In 1936, a small group of nursing students reported to St. Joseph’s Hall in Milwaukee for their first day of classes. They didn’t know it, but they were the start of a nursing tradition, one that has continued for 90 years and is primed to last many more.
To commemorate 90 years of impact on our patients, our communities and the profession at-large, we’ve invited important figures from the college’s past to talk about what Marquette Nursing means to them. You may recognize people like Dr. Richard Fehring, who has been associated with the college for over 50 years, and Dr. Christine Shaw, who developed the advanced practice nursing programs that persist to this day. Our people are our strength, and this milestone belongs to them. I’m honored to be just a small link in a chain that stretches back generations.
When I think of the difference-makers that have typified Marquette over the last 90 years, the students of the Marquette EMS unit fit the bill perfectly. These young people, while in training to be nurses, spotted a need in our campus community and organized themselves into Wisconsin’s first student-run EMS unit. Our campus is better off because of their skill and civic mindedness.
You will also read about alumna Jane Woleben Panther, Nurs’ 87, in this newsletter. Panther has made an immense impact for Milwaukee through her work with Kinship Community Food Center in the city’s Riverwest neighborhood. Because of her, people who struggle to engage with or access healthcare are empowered to ask questions and feel supported as they navigate health concerns. . With her consistent presence and by creating sustained relationships, Jane has become an integral part of Kinship’s community.
With faculty, staff, students and alumni like these, I’m confident Marquette Nursing will thrive for the next 90 years. Thank you for being a part of our story. I look forward to the year ahead.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jill Guttormson
Dean, College of Nursing
