News
School of Nursing Turns 70
Seventy years ago, Roberts Wesleyan University founded its School of Nursing with a pioneering class of five students. Since 1954, hundreds of dedicated faculty members have educated over 3245 nurses across traditional undergraduate, RN-BS, and graduate programs. This May, the university will proudly graduate 24 exceptional Nursing students in the Traditional Undergraduate Nursing Program,13 RN-BS students, and 10 Masters and Post-Masters students, continuing the school’s legacy of excellence.
First graduating class as juniors.
“This milestone is a time to reflect on the profound impact the School of Nursing has had on the healthcare profession over the past seven decades,” said Dean of the School of Nursing Annemarie Dowling-Castonovo. “A Roberts’ nurse embodies the values of compassionate care, clinical expertise, and a commitment to their patients in the community.
Celebrating 70 Years of Nursing Education
Many leaders have shaped this program over the years with their steadfast dedication and tireless efforts. A few notable leaders are:
Margaret Rambo served as a professor and then the Dean of Nursing from 1945 to 1955. She was instrumental in preparing the program for registration with New York State in the mid-1950s.
Dorothy McEwen Whittingham ‘44, chaired the Division of Nursing for more than 32 years. She was a dedicated leader who encouraged and inspired countless students to pursue careers in nursing and nursing education. She was recognized in 1986 as the Alumn of the Year.
Carol Kenyon was the Chair of the Nursing Department from 1987 to 2001. She was a forward-thinking leader who was instrumental in starting the non-traditional ModRN (RN to BS) program.
Susanne Mohnkern ‘77 (Nursing) held several leadership positions from 1982 to 2024, including Director of Traditional Undergraduate Nursing, Chairperson of the Division of Nursing during which time the graduate programs were started, and most recently, Interim Dean of the School of Nursing. She received the Barbara S. Muller Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence in 1986 and 1992.
Cheryl Crotser held many positions in the School of Nursing since joining Roberts in 2007 and was the Dean and Graduate Program Director of the School of Nursing from 2015 to 2023. Cheryl was part of the Crothers Science and Nursing Center's new building planning and launch in 2015. She said, “Our simulation labs are equipped with lifelike patient simulators, as well as hospital and office equipment, to give students real-life experiences in a safe learning environment.” She was also instrumental in launching the Family Nurse Practitioner M.S. program in 2022. This program has helped address the growing demand for nurse practitioners and to meet the healthcare needs of our community and beyond. In 2019 she received the Barbara S. Muller Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence.
A Snapshot of Nursing Students Over the Years
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:10
1957
1977
Around 1978
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987 Reunion Candids
1989
1992
1996
1999
2001
2006
2010
2014
2016
2017
2018
“My time at Roberts was phenomenal. In doing the four-year Nursing program, which is very challenging- I was given so much support to make it through the program and succeed in graduating with my RN degree. The bachelor’s program at Roberts set the foundations for me to know how to delegate to team members, lead by example, give care based on evidence-based research, and always prioritize the patient. My favorite part of the program was the hands-on portion of learning, whether that was in clinical sites of health care settings giving real care to patients or in the SIM lab learning on manikins or my peers. These experiences gave me the confidence to be ready to jump into the nursing field competently and give excellent care to patients.
I am so thankful to Roberts for giving me the foundation of education I needed to excel as a nurse today. I began my career at Unity Hospital as a labor and delivery nurse and have grown in my leadership skills in being a clinical resource nurse and presently, the nurse manager of the Family Birth Place.” – Meredith Bell Norris, RN-C, BSN, Class of 2018
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Current Students Reflect on Their Experiences at Roberts
“My Roberts education has done so much for me through learning beyond just academics. I have learned about a servant's heart and my academic and personal experiences at Roberts have expanded my concept of empathy.”
- Chloe Shaffer ‘25 (Nursing)
“My favorite part of studying Nursing at Roberts is the community and family you make within your class.”
“My advice to a high school student considering Roberts is to look at Roberts for all that it is. It’s a small college with tons of personality!”
- Emily Mergler ‘25 (Nursing)
70th Anniversary Celebration
Roberts Wesleyan University will honor its 70 years of nursing education excellence throughout 2024, including an event and reunions during the university’s homecoming week. Roberts Nursing alumni and friends are invited to be a part of this milestone celebration. Homecoming information.