Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing


female alumna in nursing cap and gown as graduate opposed to present day

Joan Moon 2019 Distinguished Alumna

Joan L. Moon, EdD, CNM, 1979 BSN alumna and 1987 MS alumna, was named 2019 Distinguished Alumna at the 2019 Homecoming week festivities at the University of Wyoming. Joan received the award for her excellence in leadership, education, and innovation throughout her nursing career. [Read more by clicking the title.]


picture of Gaurdia Banister with quote on diversity for "Charged" broadcast

Banister featured on "Charged" Broadcast through

Gaurdia Banister featured on "Charged" broadcast on Stories from the Women Leading Health Care. The broadcast is through Massachusetts General. Banister discusses why we need more diversity in nursing. Enjoy!


picture of Susan Polston Mills

2018 Distinguished Alumna Susan Polston Mills

Susan Polston Mills has been named 2018 Distinguished Alumna for her outstanding contributions to the nursing profession and her excellence in administration. Mills is currently [2018] Senior Vice-President of Quality Improvement with Superior HealthPlans of Texas. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


2017 Distinguished Alumna Johnna French

2017 Distinguished Alumna Johnna French

French was recommended for this award based on her work in and passion for Public Health Nursing and her outstanding involvement and contributions to the community. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


UWYO Nursing Alumni Mary Kay Goetter, MS 2004

2005 Distinguished Alumna Mary Kay Goetter continues to have an amazing career

Mary Kay Goetter, 2004 MS Program alumna from the University of Wyoming and 2005 UW Nursing Distinguished Alumna, didn't find her career culminating with the position as executive director for the Wyoming State Board of Nursing. Anything but! Goetter continued on to two concurrent, equally demanding positions as executive director of the Maryland State Board of Nursing and as nurse scientist assigned to the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Leissa Roberts 2016 Distinguished Alumna

Leissa Roberts named 2016 Distinguished Alumna

Leissa A. Roberts, DNP, FACNM, has been named the 2016 Distinguished Alumna for the University of Wyoming Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing. She is currently Associate Dean of Faculty Practice for the University of Utah College of Nursing. Her nominators recommended her for the award based on contributions to the nursing profession, including excellence in clinical practice, education, administration and research; outstanding contributions to the community; and leadership in professional organizations. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


UW Alumna Mary Behrens wins 2015 WNA Lifetime Achievement Award

UW Alumna Mary Behrens wins 2015 WNA Lifetime Achievement Award

On September 25, 2015, the Wyoming Nurses Association (WNA) presented their Lifetime Achievement Award to Mary Behrens of Casper. Behrens is a graduate of the UW School of Nursing's MS Family Nurse Practitioner Program (1998), and currently sits on the school's development board, "Friends of the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Josh Hamilton, 2015 Distinguished Alumnus

Josh Hamilton named 2015 Distinguished Alumnus

Josh Hamilton, 2003 graduate of the Family Nurse Practitioner program, is now Dean of the Engelstad School of Health Sciences at the College of Southern Nevada. He is also president and chief clinical officer of The Hamilton Group, LLC, an innovative behavioral health center in Los Vegas. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Picture of Marlene Ethier in front of bookcases in her office.

Marlene Ethier named 2014 NURSING Distinguished Alumna

Marlene Ethier is the 2014 Distinguished Alumna for the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the University of Wyoming. The school honored Ethier at the school's convocation ceremony in spring of 2014 for her outstanding contributions to the nursing profession through excellence in education and administration. Ethier was also the keynote speaker for the school's Convocation Ceremony. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Rachel Dowd, 2014 UW Nursing Alumni, Interviewed by UW

Rachel Dowd, 2014 UW Nursing Alumna, Interviewed by UW

UW interviews Rachel Dowd about her choice of UW for nursing education, about opportunities at UW outside of the classroom, and about her leadership in the International Justice Mission. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Picture of Gaurdia Banister in front of Massachusetts General Hospital

Gaurdia Banister named 2014 UW Distinguished Alumna

Banister not only was named our school of nursing's Distinguished Alumna for 2008, but was named the University of Wyoming Distinguished Alumna for 2014. Read more about this prestigious award and Banister's qualifications for meriting the honor! [Read more by clicking on the title.]


UW Nursing Alumna Marcia Male: Prepared for Adventure in Alaska

UW Nursing Alumna Marcia Male: Prepared for Adventure in Alaska

Marcia Male's background educationally includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree 37 years ago (1977), a Master of Science in Nursing Education (2014), and somewhere in between, a Master's Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. How did that background prepare her for Alaskan Public Health? [Read more by clicking on the title.]


UW Nursing Alumnus Ed Henry: diversity at the VA

UW Nursing Alumnus Ed Henry: diversity at the VA

Ed Henry of Afton, Wyoming sees his work filled with diversity at the Department of Veterans Affairs. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


2009 MS FNP Graduate Holly Friesen

2009 MS FNP Graduate Holly Friesen talks about her work in the Ukraine

Holly Friesen works in the Ukraine, living in Odessa. "It gives me joy to work in countries that do not have [the same] advantages and access to healthcare [as in the US]. Providing even small things can make such a huge impact on their lives." [Read more by clicking on the title.]


2010 Alumna Ashley Lair discusses nursing work in Honduras

Ashley Lair discusses diversity of experience in Honduras

Ashley Lair discusses immersion in the Honduran culture as a nurse. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


UWyo Magazine spotlights BRAND alumnus Alex Milberger

UWyo Magazine spotlights BRAND alumnus Alex Milberger

Alex Milberger tells UWyo Magazine why nursing is a good fit, and how the BRAND accelerated program made the career possible for him. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Maj. Samuel Millar teaching aeromedical evacuation at USAF School of Aerospace Medicine

Maj. Samuel Millar teaching aeromedical evacuation at USAF School of Aerospace Medicine

Up until now, 2002 alumnus Maj. Samuel Millar has managed aeromedical (AE) evacuation for the Pacific theater in the USAF. He now is AE instructor flight nurse at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Amy Sorensen, RN, BSN

Amy Sorensen, RN, BSN

Recent UW Nursing graduate and Wyoming Medical Center nurse Amy Sorensen (BSN '12) earned special press over a safe landing for the pilot of a united Airlines jet. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Leslie Rozier, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Leslie Rozier, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Leslie Hagenstein Rozier (Dougan, BSN '90), honored in Utah for excellence in clinical practice, presents research on high-altitude acclimatization... [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Distinguished Alumna for 2013 Named: Karleen Goerke (BSN, '86)

Distinguished Alumna for 2013 Named: Karleen Goerke (BSN, '86)

Karleen B. (Christian) Goerke, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer at Swedish Medical Center in Littleton, CO / [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Picture of Cherie Lowell

Cherie Lowell, 2012 Distinguished Alumna

Cherie Lowell (BSN ’00) has been named the 2012 Distinguished Alumna for the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the University of Wyoming. Lowell was honored for her outstanding contributions to the nursing profession through her excellence in administration at the school's convocation ceremony on May 5, 2012 in the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall. Lowell was also keynote speaker for the event. [Click on Lowell's name in the title for more information.]


Marcia Dale, EdD, RN, FAAN

Marcia Dale, EdD, RN, FAAN

In memory of former dean, Marcia Dale. March 4, 1938 - August 18, 2012 / [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Gaurdia E. Banister, RN, PhD (BSN '80)

Gaurdia E. Banister, RN, PhD (BSN '80)

Banister is the recipient of the American Nurses Association "Mary Mahoney Award" for advancing equal opportunities in nursing for minorities. [Read more by clicking on the title.]


Picture of Brigid Mulloy working as a midwife with a mother and her baby in Hawaii

Brigid Mulloy named 2011 Distinguished Alumna

Brigid Mulloy, RN, CNM (BSN ’79), is the 2011 Distinguished Alumna for the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the University of Wyoming. Mulloy, a Certified Nurse-Midwife in Hawaii, is honored for her excellence in clinical practice as a Certified Nurse-Midwife and for her outstanding community contributions. [Click on Mulloy's name in the title for the whole article.]


Jennifer R. Castaldo, MS, RN (BSN '97)

Jennifer R. Castaldo, MS, RN (BSN '97)

Castaldo is the Vice President of Service Excellence at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Van Nuys, California. [Read about Castaldo by clicking in her name in the title.]


Picture of Pamela Lewis-O'Connor

Pamela Lewis-O'Connor named 2010 Distinguished Alumna

Pamela Groshart O'Gonnor, BSN, MHS, CIC, was named 2010 Distinguished Alumna. She has filled a huge role as project director of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana Mountain States Regional Medical Program; She was the public education director of the Idaho division of the American Cancer Society. And before retiring, she spent 20 years working as an infection control nurse for the Veteran's Administration. [Read more about O'Connor by clicking into the title of this article.]


Picture of Major Samuel Millar in full uniform in front of the American flag

Sam Millar ('02), 2009 Distinguished Alumnus

The Distinguished Alumni award for 2009 from the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing was awarded to Capt. [Major as of 2014] Samuel Millar of the United States Air Force during Nursing Convocation ceremonies held in 2009. Capt. Millar graduated from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in 2002. He received his Master's of Science in Health Sciences from Touro University International, Los Alamitos, Summa Cum Laude in 2005. He is presently Chief of the 18th Operations Group Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. [Read more by clicking Millar's name in the title.]


picture of Gaurdia Banister standing in front of wall photos

Gaurdia Banister named 2008 Nursing Distinguished Alumna

The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing is proud to award the title of Distinguished Alumna 2008 to Gaurdia E. Banister based on her exceptional contributions to the nursing profession in the areas of administration and nursing practice. [Read more about this exceptional woman by clicking on her name in the title.]


Picture of Janice Stephens

Janice Stephens named 2007 UW Nursing Distinguished Alumna

Over the years, Dr. Janice Stephens has distinguished herself as a 1988 graduate of our master's program. Because of her interest in nursing education, she continued her own education to earn a doctoral degree at the University of Wyoming in Adult Learning and Technology in 1995. She has given outstanding service in her employment as a health educator, nursing faculty member in ADN and BSN Programs, with guest lecturing and research with MSN students. She served as Dean and Director of two BSN programs... [Read more by clicking in the title.]


Picture of Carol Tafoya receiving Distinguished Alumna award from Dean Pamela Clarke

Carol Tafoya named 2006 UW Nursing Distinguished Alumna

"Even though Carol has been recognized with awards, she remains the most humble person I have ever known," writes the nominator. "She is a wonderful 'giver' but never considers herself worthy of recognition for doing what she considers 'just her job.' If only every nurse practiced with the caring, commitment, and compassion that she does! ..." [Read more about this special individual by clicking on her name in the title.]


Picture of Mary Kay Goetter

Mary Kay Goetter named Distinguished Alumna 2005

"Mary Kay has not only been an excellent student, but she is also passionate about the provision of excellent nursing care. Her willingness to solve problems that exist in the provision of nursing care exceeds the norm. She has made, and will continue to make, outstanding contributions in the field of maternal/child health care."... [Read more about Goetter by clicking the title of this article]


Picture of Terry Dimon

Terry Dimon named 2002 UW Nursing Distinguished Alumna

Terry was visionary and dedicated to the founding of United Medical Center as the first Regional Trauma Center in Wyoming. As Trauma Coordinator she meets monthly with the ambulance company to help improve the quality of care provided. She plays an active role in Safe Kids, Wyoming Trauma Coalition, and the Injury Prevention Team. Countless hours have been spent in fitting car seats for kids. She was the primary author of UMC's bioterrorism plan... [Read more by clicking Terry Dimon in the title]


Picture of Marsha Siegel

Marsha Siegel named 2000 Distinguished Alumna

Siegel is the first Distinguished Alumna who has earned both BSN and MS degrees from UW School of Nursing. She became the Director of Neonatalogy Services at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, served in a number of positions at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Cheyenne, became Acting Supervisor of the Nursing Home Care Unit; named Associate Chief, Nursing Services/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitative Services...and more! [Read further by clicking her name in the title.]


Picture of Susan Ward in her mortarboard cap at graduation.

Susan Elaine Ward named 1999 Distinguished Alumna

Ward is a Certified Health Education Specialist, and received her PhD in 1990 from the University of Virginia. In 1999 Ward was an associate professor and Chair of the Department of Health Studies at Texas Woman's University. She was honored in 1998 with the "Texas Association for Health Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance College Health Professional of the Year." She is co-author of three books and published articles in refereed journals on a variety of topics. Ward receives glowing praise from administrators, nurses, colleagues, and students. [Read on by clicking Ward's name in the title.]


Picture of Anita All

Anita All named 1998 Distinguished Alumna

1986 graduate of the B.S.N. program and 1998 Distinguished Alumni, Anita C. All recently became Professor and Director of the Auburn University/Auburn University Montgomery Joint MSN Program. Dr. All has also been named the Wachovia Endowed Professor. [Read more by clicking on All's name in the title.]


Contact Us

University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307)-766-1121

Find us on Instagram (Link opens a new window)Find us on Facebook (Link opens a new window)Find us on Twitter (Link opens a new window)Find us on LinkedIn (Link opens a new window)Find us on YouTube (Link opens a new window)