Celebrating the Dedication of the Ruby L. Wilson Center for Nursing Science & Innovation
The newly named center places nurses at the core of transforming healthcare.
On April 9 following the spring meeting of the School’s Nursing Alumni Council, alumni, faculty, staff, and students gathered on the fourth floor of the IPE Building to mark the formal dedication of the Ruby L. Wilson Center for Nursing Science & Innovation.
Also in attendance were family members of Dean Emerita Ruby L. Wilson, EdD’69, MSN, RN, FAAN, whose generous estate gift supported both the center and an international visiting professorship: her niece Shawn Jennings, her nephew-in-law Peter Jennings, her cousin Paula Steele, and her colleague and former caregiver Gwen Waddell-Schultz, MSN, RN, NE-BC, who served as executor of her estate.
“It is a joy to celebrate Ruby’s outstanding career and immeasurable contributions and to honor her philanthropy and accomplishments in elevating nursing science with the naming of this center,” said Dean Michael Relf, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, in his welcome remarks.
Dean Relf recognized that together with contributions by the Board of Visitors and many others to the Research Challenge Fund, Dean Emerita Wilson’s gift represented “a strong commitment for nursing science across generations, a commitment for which our community is deeply grateful.”
Dean Emerita Wilson’s official portrait was moved to the fourth floor along with the official portrait of fellow Dean Emerita Marion Broome, who served as dean from 2014-2021 and passed away last year.
“Like Ruby, Marion was a tireless champion for both nursing education and nursing research, leading the School to become a leader in NIH funding and research,” Dean Relf said. “We hope these portraits will serve as a daily reminder of our community’s transformational impact through nursing science, education, and practice.”
After sharing highlights of Dean Emerita Wilson’s remarkable legacy, Dean Relf formally named the center in her honor, saying it “will serve as a hub for innovative research, fostering advancements in nursing science and practice” and “will facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration to bring together experts from various fields to address complex healthcare challenges.”
In closing, Dean Relf looked to the future, saying, “The incredible impact Ruby made through her visionary leadership and contributions to the nursing profession cannot be measured. We are grateful and honored to build on her legacy as the Center continues to elevate the School as a leader in nursing science, empowering nurses with the latest knowledge and skills to support equitable healthcare and become leaders in the field.”