Nursing Dean Receives Award

from Alma Mater for

Significant Contributions

Contact: Pam Roe
S218 School of Nursing
(573) 884-2690

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June 13, 2005

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Rosemary T. Porter, Dean of the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri-Columbia, received the Myrtle K. Aydelotte Dean's Award from the University of Iowa 's College of Nursing for making a significant contribution to the nursing profession as a nurse educator this past weekend.

“This award, named for Myrtle Aydelotte, the first dean of the College of Nursing , recognizes those individuals who provide that solid foundation, enduring influence and shining hope for the future of nursing,” said Melanie C. Dreher, Dean of the University of Iowa 's College of Nursing .

Just as Aydelotte set the course for nursing in Iowa in the late 40s and early 50s, Porter is pushing the Sinclair School of Nursing to new heights in research, education and service. Three years ago the school surged from 40 th to 17 th place in National Institutes of Health research grant funding and then to 15 th place for the last two years.

“Rose's contribution to the nursing profession is most notably her work to enhance the research capacity of the MU Sinclair School of Nursing,” Dreher said.

Porter received her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Iowa in 1971 and her master's in 1973.

“I was given the opportunity to teach at the College as a BSN prepared faculty member teaching clinical nursing and I loved it,” Porter said. “I realized I needed my master's degree and was prepared to leave for a program in Colorado when I met my future husband, Michael.”

So instead of leaving, she applied for late admission into the master's program and was accepted into the administration program. From this program, the overarching concept that stayed with Porter throughout her career was that all decisions made within a hospital should always be focused on improving the quality of care for patients.

Porter and her husband left Iowa for Texas and then Columbia , Mo. At the University of Missouri-Columbia she completed her PhD in Higher and Adult Education, served as associate dean in nursing and as current dean for the past five years.

Porter is widely known for her upside-down organizational chart – the students are on top. In fact, the University president is at the bottom of the chart because he and other administrators are here to support the students, she said.

“The University of Iowa taught me more than 30 years ago that in health care the patient should be the center of all decisions. As dean, I make students the center of all decisions,” Porter said. “It is truly an honor for me to receive the Myrtle K. Aydelotte Dean's Award. The University of Iowa 's College of nursing helped me to find my way in the nursing profession. I would not be where I am today were it not for the dedication and leadership of the faculty I encountered there. You've made a great difference in my life.”

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