BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Friends Of The College Visits

Dean Greg Hand continues to travel around Kansas to meet and greet supporters of the CHP. Discussions and updates focus on several critical topics for the CHP, including 1) Creating pathways to healthcare education by engaging high schools and partnering with industry; 2) Developing strategic partnerships with other higher education institutions in the state; 3) Establishing WSU’s role in educating and supporting decision makers in Kansas.

If you are interested in hosting the CHP dean at an alumni event, contact Coni Nutter at 316-978- 5661 or coni.nutter@wichita.edu.

Connecting With Emeritus Faculty

Dean Hand and the College welcomed retired nursing faculty, along with President Muma and first gentleman Rick Case, to a Shocker baseball game.

• Please contact us if you would like to get involved or be an ambassador for the College of Health Professions.

RETIRED FACULTY SPOTLIGHT - BETTY SULLIVAN, SCHOOL OF NURSING

Betty Sullivan grew up on a farm in eastern Kansas. Betty’s personality is a natural fit with nursing, but early in life she also witnessed health issues in her family that inspired her to be a caregiver to others.

In high school she worked as a nurse's aide at a local hospital. The Director of Nursing recommended that Betty earn her baccalaureate in nursing, and she went on to graduate from the University of Kansas. She worked as a nurse and taught in psychiatric nursing, and eventually returned to KU for her master's work.

Betty’s physician husband accepted a position that moved their family to Wichita. She received her master's degree in clinical counseling and began teaching at Wichita State in the psychiatric nursing program. In the 80s and 90s few universities in Kansas focused on psychiatric nursing at the master's level, and many students came to WSU because of the program. She was given tenure and earned her PhD in from the University of Texas. She returned to Wichita State and retired in 1999. Betty says she thoroughly enjoyed teaching students and the positive relationships she experienced brought her joy.

Betty says what she is most proud of during her career is improving the master's psychiatric program and becoming a significant educator through the years when there wasn’t an emphasis on mental health. She is proud of her students who went on to practice in mental health centers and make significant contributions to the community.

“I was surprised and honored by the high level of enthusiasm from the Advisory Council members when they were invited to join the Council. Their input and advice has already made a huge impact on the College's perspective as we strategically plan for future growth and development.”

— Gregory Hand, dean, College of Health Professions

Betty says her background in 4-H taught her important skills like public speaking that prepared her for leadership positions. Her faith has also been important during her career.

After retirement Betty led a support group for women in her church who were sexually abused as children, which made a major positive contribution to the mental health of the members. She uses her nursing skills to work with homebound members of her Sunday school class.