Renovating nursing's future at University Park
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PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2023
Spring 2024
NURSING
In this issue 2
Timeline feature: Penn State Nursing through the years
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Timeline feature: A nursing program at Penn State begins — one step at a time. 1964–1989
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Timeline feature: Now a school of nursing, the program enters the new millennium with innovation. 1990–2006
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Timeline feature: With an established legacy, the school sets out to become the College of Nursing. 2008–2013
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Timeline feature: Now carrying national prestige, the college sets out to reach students — wherever they are. 2014–2023
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Renovating nursing's future at University Park
Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing Dean Laurie A. Badzek, LLM, JD, MS, RN, FNAP, FAAN Editors/Designers Morgann McAfee, Director of Strategic Communications and Recruitment John McShea, Assistant Director of Brand Strategy Writers Brooke Killmon, Assistant Director of News and Public Relations Morgann McAfee, Director of Strategic Communications and Recruitment John McShea, Assistant Director of Brand Strategy Development and Alumni Relations Susan Kukic, Director of Development and Alumni Relations Emily Griffin, Development and Alumni Relations Stewardship Coordinator Lindsey Zapletal, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Programs
Penn State Nursing is a biannual publication. Articles may be reprinted with permission and proper credit. To make a reprint request email Morgann McAfee at mes44@psu.edu.
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The University is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University’s educational mission, and will not be tolerated. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Office, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901, Email: aao@psu.edu, Tel (814) 8630471. This publication is available in alternative media upon request. UBR NUR 24-10.
Dear Alumni and Friends, Alongside you all, I am embracing the new year with excitement for the college’s profound current and future endeavors. However, I would be remiss if I did not also continue to reflect on the college’s esteemed history and all that has propelled us forward to where we are today.
Laurie A. Badzek, LLM, JD, MS, RN, FNAP, FAAN
This special issue will guide you through our college’s journey, outlining the milestones from the past 60 years that have made the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing a leader at the forefront of nursing education. Much to our pleasure, we formally celebrated these historic achievements with college faculty, staff, alumni, friends and family at the celebration of our 10th anniversary as a college this past November. Honoring our evolution this past decade was an unforgettable experience and I thank all who were able to celebrate with us. As a continuation of our investment in nursing education and innovation, the college will begin a building expansion and renovation of the Nursing Sciences Building at University Park, approved by the Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on November 9th, 2023. Improving upon the existing building’s systems, the renovation will serve to add collaborative and active learning, simulation-ready classrooms and a knowledge commons space. Read more about the expansion on page 16. Throughout the remainder of the year, we invite you to engage with our nursing community in a variety of ways. Look for upcoming events, register for a professional development seminar, or join the college’s Alumni Society by heading to nursing.psu.edu. Join us as we continue to develop the next generation of nurse leaders! I sincerely thank you all for your continued support of the Nese College of Nursing. It fills me with immense gratitude that we can all be a part of the legacy in inspiring and transforming lives. Be well, Laurie
PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2024
Through the Years
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half page title, maybe insert shield overlay in box
Penn State Nursing through the years
1964–2024
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stablished six decades ago, Penn State Nursing has journeyed from its humble beginnings to a leading provider of nursing professionals and one of the premiere nursing research programs in the nation. Today, the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing honors and celebrates both our past and present as we look to the future with a reinvigorated sense of purpose. For our 60th anniversary as a program and 10th as a college, we invite you to embark alongside us in this issue as we remember our transformative history. From our first semester with 22 students, to a hub for nursing professionals and cutting-edge research, our commitment to excellence resonates throughout time. Follow a remarkable transformation throughout the next several pages and join us in shaping the next era of nursing excellence. +
PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2024
Through the Years
Nursing student stays involved to LEAD WITH PURPOSE
A nursing program at Penn State begins — one step at a time. the 1950s and 1960s saw a national effort to upgrade nursing education at institutions of higher learning. as a result, on july 1, 1964, the penn state board of trustees authorized the creation of its first undergraduate nursing program. that fall, under the leadership of the first head of the department of nursing education, dr. edna treasure, penn state nursing welcomed its first students. from these humble beginnings has emerged a continuing success story . . . 4
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1964
Penn State admits its first nursing students — twenty-two in all — for the fall term. The new Department of Nursing Education’s administrative function is housed within the College of Health and Physical Education.
22 students enrolled
1965
Penn State and Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh announce a cooperative venture “to combine the educational resources of the University with the clinical facilities of the hospital.”
half page title, maybe insert 1967 shield overlay in in 1965) transfers its administrative The Department of Nursing (renamed home to the Division of Biological Health in the College of Human box — a move that Dr. Donald Ford, dean, calls “mutually Development beneficial since the primary purpose of both nursing and the college is to study man from infancy to old age and to prepare professionals for human services.” At the end of summer term, Charlene Ann Weaver, Margaret Lena Ellerkamp, Verna Swisher, and Beverly Richards become the first four registered nurses to receive Penn State’s bachelor of science degree with a major in Nursing.
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. . . the primary purpose of both nursing and the college is to study man from infancy to old age and to prepare professionals for human services.
1968
The first male student graduates from the Nursing program.
1969
The National League for Nursing grants initial accreditation for the baccalaureate program; the Pennsylvania State Board of Nurse Examiners grants approval of the entire Nursing program. By fall term, enrollment exceeds 200 students.
over 200 students enrolled
1971
Laurie Gunter assumes the department head role from 1971–1975. She is the first Black woman to hold the position. The undergraduate curriculum is revamped. A graduate program is implemented.
PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2024
Title herethe Years Through
1972 Nursing student stays involved to LEAD WITH PURPOSE
The program’s clinical component transfers from Allegheny General Hospital to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, along with facilities in the State College area.
1973
The first students are admitted to the department’s first two graduate degree programs — a master of science and master of nursing, with options in family health, transcultural health, community mental health, and adult health and aging.
1974
Undergraduate enrollment grows to more than 800; total number of graduates exceeds 500. The Beta Sigma chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing is established with a goal of sponsoring future research programs.
over 1,300 students enrolled 6
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1975
The first two master’s degrees are conferred in the same year the National League for Nursing grants initial accreditation for the graduate program. Graduate student enrollment has reached forty students. The RN to B.S. Extended Degree program is piloted at five western Pennsylvania campuses.
1979
A Nursing affiliate program group of the Penn State Alumni Association is established. More than 1,000 registered nurses are now associated with the Extended Degree program.
half page title, maybe insert 1981 shield overlay in The National League for Nursing grants full reaccreditation to the box program. Nursing
1983
The Eastern Regional Committee of the American Nurses Association accredits the department as a provider of nursing continuing education.
1987
The department joins the newly formed College of Health and Human Development (created from the consolidation of the College of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation with the College of Human Development) and receives full accreditation from the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association as a provider of continuing nursing education.
1989
The Board of Trustees approves the creation of the Penn State School of Nursing, which had been recommended the previous year by the Strategic Study Group to Review Nursing Education. Dr. Janet Williamson is named Director of the new School of Nursing.
1984
The Nursing program observes its twentieth anniversary, having educated more than 2,000 undergraduate students and more than 150 graduate students.
20 years of Penn State Nursing
PENN PENNSTATE STATENURSING NURSINGMAGAZINE MAGAZINE• •SUMMER SPRING 2024 2023
Title herethe Years Through
Now a school of nursing, the program enters the new millennium with innovation. marking the turn of the century by embracing bold initiatives, penn state nursing entered the 1990s and 2000s by spearheading new degree offerings while simultaneously embracing online learning, effectively propelling nurse education into the digital realm. this period also saw enhanced entry into commonwealth campuses, laying the foundation for a legacy of progressive education that would improve access and impact for future students across pennsylvania . . . 8
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1990
An associate degree program for select Penn State campuses is approved by the Board of Trustees and receives initial approval from the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing the following year. The program is initially offered at the Mont Alto and Worthington Scranton campuses.
1994
Elouise Ross Eberly Professorships in Nursing are established at the Fayette and University Park campuses.
1997
An endowment created in memory of Jean Vallance — one of the first certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) in Pennsylvania — enables the school to establish the Jean Vallance Lecture in Nursing Innovation. The annual lecture gives students, faculty, and alumni the chance to learn how current research is leading to new and exciting patient-care delivery approaches.
1999
The school welcomes its first four doctoral students.
2001–02
Former Interim Dean Janice Penrod and current faculty member Susan Loeb are the first two students to graduate from the Ph.D. degree program.
the doctoral program begins and sees its first graduates
2004
Penn State World Campus begins offering online nursing courses.
2006
The first student graduates from the online RN to B.S. program.
2007
The school establishes the Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, one of only nine centers nationally and one of only four geriatric centers of excellence to receive funding from the John A. Hartford Foundation through its Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Program at the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Ann Kolanowski, Elouise Ross Eberly Professor of Nursing, is appointed center director. The National League for Nursing reaccredits the nursing programs for eight years.
AMY TO PROVIDE CGNE PHOTOS
new options, like online learning, begin at Penn State Nursing PENN PENNSTATE STATENURSING NURSINGMAGAZINE MAGAZINE• •SUMMER SPRING 2024 2023
Title herethe Years Through
With an established legacy, the school sets out to become the College of Nursing.
2008
The School of Nursing becomes an independent academic unit effective July 1. Current director Paula Milone-Nuzzo becomes the inaugural dean. Dr. Raymonde Brown is named the first associate dean for undergraduate programs and outreach. Nursing maintains collaborative relationships with the College of Health and Human Development, College of Medicine, and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The school offers its first online continuing education course through the Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence.
now an independent unit 10
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2009
The Nursing program celebrates its 45th anniversary with a new 11,000-square-foot clinical simulation lab and the establishment of the Dean’s Endowment for Excellence and Innovation.
45 years of Penn State Nursing
half page title, maybe insert 2010 shield overlay The Second Degree program in is initiated at Penn State Altoona. This program provides students who have earned baccalaureate degrees in box other disciplines with the opportunity to pursue a second baccalaureate degree in nursing.
2011
Dr. Judith Hupcey becomes the first associate dean for graduate education. The Center for Nursing Research is launched, with Dr. Janice Penrod appointed as the first director. From 2004 to 2011, the school’s ranking among schools of nursing that receive research funding from the National Institutes of Health skyrockets from 92nd to 17th. The Second Degree program expands to Penn State Harrisburg.
92 17 ranking
2013
Dr. Donna Fick is the first nursing faculty member to be awarded the prestigious title of Distinguished Professor at Penn State. The Penn State Board of Trustees approves the renaming of the School of Nursing to the College of Nursing effective September 20. The renaming gives the college an organizational structure consistent with other Penn State colleges, and recognizes that the college has demonstrated academic excellence, considerable growth in its graduate programs and research productivity, and an ongoing commitment to outreach.
now known as the College of Nursing PENN PENNSTATE STATENURSING NURSINGMAGAZINE MAGAZINE• •SUMMER SPRING 2024 2023
Title herethe Years Through
Now carrying national prestige, the college sets out to reach students — wherever they are. penn state nursing entered the modern era flourishing. the college had not only found its stride in offering impactful educational programming across the state of pennsylvania, but it also established its headquarters in the nursing sciences building at university park. new leadership was also established, ushering in an era of growth that was further propelled by a transformative gift, taking the institution and its legacy of excellence to unprecedented heights . . . 12
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2014
The Penn State College of Nursing boasts more than 100 full-time faculty members who educate more than 2,800 undergraduate students and 200 graduate students annually at twelve locations at Penn State campuses and online via Penn State World Campus. The online DNP program is approved by the Board of Trustees and then offered through World Campus — the first of its kind at Penn State.
over 100 full-time faculty
over 3,000 students enrolled
2015
A University Park building is renamed the Nursing Sciences Building, appropriately housing the College of Nursing.
2018
Laurie Badzek is named the second dean of the College of Nursing. As a nurse, attorney, and educator, Badzek specializes in genomics, health care ethics and law, nursing practice, and end-oflife care and decision making.
2020
2016
The Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence restructures its funding, concluding its partnership with the John A. Hartford Foundation. Donna M. Fick begins serving as its newest director.
Sheldon D. Fields is named as the inaugural associate dean for equity and inclusion. Fields’s role ushers in a new era for Penn State Nursing, as he is the first nursing college-level administrator formally charged with championing a culture of inclusivity throughout the college and commonwealth. With the college being officially established in 2013, this appointment is representative of the commitment to building a community that prioritizes diversity in nursing and beyond.
2017
Janice Penrod is named interim dean of the college. Prior to her role as interim, Penrod served as a professor of nursing and humanities at Penn State, specializing in geriatrics, caregiving and end-of-life care. In 2001, Penrod became one of the first students to receive a doctorate in nursing from Penn State. PENN PENNSTATE STATENURSING NURSINGMAGAZINE MAGAZINE• •SUMMER SPRING 2024 2023
Title herethe Years Through
2021
At a moment when the global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of skilled and committed frontline health-care professionals, Ross and Carol Nese — longtime supporters of Penn State’s College of Nursing — pledge $27.125 million to enhance nursing education at the University. The gift is announced at the Penn State Board of Trustees meeting on July 15, during which the board voted to honor this landmark commitment by renaming the college "The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing". The Neses’ gift — the largest ever for the College of Nursing and the second-largest single commitment to an academic unit in Penn State’s history at the time — is coupled with $17.9 million in matching funds from Penn State, providing a combination of endowed and outright funding for scholarships, faculty and program support, and facilities and equipment. Additionally, the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing’s Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence is officially renamed as the Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence. The name of the center is in memory of both Ross and Carol Nese's mothers, a commitment that aligns with the center's dedication to not only to older adults but also to their families who support their health and well-being. The college’s accreditation status continues for another ten years. Through the leadership of Dr. Fields, the Gunter-Gooding DEI lecture series begins.
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the college receives a transformational gift totaling over 27 million dollars . . . . . . and becomes the first named college of nursing in the Big Ten
2022
The Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is named a Center of Excellence (COE) by the National League for Nursing (NLN). The college achieves this recognition for “creating environments that promote the pedagogical expertise of faculty,” according to the league, exemplifying the college’s investment in its nurse educators and their professional growth. Penn State Nursing is the only school throughout the commonwealth to hold a designation in this category.
“ . . . achieves recognition for creating environments that promote the pedagogical expertise of faculty.
2023
Donna M. Fick, Elouise Ross Eberly Endowed Professor of Nursing at Penn State’s Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and director of the Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, becomes president of the American Geriatrics Society at its 2023 Annual Scientific meeting. Sheldon D. Fields is elected as the National Black Nurses Association's 14th president, becoming the association's second male president in its more than 50-year history after he previously served as its first vice president.
Carried by the momentum of excellence, the college enters 2024 embracing the challenge of upcoming expansion . . . PENN PENNSTATE STATENURSING NURSINGMAGAZINE MAGAZINE• •SUMMER SPRING 2024 2023
Preparing Nurse Leaders
Above and Right: Renders from the upcoming Nursing Sciences Building expansion project illustrate the growth and advancement of Penn State Nursing's home.
Renovating nursing's future at University Park D
eveloping the next generation of nurse leaders begins when our students step foot onto our campuses and into our classrooms. In nursing, the learning environment spans typical classrooms, simulation labs, and clinical environments. Designing spaces that fuel students’ curiosity and engaged learning is just as critical as the nurse educators who bring learning to life. As a result, the college has begun renovations on the Nursing Sciences Building at the University Park campus. The renovation marks another milestone for Penn State Ross and
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Carol Nese College of Nursing, as our programs at a variety of campuses are reaping the benefits of refreshed spaces — including the new simulation lab at Penn State Behrend and entirely new buildings and renovations at Penn State Mont Alto, Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Scranton. With innovation and technology driving the nursing profession to new heights, it’s vital our spaces keep pace. It’s with this mindset that the college will expand the Nursing Sciences building by 2,700 square feet to create a new knowledge commons space
and 180-person active learning, simulation-ready classroom. These additions are uniquely curated to provide students and researchers with collaborative spaces to meet nursing’s specific needs. “A true complement to the simulation component of nursing’s curriculum, the new active learning classroom will aid in the facilitation of hands-on practice, critical thinking, and decision-making in a controlled environment,” said Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing Dean Laurie Badzek. “The interactive nature of active learning promotes effective
communication and teamwork, all of which are vital qualities in the health care profession. Ultimately, these classrooms prepare nursing students to provide safe, patient-centered care and adapt to the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.” The Nursing Sciences Building underwent a minor renovation in 2017 when a new main entrance was added. The newest project intends to replace the façade on the existing structure to correct water intrusion issues and match the circa-2017 entrance, as well as replace HVAC systems that are at their end of life, inefficient lighting, and outdated finishes. Approximately 25,000 square feet of the building will undergo various levels of renovation, ranging from light touch-ups to fully renewed spaces. All told, the planned renovations will mitigate an estimated $12 million in maintenance backlog costs. “This renovation project will enhance our teaching and learning spaces by creating truly collaborative, experiential learning environments,” said Badzek. “As a premier educator of pre-licensure nurses across the Commonwealth, this upgrade to our building at University Park will ensure the next generation of nurses are confident in their skills and will have experienced a nursing education that mirrors the needs of the profession.” Currently, the Nursing Sciences Building acts as nursing’s primary facility. Operating as the college’s centralized hub, the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing delivers academic programming to 13 campuses across the Commonwealth serving more than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students. To maintain status as a premier educator and attract top-tier talent, we must continue to reach higher. +
[THE EXPANSION] WILL ENSURE THE NEXT GENERATION OF NURSES ARE CONFIDENT IN THEIR SKILLS...
Support the Next Nursing Generation Our excellence in nursing education would not be possible without gifts from readers like you. Consider supporting our expansion project as we continue our mission of developing the next generation of nurse leaders. To make a gift to the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, scan the QR code with your phone’s camera, visit nursing.psu.edu/give, or connect with our Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Susan Kukic, by emailing sik2@psu.edu or calling 814-863-8180. PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2024
The Pennsylvania State University 201 Nursing Sciences Building University Park, PA 16802-6501 nursing.psu.edu
Please recycle!
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