Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) will have more than 240 students – 68 from the ABSN program, 106 from the MSN and Certificate program, 63 from the DNP program and eight from the PhD program – who will participate in graduation exercises on Sunday, May 14, at 4 p.m. (Watch livestream)

The graduation exercises will be at Duke University Chapel located at 401 Chapel Drive in Durham. A reception will take place at the School of Nursing. The ceremony will be live streamed and recorded.

Marion E. Broome, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and Ruby Wilson Professor of Nursing for DUSON, and vice chancellor for Nursing Affairs for Duke University and associate vice president for Academic Affairs for Nursing for Duke University Health System, will serve as mistress of ceremony. 

School of Nursing DNP graduate Lieutenant Commander Nichole D. Benson, NC, USN, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, CPN, will be the speaker for the graduation ceremony. Benson double majored in Music, Communication and Theatre Arts at Mercer University before she heard the call for nursing. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing degree. Benson immediately joined the United States Navy and worked within the Inpatient Med/Surg Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, PICU and the main operating room.

While serving in the Navy, Benson was deployed to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan as the only pediatric nurse in her unit. In 2014, she was one of four nurses selected for the Navy’s Duty Under Instruction Program, which allowed her to go back to school full time to become a pediatric nurse practitioner and continue on to obtain her doctor of nursing practice degree while remaining on active duty.

Benson will dedicate her speech to her grandmother Theresa Salkey who passed away this past February and who she says was the reason for her becoming a person who can help others and pay it forward.

The student marshals for the ceremony are Regalado Valerio as Flag Bearer, Claire Daros for the ABSN program, Kaitlin Mize for the MSN program and Laura Miller for the DNP program.

Academic regalia are required for Duke Commencement and the School of Nursing Hooding and Recognition Ceremony. The School will have two professional photographers on hand to capture all photos. Ordering instructions will be sent after the ceremony.

We congratulate our students on their hard work and for choosing to transform the future of nursing, to advance health with individuals, families and communities!

Graduates are encouraged to stay connected by joining the Duke University School of Nursing Alumni, Students & Friends LinkedIn Group.