Jean Leuner Archives | �鶹ԭ�� News

New Leadership for Nursing

Fri, 09 Aug 2013 13:47:24 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� has named Dr. Mary Lou Sole as interim dean of the College of Nursing, effective Aug. 8. Dr. Maureen Covelli will serve as interim associate dean of undergraduate affairs, while Dr. Susan Chase continues as associate dean of graduate affairs.

“I am honored to serve the College of Nursing in this role,” Sole said. “Our college will continue to focus on the needs of our students and Central Florida community by offering superb undergraduate and graduate education and outstanding research opportunities.”

Founding Dean Jean D’Meza Leuner has stepped down from her administrative position to pursue new leadership challenges. Dr. Linda Hennig, founding associate dean for undergraduate affairs, announced last fall her plan to return to the classroom.

�鶹ԭ�� will conduct a national search for a new dean.

“Dr. Leuner leaves behind a strong legacy – she transformed us from a school within a college to an independent college,” Sole said. “She focused on many strategic initiatives, including adding new programs and developing new partnerships, and was exceptional at fundraising. She brought in several million dollars to create additional endowed chairs and professorships, and also established more than 25 student scholarships during her tenure.”

“Dr. Hennig has been instrumental in many key �鶹ԭ�� initiatives for more than 20 years, earning special accolades for developing and promoting online nursing education programs.”

Dr. Leuner said it’s been an honor and privilege to serve as the college’s founding dean.

“The past 10 years have seen remarkable growth and success for our college, and I am proud to have been part of that,” Leuner said. “While I look to the next challenge in my career, I wish Dr. Sole and our dedicated faculty and staff continued success.”

Dr. Hennig said teaching is her first love and she’s excited about the opportunity to pursue this passion once again.

“It’s been several years since I’ve been able to give myself fully to teaching, and I miss it,” Hennig said. “I’m just not ready to retire, and I plan to spend a few years as a professor before that time comes.”

During the next few weeks, Drs. Sole and Covelli will work closely with outgoing leaders to ensure a smooth transition.

Dr. Sole has received numerous honors, including being named as a Pegasus Professor, �鶹ԭ��’s highest faculty honor. She also holds the Orlando Health Distinguished Professorship in the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing. As a researcher, she is widely published and has succeeded in obtaining external support for her research endeavors. She has been nationally recognized for her research with awards from the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

Dr. Covelli has been a nursing faculty member at �鶹ԭ�� since 1989. She is respected for her leadership as chair of the Faculty Association and as an associate professor with primary teaching responsibilities in the baccalaureate program. She has published research on hypertension, and has developed cardiovascular health promotion intervention programs to decrease hypertension risk in adolescents.

Second-Annual Fashion Show to Support Nursing Scholarships

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:08:36 +0000

The �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing will host its second-annual fashion show fundraiser shopping event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27 at Bella Winter Park, a women’s boutique on Park Avenue.

The event will begin with a small reception, allowing guests to mingle and browse the store’s fashions and accessories. At 7 p.m., the associate dean for undergraduate affairs and three faculty members will take to the ‘catwalk’ and model Bella’s newest spring designs for college alumni, friends and fashion enthusiasts.

Store owner, Susan Johnson, is donating 10% of the store’s proceeds generated from the fashion show shopping event and select purchases made through Sunday, March 31 to the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing student scholarship fund.

“I’m honored to show my support again this year by hosting this fashion show event, while giving back to our community and future nurses,” says Johnson. “My mother is a retired nurse and I know the commitment it takes in today’s world to become such a highly skilled medical professional.”

Katie Korkosz, director of development for the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing, is very excited about this unique partnership the college has developed with Johnson and Bella Winter Park, and asks the Central Florida community to show its support again this year.

“The community will have four days to support this important fundraiser for our students,” said Korkosz. “Anyone who makes a purchase at Bella Winter Park from the 27th through the 31st of March can request to have 10% of their purchase donated to the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing student scholarship fund. It’s a win-win partnership – and a lot of fun!”

Jean D’Meza Leuner, dean of the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing, says scholarships help the college recruit and retain the best and brightest students. “Scholarship support is a critical factor that helps our students focus on their studies and the demands of a rigorous nursing education, which is especially important in today’s complex health care environment.”

Faculty model and associate professor Julee Waldrop says she was very nervous about modeling in the fashion show last year but with support and encouragement from her colleague Anne Norris, nursing professor and former teen runway model, she ended up having a great time. “I rarely shop for clothes in person so having a group of people there for fashion advice was so much fun. I am excited to do it again this year.”

In addition to Waldrop and Norris, Sigrid Ladores, a nursing instructor and Ph.D. candidate, will strut Bella’s catwalk again this year. Linda Hennig, associate dean for undergraduate affairs, will join them.

The fashion show shopping evening is an exclusive event open to college alumni, friends and fashion enthusiasts, but seating is limited and an RSVP is required. To register, e-mail nursingevents@ucf.edu or call 407-823-0671.

Bella Winter Park blends a pinch of Rodeo Drive, a dash of 5th and 43rd in New York, and a sprinkling of Old World charm for Winter Park’s most exclusive boutique. It all began with Johnson, and her passion for fashion that sent her in search of the country’s most fashion-forward designers, emerging trends and wardrobe must-haves. The result is delightfully packaged in Bella in beautiful downtown Winter Park. Bella is a smart collection of the country’s most noted and up-and-coming designers, housed in a welcoming boutique that pays homage to style at every turn.

Event location: Bella Winter Park, 329 N. Park Avenue, Suite 105, Winter Park, FL 32789

Photo: Models from last year’s event, (l to r) Anne Norris, Sigrid Ladores, Julee Waldrop, Heather Williams, and Bella Winter Park boutique owner Susan Johnson.

Nursing Adviser Receives National Award

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:23:14 +0000

Robert Stephens, assistant director of graduate student services at the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing, was honored recently with an ‘Excellence in Advising Administration’ award from the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). Stephens was the sole recipient of this national award for NACADA’s Region IV territory, consisting of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. He accepted this award at the association’s national meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Stephens received five letters of support for the award, including letters from the dean, associate dean for graduate affairs, and three faculty members.

Jean D’Meza Leuner, dean of the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing, wrote, “Mr. Stephens brings a level of commitment and dedication to his work that is unprecedented; he is most deserving of this honor and recognition.”

Christopher Blackwell, an associate professor, believes Stephens’ greatest strength lies in his incredible rapport with students. “He is always friendly, respectful, and responsive to students’ needs. Students consistently give him high accolades for his outstanding approach to advising; and students identify Mr. Stephens as an advocate and even a role model.”

With more than ten years’ experience working in an advising capacity, Stephens was promoted last year from coordinator to associate director of graduate student services. In his current position, he directs every aspect of the graduate admissions and advisement process for all master’s and doctoral programs, including recruitment, admissions, progression and graduation; oversees daily operations of the college’s graduate office, including supervision of two support personnel; and remains the first and main point of contact for all graduate students in the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing.

Stephens says his advisement philosophy centers on creating an environment where students take responsibility for their academic careers. He achieves this by establishing a mutual relationship built on trust through open communication and teamwork.

“These attributes enable me to be an effective administrator and gives our students confidence in navigating through our graduate programs.”

Susan Chase, associate dean for graduate affairs, agrees. “Mr. Stephens is able to blend encouraging support, clear communication and maintenance of high standards in all his communication with applicants. He is the model graduate adviser; and his creative efforts as well as his tireless work with applicants and students merit his receiving of this award.”

Founded in 1979, the National Academic Advising Association promotes the quality of academic advising in institutions of higher education. NACADA is dedicated to the support and professional growth of academic advisors, administrators, and the advising profession. Through its publications and conferences, NACADA provides a forum for discussion, debate and the exchange of ideas regarding the role of advising in higher education.

Dean Leuner Re-elected to Board Known as ‘National Voice for Nursing Education’

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:16:09 +0000

With votes cast by member deans and directors from the nation’s schools of nursing with baccalaureate and higher degree programs, Dean Leuner will help lead the AACN in advancing the goals of professional nursing education and research. She joins other top leaders from nursing programs at Marquette University, the University of Cincinnati, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, University of California-San Francisco, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, and Texas A&M Health Science Center on this national board.

“As the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, AACN is at the forefront of transforming how nurses are being educated and how patient care is being delivered,” said AACN President Jane Kirschling. “We welcome the new and returning members to the board who will help to steer this important work and provide the leadership needed to take the organization to new heights.”

Currently chair of the AACN’s program committee, Dr. Leuner has been very active in the association serving as chair of the faculty development working group, a grassroots liaison for the State of Florida, and as a mentor to new deans. Her leadership roles outside the organization extend to serving as a member of the Franklin Pierce University Board of Trustees, member of the Board of Trustees for the Winter Park Health Foundation, former chapter president of the Florida Association of Colleges of Nursing, and former president of the Theta Epsilon chapter for the nursing honor society Sigma Theta Tau International. She is also a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, one of the most prestigious honors in the field of nursing.

Expert discussed Nightingale Nursing Metrics

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:00:53 +0000

Several hundred nurses converged on the �鶹ԭ�� campus Tuesday to hear Martha A. Q. Curley, a pediatric critical care nursing expert, author and nurse scientist, speak on Nightingale Nursing Metrics.

It’s an interesting time in health care with an emphasis on quality, safety and efficiency, Curley said. “Yet to be true to the legacy of Florence Nightingale, contemporary measurement in nursing should also call upon nursing-care processes that contribute to optimal patient outcomes.”

Curley discussed the importance of linking what nurses do to improve patient outcomes, how nursing is typically measured within health care organizations, and how the Nightingale Metrics process works to engage bedside nurses in the identification and measurement of unit-specific, patient-centered outcomes.

Curley’s presentation – Nightingale 2012: Knowing, Describing and Measuring How Nurses Make a Difference – was part of the annual Orlando Health Nursing Lecture series, established through a $250,000 gift to the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing.

Jean D’Meza Leuner, dean of the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing, is grateful for the vibrant and longstanding academic-practice partnership with Orlando Health. “We are working together to heighten awareness of nursing research and how it directly relates to improving patient outcomes,” she said. “Thanks to Orlando Health’s generous gift, we are able to bring in world-renowned nurse scientists to share their expertise and enrich the entire nursing community through education and research.”

Curley is the Ellen and Robert Kapito Professor in Nursing Science at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia. She holds a joint appointment in anesthesia and critical care medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and is a nurse scientist in the cardiovascular and critical care nursing program at Children’s Hospital Boston.

Curley earned a Ph.D. from Boston College, a master’s degree in acute care pediatric nursing from Yale University, a bachelor of science from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and a diploma in nursing from Springfield (Mass.) Hospital School of Nursing.

The free lecture, hosted by the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing, was open to the public and attendees earned one contact hour of continuing education credit. This was the second annual lecture in the Orlando Health Nursing Lecture series. In 2010, Barbara Balik, a nationally renowned speaker and author, was brought in to lecture on “Maximizing Your Nursing Power: When Good Isn’t Good Enough.”

Established in 2009, the Orlando Health Nursing Endowed Fund supports three imperatives at the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing: an annual lecture with topics addressing nursing trends; scholarships for students enrolled in the research focused Honors in the Major program; and the Orlando Health Distinguished Professor in Nursing, held by �鶹ԭ�� professor Mary Lou Sole, who is an internationally recognized acute and critical care researcher and a fellow in both the American Academy of Nursing and the American College of Critical Care Medicine.

First Endowed Chair in Nursing Education Appointed

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 22:55:24 +0000

Diane Wink, a professor and coordinator of the Nurse Educator M.S.N. program, has been appointed the Hugh F. and Jeannette G. McKean Endowed Chair in Nursing at the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing. With this prestigious endowment, Wink will further her work as a nationally recognized nurse educator and scholar, with expertise in service-learning and creative clinical teaching methods in both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Wink was recognized at an evening reception Friday, Aug. 24, on the �鶹ԭ�� campus, followed by a �鶹ԭ�� Theatre performance.

“Endowed chairs are essential to a university as it seeks to enhance the quality of teaching, research and service,” said �鶹ԭ�� President John C. Hitt. “We are fortunate to have a highly valued and respected professor of national stature to occupy this exciting new endowed chair at �鶹ԭ��.”

The shortage of nurses in the U.S. is no secret. Lesser known is the shortage of nursing faculty. Each year, several thousand qualified applicants are turned away nationwide, in large part, because nursing schools don’t have enough professors. To help address this issue and to encourage nursing students to consider academic careers, the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation awarded the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing $760,000 to fund this endowed chair and scholarships for students who aim to become nurse educators.

Jean D’Meza Leuner, professor and dean of the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing, said it’s a great honor and a privilege to congratulate Wink on her appointment as the Hugh F. and Jeannette G. McKean Endowed Chair in Nursing. Several national and international nurse leaders submitted letters in support of Wink’s nomination for the endowed chair. Of note are the comments from the Editor-in Chief for the journal, Nurse Educator.

Suzanne P. Smith wrote, “Dr. Wink has made many significant contributions to the quality of nursing education on a national level and in her writing, she clearly transmits the importance of always remembering the core of our work as teachers of nursing is helping students and nurses provide up to date, high quality, evidence-based nursing care. Dr. Diane Wink exemplifies excellence in teaching and scholarship. She is an inspiring role model for faculty and students.”

Harold A. Ward, III, president of the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation, was unable to attend the reception but sent his congratulations in an email. He wrote, “Dr. and Mrs. McKean were strong supporters of health care for our community, and I know they would be pleased.” Dean Leuner presented Richard Strauss, executive vice president and trustee of the foundation, with a certificate of appreciation.

Wink thanked the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation, her students, family and �鶹ԭ�� for their support in awarding her the endowment. “I look forward to collaborating with our nursing faculty and students to obtain more grant funding to support the development of more nurse educators and increasing the national presence of �鶹ԭ�� in organizations committed to the preparation of nurse educators.”

Dean Leuner shared a few of her major accomplishments, “Dr. Wink was a pivotal architect for our Community Based Nursing Education Curriculum, a signature aspect to our program today. She helped develop the initial Nurse Educator Certificate at �鶹ԭ�� and she has coordinated the Family and Adult Nurse Practitioner tracks and now the Nurse Educator track in the graduate program at �鶹ԭ��.”

Wink has been a faculty member in the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing since 1987 and was awarded tenure in 1995. She holds a B.S. in nursing from Adelphi University, an M.A. in counseling and guidance from Rollins College, an M.S.N. from Villanova University and an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction from �鶹ԭ��. She was also a Kellogg Faculty Fellow at East Carolina University, where she completed post-doctoral study to become a family nurse practitioner. Wink’s own active clinical practice allows her to incorporate examples from real life that enrich the material that students learn from books and papers.

Wink serves on multiple university committees, as well as the editorial boards of three national peer-reviewed nursing education journals. She is an active member of several prestigious nursing organizations, including the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and was inducted as a Fellow of the AANP in 2010. In addition, she was recently invited to participate as co-editor/writer in the revision of NONPF’s major teaching document, Guidelines for Distance Education and Enhanced Technologies in Nurse Practitioner Programs.

“The Genius Foundation’s foresight and passion for helping combat the nursing faculty shortage — both from an immediate need and future need perspective — has been an amazing tribute to the McKeans and an innovative approach to solving a community challenge through philanthropy,” Leuner said.

Wink concluded, “There is a saying that ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ It also takes a village to educate a nurse. I have been able to accomplish a lot in my 39 years as a nurse educator, and hope to accomplish a great deal more. That is possible because of the help, assistance and support to all of us in our village.”

Graduate students can submit their application for the Hugh F. and Jeannette G. McKean Endowed Scholarship online at https://www.nursing.ucf.edu/students/undergraduate-students/college-scholarships/ before 5 p.m. on Oct. 5. Scholarships will be awarded in Spring 2013.

College of Nursing Honors Scholarship Recipients, Donors

Heather Williams — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:29:22 +0000

The College of Nursing recently honored its 2011-2012 student nurse scholarship recipients and their donors at the annual scholarship luncheon. This celebration serves to connect scholarship recipients with the donors who have positively impacted their academic experience.

Dr. Jean Leuner, dean of the College of Nursing, welcomed the donors and spoke about the importance of being able to recruit and retain the best and brightest students who will be the nurse leaders of the future. “Scholarship support is a critical factor that helps our students focus on their studies and the demands of a rigorous nursing education,” Leuner said.

Forty-seven scholarships totaling $65,000 were awarded to students, who average a 3.8 overall GPA, and are actively involved in the community. Chair of the scholarship committee, Dr. Jonathan Decker, impressed upon the audience how well-deserving each recipient is, given the fact that 602 scholarship applications were received this year.

Two Basic BSN students, junior Samuel Foarde and senior Alyssa Ausnehmer, shared their appreciation with the audience. Ausnehmer explained that her scholarships “have also affected me from a personal point of view. I have had the pleasure of meeting many generous and influential people who… have left me with fond feelings and everlasting memories. Through the donors’ kindness and commitment to rewarding hard work, the recipients of these scholarships are able to continue on with their education and pursue their dreams.”

Ausnehmer will be graduating with honors in May.

Foarde said: “Receiving these scholarships reaches far beyond our own thanks, rather the thanks of our future patients and their families.”

One highlight of the luncheon was the unveiling of a commissioned watercolor painting by local artist Dan Tilstra. The artwork hangs in the College of Nursing in honor of the generous scholarship supporters. It features the red clover, a flower recognized for its medicinal effects.

Throughout lunch, scholarship recipients spent time with their donor and received a commemorative photograph. The College of Nursing congratulates each of the student scholarship recipients and sincerely thanks the scholarship donors, without whom this partnership would not be possible.

Accepted nursing students can find a listing of scholarships by visiting the College of Nursing website, at https://www.nursing.ucf.edu/students/undergraduate-students/college-scholarships/ .

For information on making a donation toward a student scholarship please contact Katie Korkosz at 407-823-1600.

Fashion Show Benefits College of Nursing Scholarships

Heather Williams — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:48:01 +0000

The �鶹ԭ��’s College of Nursing hosted its first Fashion Show Fundraiser recently at Bella Winter Park, a women’s clothing and accessory store.

The show was March 15, and 10 percent of the proceeds from purchases made March 15-18 will benefit College of Nursing student scholarships in the 2012-2013 academic year. Every year students who are currently enrolled in one of the College of Nursing BSN, MSN, DNP, or Ph.D. programs are eligible to apply for scholarships.

In 2011-2012, about 35 different scholarships awarded approximately $65,000 to 47 nursing student recipients.

The Fashion Show Fundraiser featured four models: Sigrid Ladores, Anne Norris, Julee Waldrop, and Heather Williams, all of whom are faculty and staff members in the College of Nursing. Each model showed five looks, displaying to the audience the designers that Bella carries. Guests who attended the fashion show included friends and family members of the models and hosts, College of Nursing faculty and staff members, as well as other �鶹ԭ�� constituents and community partners.

Bella Winter Park’s store owner, Susan Johnson, wanted to give back to her community by supporting the College of Nursing student scholarship fund, as well as hosting the event. Johnson said: “I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the College of Nursing. Dr. Leuner (dean of the college) is a shining example of true leadership in a university setting, by engaging the community and bringing awareness to the needs of the nursing students. My mother is a retired nurse and I know the commitment it takes in today’s world to become such a highly skilled medical professional.”

Proceeds from the sales of the evening resulted in more than $600 benefiting College of Nursing student scholarships. Dean Jean Leuner expressed her appreciation to Johnson and the staff at Bella Winter Park for hosting the fundraiser. Dr. Leuner is grateful to everyone for their support of �鶹ԭ�� nursing students, who are the next generation of health care leaders.

Accepted nursing students can find a listing of scholarships by visiting the College of Nursing website at https://www.nursing.ucf.edu/students/undergraduate-students/college-scholarships/ .

For information on making a donation toward a student scholarship please contact Katie Korkosz at 407-823-1600.

�鶹ԭ�� Knightingale Society Announces New Endowed Scholarship

Zack Shields — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:26:15 +0000

On November 8, the �鶹ԭ��’s College of Nursing announced the establishment of the Knightingale Scholars Fund. This endowed fund will provide financial assistance to students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing programs.

The announcement was made at the college’s annual Knightingale Society Reception, held each fall to welcome its newest members. The Knightingale Society is a select group of generous supporters, made up of faculty, staff and community members, all of whom give annual donations of $1,000 or more to the College of Nursing.

“Thanks to the generous support of our members and their annual donations, we are able to endow this scholarship fund for our doctoral students,” said Jean D’Meza Leuner, dean of the College of Nursing. “These students are our future nurse scientists, researchers, and faculty members. Financial assistance for these students through the university is limited, so private support through generous supporters is crucial to their success.”

The scholarship will be available in the fall semester and students can apply online through the �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing website.

“This new scholarship will be tremendously beneficial to assist doctoral students obtain their educational and professional goals,” said Susan Quelly, a �鶹ԭ�� College of Nursing Ph.D. student.

Founded in 2007, the society was established by the dean to recognize the college’s generous supporters. The organization was named in honor of Florence Nightingale, who is revered as the “mother of modern medicine.” Nightingale focused on caring for the person who is ill rather than the illness; and she reformed nursing education among other things. D’Meza Leuner explained, “Since the university mascot is the Knight – I thought it most fitting for nursing at �鶹ԭ�� to be linked to her name with a ‘K.’”

Upon acceptance into the society, members receive a Knightingale nursing pin, a time honored tradition in nursing. The earliest ancestor of the pin dates back to the Maltese Cross, adopted by crusaders and worn on their tunics as a symbol of service. Over the centuries, variations of the crusader’s symbol were modified and became family coats of arms. By the Renaissance, guilds adopted coats of arms symbolizing masterful service to the community.

The most recent ancestor of the pin is the hospital badge of 100 years ago. It was given by the hospital’s school of nursing to identify their students as nurses educated to serve the health needs of society. It also aided in differentiating one nursing program from another. The tradition of pinning new nurse graduates continues in the form of a Professional Recognition Ceremony twice a year at �鶹ԭ��.

For more information on the Knightingale Society, please contact Katie Korkosz, development officer for the College of Nursing, at 407-823-1600.

Genius Nurses

Susan White — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:59:23 +0000

The late Hugh and Jeannette McKean were committed to enriching the lives of Central Floridians in enduring ways. The Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation, named in honor of Jeannette McKean’s mother, continues their charitable work.

The Hugh and Jeannette McKean Endowed Chair in Nursing has been established to support a national nursing leader committed to mentoring future nursing educators; and the Hugh and Jeannette McKean Endowed Scholarship is now available to nursing students who wish to become teachers.

Says Jean D’Meza Leuner, dean and professor of the College of Nursing, “The Genius Foundation’s foresight and passion for helping combat the nursing shortage has been an amazing tribute to the McKeans and an innovative approach to solving a community challenge through philanthropy.”