in 1976, the same year Dr. Rowe started teaching at UT Tyler. Dr. Rowe completed her PhD at UT Austin in 1989. Dr. Rowe married her husband, Ralph W. Rowe in 1956 and they had four children James, Laurie, Cindy, and Jill.

Barbara taught at the UT Tyler School of Nursing from 1976 to 1998. She received her MSN at Texas Women’s University (TWU) in 1980, became a Clinical Nurse Specialist, and was tenured at UT Tyler in 1984. Ms. Cushing was very active on campus and in her community to help others – Girl Scouts, Biracial Committee, Smith County Medical Alliance, Sigma Theta Tau, and many others.

Barbara died in 1998; those who knew her remember this smart and somewhat sassy founding mother fondly. The Iota Nu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau honored her life’s work and memory by naming their highest honor the “Barbara Cushing Award of Excellence in Nursing”

She initiated the Caring Award at the first BSN graduation in 1984.

After retirement in 1992 she and her husband traveled extensively until his death in 2007. Doris lives in her home in Big Sandy in the winter and her cabin in Wisconsin during the summer. Dr. Riemen’s commitment to caring and professionalism remains at the heart of the UT Tyler School of Nursing!

Dr. Rowe was instrumental in the development of the RNBSN program, generic BSN and MSN programs. She served as Assistant Chairman to the Department of Nursing (19791980) and as Interim Chairman (1980-1981). Dr. Rowe was a charter member of Iota Nu chapter of Sigma Theta Tau and served her community in organizations such as American Red Cross, United Way, and Parents Anonymous. She has been instrumental in the organization of the Northeast Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and active since 1984. Thank you, Dr. Rowe for your kind heart of service.

Thank you to our Pioneers!

Current School of Nursing Leadership The School of Nursing is part of the College of Nursing & Health Sciences, led by Dr. Yong “Tai” Wang, FACSM, Dean and the Roy and Lucy Mathis Professor of Nursing. Leading the School of Nursing are the current leadership team;

Dr. Doris Riemen, Dr. Marian Rowe, and Mrs. Barbara Cushing likely had no idea what the future would look like as they mentored and taught the first seven RN-BSN students who graduated in 1977.

The School of Nursing has experienced a lot of change and growth in subsequent years! What was established in 1975 as a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) completion program for Associate Degree Nurses (ADN) has evolved into a nationally recognized School of Nursing with multiple campuses and programs and 4,031 nursing alumna.

The UT Tyler School of Nursing currently offers five different degrees across three campuses in Tyler, Longview, and Palestine and online. We serve over 1,300 students per year, including 788 BSN students (175 of whom are RN-BSN); 410 MSN students in three different degrees (MSN-Administration, MSNEducation, and MSN-Family Nursing Practitioner); 77 PhD students, and 11 DNP students in our newest doctoral degree program. We also have 43 students enrolled in one of four certificate programs (Administration, Education, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Informatics). Over 1,500 prenursing students are also enrolled at UT Tyler. Today the School of Nursing has 74 full-time faculty and 17 staff members, all of whom have a passion to transform nursing through the relentless pursuit of excellence in education!

Graduating Students Spring 2017 Bachelor of Science in Nursing Tiffany Agee Leonor Alvarado  Brittany Anderson Joy Anyanwu, RN Samantha Argabright * Andriana Asante Leslie Ash  Betty Ashcraft Emily Auth  Sheila Ayala Shasta Bailey  Michael Ballard Jocelyn Banuelos, RN Rebecca Barajas  Amber Barker Esayas Belay Hannah Birmingham Ashley Bitting Kristin Bjork Savannah Bobbitt Makenzie Boerner Regina Brown  Taylor Burnett Nikki Capes Ashley Carter Lincy Chacko Kelly Chappell Aimee Cisneros Teisha Clay, RN Brittany Cloud Taylor Colbert Colin Coleman Elizabeth Collins Shameca Daniels Joseph Dees Kristi Dooley Jeffrey Dotson Kristen Drake Rebecca Duran, RN Amy Enlow  Anaeka Estes Heather Ferguson  Pearl Ferrari Haley Fincher

Jessica Fisher Melissa Flores  Candice Ford Shanna Ford Cynthia Foster  Ginny Fredenburg  David Gastauer Jennifer George  Joshua Gibbs Lauren Graham Kaylynn Grammier  Tammy Grimes, RN Hannah Hamilton, RN Veronica Hansen Rachel Harless Larricia Hartsfield, RN Hayley Hayes Jennifer Hayes, RN Hannah Hays Jesi Henson, RN Kari Henson, RN Jessica Hill, RN Tracy Hodges, RN  Rachel Holloway  Madalyn Hostetler Jazzlyn Howard Bethany Hughes Rosemond Ijioma, RN Arianna Jamison, RN Jennifer Johnson, RN Quitedria Johnson  Jayla Johnston Ebony Jones Jaime Joshua Jason Juarez  Katherine Kanagy Denise Keene, RN  Kristen Kennedy Kristi Kolander Shelbi Laney Christopher Leigeber Christy Lemus  Makayla Mack Anita Maldonado

Tyler Maldonado  Vininder Mann  Caitlyn Marshall Stacy Mathew  Benjamin Matip Marisa McBride Jessica McFadden Susan McKeever Laurell McNew Amber Metcalf, RN Melissa Miller  Morgan Montgomery Michelle Morales Amanda Murph  Tijana Neskovic Mary Nichols  Yolanda Nyamndi Kenneth Parker Bethany Parsons, RN Bhavna Patel, RN Bailey Paul Amanda Pearce Emily Pope  Emma Pruett, RN Kelsey Pry Areli Rabadan Chelsea Ragas Shelby Reeder Oksana Reister  Leigh Riggins  Alex Rippenkroeger Ian Roberson  Rebecca Robert Warren Robert Kimberly Robertson Diana Rodriguez  Hilda Rojo Jimenez Mackenzie Ruttiger  Misty Sao, RN Kaitlyn Scott  Alyssa Scrimpshire Jessica Shipper  Jennifer Sitar Shannon Skipper 

Kendra Slaton Caitlyn Small, RN Amanda Smith Caitlin Smith Lindsey Smith  Nikota Smith  Amy Sparks Lauren Spears  Samantha Spears Kelsey Spelce  Meghan Spillers Matthew Starnes  Samantha Steege  Brooklyn Stevens-Gonzales Meagan Stewart Michelle Stokes Holly Swearengen  Shannon Switzenberg Samuel Terry Sumita Thapa, RN  Alina Thomas Allison Thurman  Christina Titus Ashley Torres Monica Trott, RN Haley Turman Katherine Turner  Mary Tuttle Angela Tyner, RN Heather Valentine  Lauren Vance  Maria Vargas  Laura Vazquez Alyssa Vega Kinsey Wallace  Hailey Watt Lucenda Webb Tiffany Wester  Kaylee Whitaker, RN Jessica Williams Kristin Willis Kimberlee Wilson Jessica Yates Natalia Zarnowski Xia Zhang

Class Motto “Success is not measured by what you accomplish but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.” Orison Swett Marden

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STTI Scholarship Recipient

Graduating Students Spring 2017 Master of Nurse Practitioner

MSN Administration

Family Nurse Practitioner

Summer Alexander  Teisha Clay Summer Hughes Sara Morales-Moreno

Megan Bray Amber Martinez Lindsey McFaul Gillian Palmer Heidi Spaith Adam Switzer Rebecca Thomas Benjamin Wallace

Dual MSN Administration/ MBA Emily Tobey Maria Aileen Wilkinson

MSN Education Amber Clark Lauren Cobb Samuel Harris Molly Little Gena Millslagle Rachel Strode Rongna Sun  Kristina Woehler

Post Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Stacy Gallegos Rose Guidry Lacey Morris

Post Master’s Nursing Education Certificate Teisha Clay

Pledge for Professional Nursing (Based on Original Florence Nightingale’s Pledge)

In full knowledge of the obligations I am undertaking, I promise to care for the sick with all the skill and the understanding I possess, without regard to race, creed, color, politics, or social status, sparing no effort to preserve quality of life, alleviate suffering, and to promote thompson health, as affirmed by the person.

I will respect at all times the dignity and beliefs of the patients under my care, holding in confidence all personal information entrusted to me, and refraining from any action which may endanger life or health.

I will endeavor to keep my professional knowledge and skill at the highest level, and to give loyal support and cooperation to all members of the health care team.

Congratulations!