Mary E. Burman, Professor of Nursing, was named Dean of the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing (SON) in 2007. After receiving her doctoral degree in nursing science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Burman joined the faculty of the SON in 1992. She brought a wealth of administrative experience to her new position, having served as coordinator of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program from 1998-2006, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the College of Health Sciences from 2001-July 2007, and acting dean of the college for the 2006 fall semester.
In 2019, Burman stepped out of the dean position, having served UW's College of Health
Sciences and the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing for over 26 years in a variety of
roles. In addition to the leadership roles noted previously, in addition to serving
as Dean of the Fay W. Whithney School of Nursing, she concurrently filled the role
of Director of the Division of Social Work for a season.
Burman, reflecting on her deanship in Nursing, said.
"The opportunity to be dean allowed me to do what I set out to do. Working in collaboration with a great faculty and staff, we were able to add new programs (the BRAND accelerated BSN option and the DNP program) and to enhance existing programs (new leadership curricula in the MS program). Perhaps one of my most satisfying experiences was to be involved in the development of ReNEW, the statewide BSN curriculum that has been adopted by all seven of Wyoming’s community colleges and UW. What a joy to work with nurse educators, nurses and nurse leaders from Wyoming community college, hospitals and other health care organizations!
Burman was instrumental in founding Laramie's Downtown Clinic, serves on the board of directors, and was one of the facility's volunteer family nurse practitioners. She has written scores of articles focusing principally on chronic illness and advanced practice nursing published in national journals such as the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner, Public Health Nursing, and the Journal of Nursing Education. She serves on the editorial boards of several publications and was named one of only 20 Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows for 2007-2010, a prestigious advanced leadership program for nurses in senior executive roles aspiring to lead and shape the future of the US health care system.
OUTSTANDING CAREER AWARD: MARY BURMAN
In 2019, Burman was honored with the College of Health Sciences Outstanding Career Award. Some of Burman's achievements noted in the presentation include receiving over 35 research and teaching grants amounting to more than $2,250,000; publishing over 50 per-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and white papers; national recognition by nursing through her selection as a Carnegie Scholar, a fellow in the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurses Fellows program, a fellow in the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing; Wyoming recognition through having been named a Wyoming Trailblazer by the Wyoming Women’s Foundation, a participant in Leadership Wyoming, and the UW in Scotland Tate Scholar.
OTHER IMPRESSIVE AWARDS INCLUDE:
the Daniel S. Klein Spirit of Volunteerism Award
the Wyoming Nurses Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award
the March of Dimes’ Distinguished Nurse Award
the American Association of College in Nursing’s Advocate of the Year Award
COMMITMENT TO SERVICE
"Perhaps even more impressive than Dr. Burman’s scholarship and leadership is her unmatched commitment to service," read Nancy McGee (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner faculty at UW Nursing) at the ceremony. "Her impact on nursing and health care is extraordinary. Dean Burman was a co-founder of the Downtown Clinic and continues to serve on the Board of Directors as Vice President. One of her peers notes: 'Her commitment to the health of vulnerable populations in unrelenting and she is a staunch advocate for Wyoming families and nursing.'"
"Thank you, Dean Burman," continued McGee, "for your extraordinary service to students, staff, faculty, the state of Wyoming, region and national healthcare community. You are most deserving of this award!"
For more information about Dr. Burman, please visit her faculty page on our Web site by clicking the following link: Burman - more information
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Page updated 8/9/2019
