Posted on Aug 13, 2018

USF College of Nursing Dean Kicks off Annual Opening Day

USF College of Nursing Dean Kicks off Annual Opening Day

More than 15 faculty and staff members at the USF College of Nursing were recognized on Aug. 13 during the college’s Opening Day address.

The annual event featured a presentation from College of Nursing Dean Victoria L. Rich, PhD, RN, FAAN, who is entering her second year as leader of the college.

Dr. Rich said it has been a year of accomplishments grounded in student success and included the adoption of a new college mission and vision statement after a collaborative effort.

The mission states the college is “preparing 21st-century nurses to demonstrate excellence in research, education, and clinical care while promoting health and wellness in our community and around the world.”

“I live very much grounded in what mission and vision statements are,” Dr. Rich said. “When you think about it, every one of us in here, underneath what we’re here for, is to make human beings healthier.”

Dr. Rich said some of the key investments and goals that will begin in the upcoming year include creating nurse practitioner fellowships, expanding the college to three campuses, growing the Honors College program, lowering the student-faculty ratio, and recruiting for the endowed chair for faculty and community development in Sarasota.

With more than 13,000 alumni strong, the college had 2,275 students enrolled in fall 2017, a slight drop over the past four years. Faculty and students from the college also logged 200,000 clinical hours with more than 900 partners.

Dr. Rich also welcomed the 11 new faculty and 20 staff members who began working at the college over the past year. She announced the winners of the annual faculty and staff awards, whose nominations were reviewed by a 16-member awards committee.

The following people were recognized:

Winston Blake, Annual Friend of Nursing Award

Marcia Johansson, Clinical Teaching Excellence Award

Rebecca Lutz, Community Service Award and Clochesy-Miller Award for Scholarly Writing

Elizabeth Remo, Dean’s Diversity Enhancement Award

John Maye, DNP Project Mentor Award

Harleah Buck, Graduate Academic Nurse Educator Award

Tiffany Gwartney, Innovative Teaching Award

R. Oscar Bernard, Mentor in Teaching Award

Natasha Zurcher, New Instructor Award

Kathi Katz, Online Teacher Award

Patricia O’Donnell, Outstanding Service Award

Brittny Chabalowski, Simulation Excellence Award

Alicia Rossiter, Undergraduate Academic Nurse Educator Award

Nancy Ramirez, Outstanding New Staff Award

Jack Schofield, Outstanding Staff Leadership Award and Outstanding Staff Teamwork Award

Janice Walker, Staff of the Year Award

Trudy Wittenberg, True Unsung Hero Award

Story by Elizabeth L. Brown, USF College of Nursing