Fall 2006

Message from the Dean | 2006 Distinguished Alumni Awards | A Healthy Partnership | Creating a Nursing Legacy | Thinking About a Way... | Nursing Briefs

Even after working in higher education for many years, there is nothing quite as exhilarating as the start of a new academic year. Our environment offers many rewarding relationships beginning with our students and current faculty and staff and moving on to our alumni, retired faculty and staff, our healthcare partners, donors and special friends. You are going to meet several generous donors, two amazing alumni and learn more about our new programs, students and graduates in this seventh issue of our Development News.

Dr. Ruth Franklin, a retired faculty member, and her husband, Jack, a retired corporate attorney, have established their legacy by creating an endowment focused on geriatric nursing education which is a vital concern for all of us. Geriatric expertise certainly needs a permanent place in our student’s education. Lovelace Health System of Albuquerque has stepped forward with critical student and faculty support. We simply could not continue answering the state of New Mexico’s call for more nurses without the philanthropy of the Franklins or Lovelace.

We have two Distinguished Alumni Award recipients for 2006, Carol Eve Luciani Moye ‘73 and Sally N. Pete ’81. They are outstanding role models influencing the advancement of nursing through their love of the profession.

Other College of Nursing news is centered on meeting the ongoing demand for nursing graduates. All undergraduate students beginning their nursing education in January will finish their baccalaureate program in just over 15 months instead of the usual 24 months. Although the learning is more concentrated and there are fewer vacation breaks, the content and quality of the program will be maintained with the same rigor. Also working with the UNM branch campuses in Taos and Valencia, we will begin offering the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in January 2007 with spots for 16 students in each location.

I guess it is true that everything happens one step at a time and as I reflect on our donors, alumni and students, I can’t help but think about the individual who started it all, our founder, Dr. Marion Fleck. Thank you, Marion, for giving our UNM College of Nursing life in 1955 and by the way, happy 90th birthday, too!

Sandra L. Ferketich, PhD, RN, FAAN
HSC Deputy Vice President for Interdisciplinary Education
Dean and Professor, College of Nursing