Mercy nursing has been a strong influence in our lives, and it’s our honor to invest in the continued and future success of Mount Mercy nurses.
Leadership
Mary Tarbox ’74, professor of nursing and inaugural dean, explains that it had long been Mount Mercy’s goal to establish a school or college of nursing. “Doing so is part of becoming a mature university,” she emphasizes.
Recent changes to the nursing program, including the addition of two new emphasis areas within the MSN program—forensic nursing and nursing informatics—and the DNP program were all part of a bigger plan.
“It’s amazing to have been able to oversee this idea for so many years, and now be able to make it happen,” says Sharon Guthrie, associate professor of nursing and director of graduate nursing programs.
As a nurse practitioner herself, Guthrie helped create the organizational structure needed to establish the Martin-Herold College of Nursing & Health.
Impact
The College will serve as a valuable umbrella for Mount Mercy’s renowned undergraduate and graduate nursing and health care programs—facilitating increased offerings and enrollment, gaining prestige among peers, providing additional resources, and addressing crucial shortages in health care.
Faculty anticipate that students will feel a closer relationship with and connection to the nursing program, being able to identify with their own named college.
“It sets us apart and further distinguishes us in terms of reputation and ability," said Guthrie. "As we continue to grow, this will bring in more opportunities for funding, whether it’s through gifts or grants.”
By naming the college after the Herolds, Mount Mercy pays tribute to the legacy that Ron and Paula have created.
“They were —and are—the trailblazers,” Tarbox says.
It sets us apart and further distinguishes us in terms of reputation and ability. As we continue to grow, this will bring in more opportunities for funding, whether it’s through gifts or grants
Anne Dugger '18 MAEd
Teacher Leadership, English as a Second Language
Anne uses her MAEd knowledge to impact the lives of immigrants.
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