Nursing celebrates 50+ years of PhD program

When you reach a milestone, it’s time to celebrate.

And that’s what roughly 200 members of the Texas Woman’s University family did from March 4-6 in Houston to mark the 50th anniversary of the College of Nursing’s PhD program.

“The Golden Anniversary Gala Weekend in celebration of 50 years of excellence and innovation in our PhD in Nursing Science Program was a massive undertaking only feasible with support of multiple departments within the university, our faculty and staff, and generous sponsors,” said College of Nursing Dean Rosalie Mainous. “It was great to see both current and former faculty and deans connect with our outstanding graduates from the last 50 years.”

The celebration featured activities strung together over three days: a Friday night welcome reception; campus tours, a tea reception with Chancellor Carine M. Feyten and a gala on Saturday; and a Sunday breakfast.

Among the guests at the Saturday night gala was Deborah Trautman, PhD, president and chief executive officer of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), who delivered a presentation on the impact nursing education has made on the health of the country.

Alumni, friends, sponsors and others from around the country joined faculty and staff from the university’s three campuses for the events. TWU’s College of Nursing boasts more than 700 nursing science PhD alumni from Texas, the United States and abroad. And TWU accounts for about 20 percent of all nursing PhDs conferred by Texas public, four-year universities.

The event drew praise from many attendees, including Sandra Cesario, who directs TWU’s nursing science PhD program in Houston. “There were so many pictures, selfies, group shots … I had a hard time limiting this post to 50 photos!” Cesario wrote in a social media post.

Page last updated 4:13 PM, March 15, 2022