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By Marlena Bermel

Retired Dean Continues to Support Nursing Education in New Mexico

Ridenour establishes the Ridenour/Mason New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium Fellowship

In her nine years as dean of The University of New Mexico College of Nursing, Nancy Ridenour, PhD, APRN, and her late husband, Ed Mason, understood the opportunities and challenges of nursing education in New Mexico.

After retiring from UNM, Ridenour took a position as the Maxine Clark and Bob Fox President of Barnes Jewish College in St. Louis. However, her dedication to UNM's College of Nursing remains steadfast and the Ridenour and Mason's influence continues to be felt at the university.

Ridenour's latest support for the College of Nursing is the establishment of the Ridenour/Mason New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium (NMNEC) Fellowship. This fellowship is given to a faculty member for the purpose of advancing nursing academic progression and the Consortium.

Judy Liesveld, PhD, PPCNP-BC, associate dean of education and innovation, has been named the inaugural Ridenour/Mason New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium Fellow.

Ridenour assumed the deanship during a time when there was a national call to increase the nursing workforce with bachelor-prepared nurses. She was the visionary behind NMNEC, which is comprised of 12 state-funded pre-licensure nursing schools, all teaching the same common curriculum. Through this collaboration, UNM's bachelor of science in nursing degree is offered in six state-funded community college partners.

"The Ridenour/Mason NMNEC Fellowship recognizes the expertise and collaboration of nurse educators throughout New Mexico to address important nursing workforce needs," Ridenour says. "Through this gift I hope to further the goals and sustainability of NMNEC to ensure that students throughout the state have the opportunity to obtain the BSN near their home and that all New Mexicans will have access to nursing care. I am thrilled that Dr Liesveld has been selected as the inaugural Ridenour Mason NMNEC fellow."

In 2014 Liesveld join the NMNEC leadership council, which guides the goals and objectives of the statewide Nursing Consortium. She has been an integral member of the NMNEC Program Evaluation Committee, lending her expertise in research and data collection. Liesveld also meets regularly with NMNEC staff to provide leadership in the operationalization of the coordinated statewide nursing education system.

"Dr. Liesveld has an undeniable talent of continuously translating her excellence in nursing education work into action," said Christine E. Kasper, PhD, RN, dean of the College of Nursing. "I have had the privilege of witnessing her leadership in advancing the NMNEC mission. The Ridenour/Mason fellowship is truly deserved and will allow her to continue to improve outcomes for NMNEC."

Categories: College of Nursing