USF Nursing Faculty & Staff Opening Week 2012 Builds Foundation for Success
On Monday August 20, 1012, the University of South Florida College of Nursing kicked off the 2012-2013 school-year with Opening Week and annual tradition of presentations, meetings, and workshops designed to celebrate the successes of the past year, build enthusiasm for the upcoming semester, and review exciting strategic initiatives for the upcoming year. Below are some highlights of the week.
Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, Senior Associate Vice President of USF Health and Dean of the College of Nursing, launched the week-long event with an inspiring presentation to a packed room of over 100 faculty and staff on August 20, 2012.
During her opening presentation, Dr. Morrison-Beedy recognized the amazing 35 faculty and staff who joined to College over the past year!
Dean Morrison Beedy made a special presentation recognizing nursing phd student, Chun-Yi Tai for her outstanding service to the College of Nursing. The Dean then invited Denise J. Maguire, PhD, RN, CNL, Assistant Professor and Chair of the Nursing Awards Committee who presented 5 awards to outstanding faculty and staff. They include:
- Innovative Teaching Award: Rasheeta D. Chandler, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC, Assistant Professor
- Research Article of the Year Award: Theresa M. Beckie, PhD, RN, FAHA, Professor
- Faculty Leadership Award: Cheryl H. Zambroski, PhD, RN, Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs
- Professional Service Award: Versie M. Johnson-Mallard, PhD, ARNP, MSN, MSMS, Assistant Professor
- Faculty Outstanding Staff Service Award: Jean Vaccaro, Coordinator of Budget & Financial Services
Dean Morrison-Beedy reviewed the College mission, vision values and goals, and counted down the top-10 college articles of the past year, acknowledging faculty and staff for their tireless effort to make the College successful regionally and nationally.
“We are stunned at how much we have accomplished this past year,” said Dr. Morrison-Beedy during her opening speech. “This is a phenomenal place to be, and it’s all because each and every one of you.”
The Dean the set the tone for the rest of the week with with a presentation on building on a positive foundation. Using the classic Tale of Three Bricklayers as inspiration, the faculty and staff were inspired to create their own “bricks” with each person’s expression of the College’s strength’s, successes or potential written on them. They then visually built a foundation with their brick’s realizing, as the story foretold, that they were not just laboring individually, but were truly laying the foundation together to build a lasting culture of success, our own metaphorical ‘cathedral’. Faculty and staff were encouraged to think of how they could each shape and participate in the strategic direction of the college to move forward our goals to a greater level of national prominence.
“We want to be the College of choice,” said Dr. Morrison-Beedy to faculty and staff. “We want to be out-of-the-box thinkers, game changers, and innovative. That’s what we want to be. Together we want to build a cathedral, one brick at a time.”
USF College of Nursing faculty and staff constructed a “brick wall” out of positive things that form the “foundation” of the College.
Senior Vice President of the USF Health, Stephen Klasko, MD, MBA, made an energetic entrance to the tune “Brick House” by the Commodores. He addressed the nursing faculty and staff gathered to answer questions and give an update on current USF Health initiatives. He congratulated the College for their outstanding continued success in 2011-2012, and to talk about the future of interprofessional health education, research and practice.
“The answer to primary care begins with nurses!” said Klasko. “At USF Health, all practitioners will work together in out of the box solutions to address national primary care health needs, with nurses, NPs, DNPs being leaders in the effort with the other health disciplines.”
Click here or on the above image to watch the video.
On Tuesday, Dr. Morrison-Beedy led a ribbon-cutting to thunderous applause as she officially opened the newly renovated faculty & staff lounge. To read the full story on the ribbon cutting celebration click here.
“The College environment and culture is critical to the collaborative education and research that is a hallmark of the USF College of Nursing. We are happy to start this school year with newly renovated spaces that will continue to inspire that collaborative spirit,” said Dr. Morrison-Beedy during the ribbon cutting ceremony. “Your success made this possible, so enjoy. You all deserve it.”
College of Nursing’s Associate Deans gave thought-provoking presentations on the College’s academic successes for the past year, and new initiatives and challenges that lie ahead for 2012-2013 academic year. Rita F. D’Aoust, PhD, ACNP, ANP-BC, CNE, FAANP, FNAP, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Interprofessional Initiatives at USF College of Nursing, spoke on behalf of academic affairs’ office and the College’s educational excellence and interprofessioanal initiatives. Cindy L. Munro, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAAN, Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, talked about the state of the College regarding research and innovation–two strategically important aspects for the College of Nursing. Connie Visovsky, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Community Engagement, updated faculty and staff on the College’s current student registration and future student recruitment. Anne Philips, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Administrative Affairs at the USF College of Nursing, also talked about the College’s administrative affairs including infrastructure optimization and fiscal resources.
“The success of the USF College of Nursing in expanding academic programs, student enrollment and faculty-staff recruitment during difficult budget times is amazing on the national level,” Dean Morrison-Beedy said following Ms. Phillips’ presentation. “Other nursing programs across the nation are in awe of our continued success!”
Wednesday, Barbara A. Redding, EdD, RN, CNE, Professor and Director of Office of Program Evaluation, spoke about the College’s systematic evaluation plan for 2012-2013. Dr. Redding reported the number of accreditation visit for the College and University through2015, and our preparations to ensure our success through the evaluation plan. The discussion was lively and informative, and led to some action plans to address specific issues during the Fall semester.
Thursday, John M. Clochesy, PhD, Professor and Faculty Mentorship Program Director and LaRon E. Nelson, PhD, RN, NP, Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean, Global & Community Affairs gave riveting presentations on their new areas of responsibility in the college and plans for future endeavors.
Friday, Don Snyder, Director of Development and Edwin Hernandez, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations wowed the audience with the number and diversity of development and alumni projects that they have taken on in their new roles, and to ask all faculty and staff to contact them with new ideas, alumni information or potential new college partners. Mr. Hernandez reminded all that next year celebrates the college’s 40th anniversary.
Nursing Opening Week events ended early Friday to give all faculty and staff an opportunity to attend the Provost’s Annual Address at 3pm in the Marshall Center.
Other presentation and meeting topics during the week included:
- Instruction Design
- Purchasing, Travel, Hiring and GEMS
- ROAD
- Conferences
- USF FAIR System
- Virtual Hallucination Simulation
- Research Compliance
- Research Center update
- Security and Sexual Harassment update
- Faculty Committee meetings
- Faculty Council meeting
The Nursing Opening Week activities are an annual event for all faculty and staff to help focus, energize and collaborate to make the coming year the most successful the College has known.
To download a pdf copy of the above USF College of Nursing Mission, Vision, Goals and Values click here: USFCollegeofNursingMVGV
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