Distinguished Alumna

The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the University of Wyoming announces their 2022 Distinguished Alumna, Holly Miller, MS, RN, CNE. “The term distinguished per Webster states acknowledged for excellence or superiority. I would like to nominate a colleague and fellow nurse for the University of WY Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni award. Holly E. King Miller exemplifies and demonstrates through her leadership the role of Distinguished Alumni. Initially Holly gave of herself through her position as coordinator of the Learning Resource Center, Clinical Simulation Center coordinator, Undergraduate Clinical Coordinator, and Director of BSN and BRAND programs. She continued to provide innovative guidance and leadership to nursing students in her various roles. Holly received various awards and accolades for her many accomplishments including Outstanding Career Achievement Award, Cowboy of the month Award, Top Prof award for four years and Outstanding teacher award in 2012.

Since her retirement from UW, Holly has been instrumental in the success of the UW Alumni Association Nursing Chapter. She has initiated several programs to assist students and new nurses to be successful in their future endeavors as a professional nurse. She has most recently shown exceptional leadership with the Nursing Chapter of the Alumni Association through Young Alumni Development. Most notable was organizing the nursing chapter to have both experienced leaders and coleaders who are more recent graduates and promising leaders for the offices of President, Vice President and Secretary. The purpose for this was to mentor the new and often less experienced leaders by having both an experienced leader, and a newer leader as Co-President, and Co-VP and a Co- Secretary to learn while leading and continue as a leader when the experienced leader retired from the position. That model was innovative and designed to build the future of the Nursing Chapter leadership. Holly has also been instrumental in Membership Development by finding UWAA members who had belonged to the Alumni Association as a general member or lifetime member and encouraging them to be members of the Nursing Chapter! She worked with the staff at the Association to identify and include those nurses into the Nursing Chapter. That has really renewed the interest of members to continue as nursing members. This action will increase member involvement in the UWAA in the long term and support of the FWWSON.

Examples of Excellence:

1. Through leadership and Innovation activities Holly has advanced the profession of nursing through the UW Nursing Alumni Chapter. These activities have been initiated and continued through Holly’s volunteerism and her retirement. Holly developed a New Innovative Program and Event Coordination, which was the mock interview program for seniors preparing to graduate and wanting help with interviews for their first nursing position. Using volunteers Holly, assisted each student to participate in a formal interview process. In conjunction with this project of interviewing, Holly used seasoned professional nurses to assist the students to develop resumes that they could use in their future job seeking efforts.

Holly, assisted by fellow officers of the nursing alumni association, developed a social gathering for nurses to meet and greet fellow alumni and distinguished alumni during the UW homecoming activities. This type of gathering demonstrates to new nurses and students how nurses can be successful in their profession. 2. Holly also nearly single-handedly designed a Professional Development program where she found nurse mentors in communities where students completed their final practicum clinical rotation. The mentor was encouraged to become a friend and serve as a professional nurse support person for the students as they navigate through a foreign and new environment both in clinicals and the community. Holly found mentors in most of the communities and at times had more mentors than were needed! Another very successful and rewarding program to develop new nurses in their future profession. Holly serves as a member of the Friends of the FWWSON, a member and officer of SST, and a member of Southeast Region of WNA and ANA. Her volunteerism exemplifies leadership and professionalism in nursing. Holly’s innovation during the 2 past COVID years has maintained and grown the nursing alumni association through heightened support and guidance to students and new young nurses who began their nursing career during a very trying time.”

2022 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA Holly Miller, MS, RN, CNE BSN ’82, MS ‘96

Nominated by Veronica Taylor, Colleague

PLANS FOR CELEBRATION

Holly Miller will be honored in person during University of Wyoming Fall 2022 Homecoming week on Friday, October 21 at the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing.

“I am proud to nominate a fellow nurse colleague as Distinguished Alumni for this year, with an emphasis on leadership and innovation in nursing.”