From the Dean: Lorna Finnegan, PhD, RN, FNP, FAAN

DEAR LOYOLA NURSING COMMUNITY,

I hope you and your loved ones are staying well. During these extraordinary times, coupled with the uncertainty of the last many months, I am particularly proud of the work our students, faculty, and staff have achieved over the last year. I am also especially thankful for the generosity of many donors who are helping to support our students and some of the school’s key initiatives.

Last year, in the midst of the pandemic, faculty and staff gathered virtually to create a “Why” statement that defines Loyola Nursing’s unique contributions and impact: “To build relationships so that lives are positively transformed.” Central to building relationships is our commitment to inclusive excellence — a call to address diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism as critical building blocks to achieving — and maintaining — excellence. In this magazine, we highlight relationships and initiatives that advance inclusive excellence and positively transform the lives of everyone with whom we connect — our students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and practice partners along with the patients, families, and communities with whom we work.

DIVERSIFYING OUR TOP-RANKED BSN PROGRAM In its first-ever ranking of BSN programs, U.S. News and World

Report ranked Loyola’s program 31st of 694 programs in the country and second in Illinois. While we are proud of this recognition, we know that increasing student diversity in our BSN program is essential to reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the communities we serve, achieve inclusive excellence, and address health inequities.

As a first step, we created the Pathway to the BSN program from Loyola’s Arrupe College, which provides first-generation college students and students of color with an opportunity to earn a twoyear associate’s degree and transition to the BSN program. We thank several donors who support the Pathway to the BSN program; you can read what excites them about the program on page 4.

In July, we expanded the Pathway to the BSN program with grants from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration and the Illinois Board of Higher Education. This new CARE (Collaboration, Access, Resources, and Equity) Pathway to the BSN supports Black and Latinx student and faculty recruitment and development of a student success center to provide customized academic (and career) strategies based on social determinants and other structural factors. Read more on page 5.

INCORPORATING INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH

Achieving inclusive excellence requires both an acknowledgment that racism is woven into our nation’s fabric and a commitment to working together toward a more just society. In this magazine, we share the work of three Loyola Nursing scientists, Karen Saban, PhD, APRN, RN, CNRN, FAHA, FAAN, Regina Conway-Phillips, PhD, RN, and Lindsey Garfield, PhD, RN, whose research addresses the impact of chronic racism and health inequities among Black women. We also feature an interview with our 2020 commencement speaker, Shannon Zenk, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, director of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), who is well known for her pioneering research on racial/ethnic and socioeconomic health disparities.

LOYOLA NURSING’S FIRST ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

I am pleased to announce that following a national search, Loyola Nursing welcomed its first associate dean for inclusive excellence, Associate Professor Dian Squire, PhD. Squire intends to listen to and learn from the Loyola Nursing community and collaborate to ensure that everything in the school — from curriculum to wellness services — incorporates inclusive excellence.

As we come to the close of our first semester fully back on campus since the start of the pandemic, I would like to express my gratitude to the Loyola Nursing faculty and staff, who go above and beyond to meet the needs of students; to our students, who continue to impress me with their commitment to be the best they can be; to our community partners, who understand that building relationships with the Loyola Nursing community can help transform lives; and to our generous donors.

My thanks to all of you for helping us continue to build the very special Loyola Nursing community.