From the Dean's Desk
From the Dean's Desk
Dear friends,
January is a time for new beginnings, and we are excited to start 2025 with a complete team of associate deans. We hope you enjoy learning about them and their vision in this newsletter. We also welcomed two new postdoctoral fellows and look forward to watching them further develop as researchers under the mentorship of our faculty.
This year marks the third year of the university-wide Together Hawkeyes campaign. In addition to the college’s $70 million monetary goal, we have an engagement goal to deepen connections with our alumni and friends.
In my time as dean, I have learned that there is something special about being a Hawkeye and being an Iowa nurse. Whether it’s calling ‘Go Hawks’ to a person wearing black and gold or taking the time to precept nursing students with patience, thoughtfulness, and trust, our Hawkeye community is exceptional. We are looking to engage our nursing alumni and friends with the college and each other, to keep the feeling of community alive, and encourage it to grow. Aluma Emily Nicols shares her engagement story in this newsletter, noting that for her, College of Nursing events are “a wonderful way to give back, celebrate connections, and keep the Hawkeye spirit alive no matter where life takes us.”
We hope it inspires you to engage with the college and alumni community in new or different ways. Watch your email for upcoming events and engagement opportunities at the college, across Iowa, and around the nation.
Go Hawks!
Julie Zerwic, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN
Kelting Dean and Professor
Over the past ten months, we have welcomed three new leaders to the College of Nursing. Daniel Crawford, DNP, ARNP, CPNP-PC, CNE, FAANP became associate dean for graduate practice programs in April; Tracie Harrison, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN joined the college as associate dean for research and scholarship in July; and Mary Tobin, PhD, RN began her position as associate dean for undergraduate and Master of Science in Nursing - Entry into Practice programs on January 2. We are excited to leverage their vast experience on behalf of our students and look forward to seeing where the college goes under their leadership.
We recently sat down with each new associate dean to learn more about their journey to the college and their plans for forging new paths.
New postdoctoral fellows join the college
The postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Iowa College of Nursing is an opportunity for nurse scientists to receive intensive mentorship to hone their research skills, network, and develop competitive research proposals to secure external funding. The two newest Iowa postdocs, Shandra Burton and Mary Beth Davis, are looking forward to doing just that.
Fall 2024 undergraduate commencement
106 students, 80 in the BSN pre-licensure program and 26 in the RN-BSN program, graduated from the College of Nursing on December 16. Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient Jonathan Szczesny (20BSN) gave the keynote address, and University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson conferred the degrees.
A sense of relief: student project helps bring EpiPens to rural Iowa school district
Last fall, RN-BSN student Hannah Obermeyer (24BSN) played an integral role in bringing EpiPen access to students in a rural, northern Iowa community school district. Obermeyer completed her RN-BSN Community and Public Health practicum with school nurse and preceptor Bonnie Hiscocks at the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura (GHV) Community School District in Garner, Iowa.
Emily Nicol (11BSN)
The Together Hawkeyes campaign focuses not just on funding, but also on engagement with the university. Emily Nicol (11BSN) of St. Paul, Minnesota, shares her story of engaging with the College of Nursing.
Nicol is a pediatric nurse practitioner and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in the level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children's Minnesota.
March 26
One day for iowa
Wednesday, March 26, 2025, is One Day for Iowa, the University of Iowa’s 24-hour online giving day!
June 26-27
Golden Alumni Reunion
We're excited to celebrate with the classes of 1969-1975.
Alumni Updates
Have you started a new job, gone back to school, or earned an award? Did you have a baby, run a marathon, or write a screenplay? Do you just want to update your former classmates about where you are these days? We want to hear it all!
Alumni Awards
Nominate a College of Nursing alum who deserves recognition!
We have two awards, the Emerging Nurse Leader Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award.