Florida State University’s College of Nursing celebrated its 75th anniversary at the third annual Nole Nurse Shining Stars Gala on March 21. The event honored the college’s long history of excellence, recognized outstanding alumni, faculty and community partners and celebrated the impact of Nole Nurses in health care.
“This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate 75 years of nursing excellence,” said Jing Wang, dean of the College of Nursing. “Since our founding, the College of Nursing has grown into a leader in nursing education, research and health care innovation. This gala was an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come, honor those who have shaped our success and look ahead to a future driven by cutting-edge advancements, including artificial intelligence and innovative health care solutions.”
The Nole Nurse Shining Stars Gala highlighted achievements in nursing education, practice, leadership and research.
“As we mark this milestone, we remain committed to preparing the next generation of Nole Nurses to lead with knowledge, compassion and a pioneering spirit,” Wang said.
This year’s honorees included:
Distinguished Graduate Awards
Recognizing exceptional alumni for their contributions to nursing:
- Exemplary Leadership: Maureen LeSerra
- Practitioner: Patricia I. Geddie, Ph.D., APRN, AOCNS, FCNS
- Government and Community Service: Rear Admiral Denise Hinton, MS, RN, FAAN
- Educator: Lucie Bouffard Dlugasch, Ph.D., APRN, FAANP
- Recent Alumni: Chad Massey, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC
DAISY Awards
Celebrating excellence in nursing and nursing education:
- Advancing Health Equity: Laurie Abbott, Ph.D., RN, CNE, DipACLM, PHNA-BC, FAAN
- Extraordinary Nurse Educator: Sam Nguyen, ARNP
- Lifetime Achievement: Jolynn Greenhalgh, DNP, APRN
- Nurse Leader: LeeAnn Barfield, Ph.D., DNP, APRN-BC, CNE, FACHE
- Ethics in Nursing: Lucinda Graven, Ph.D., APRN, FAHA, FAAN
Dean’s Awards
Honoring individuals who have made a lasting impact at the College of Nursing:
- Outstanding Service: Victoria Reeves
- Outstanding Contributions to Nursing: Jorge Gonzalez
- Dean’s 3 T’s Award (Time, Talent, Treasure): Marie Cowart, Ph.D.
- Undergraduate Teaching Excellence: Amanda Winrow, DNP, RN
- Graduate Teaching Excellence: Ali Craig-Rodriguez, DNP, MBA, APRN, FNP-BC, DipACLM
- Research Excellence: Lisa Hightow-Weidman, MD, MPH
The 2025 Nole Nurse Shining Stars Gala was made possible through the generous support of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.
As the College of Nursing commemorates 75 years of excellence, it continues to prepare future generations of compassionate and skilled nurses while advancing health care through innovation, research and service.
For more information on award nominations and upcoming events, visit nursing.fsu.edu.