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Nursing doctoral program graduates first two

Written by Matthew Reagan

Thursday, 17 January 2008 05:30 PM

The School of Nursing set a landmark for its program this past December. Maxine Adegbola and Gloria Carr became the first to receive doctoral degrees in nursing at the university. After years of dedicated research, countless dissertation presentations and publications, and even extreme commuting, they received their Ph.D.s to become nurse scientists. They began the program together in 2003 as the school’s first doctoral candidates and finished together at December’s graduation ceremony. Although Adegbola began her nursing education in Jamaica and Carr in Memphis, Tenn., both graduates have taken similar paths to reach the UTA program. Both received the Ferne Newman Kyba Fellowship in Nursing, and both were selected as “mentees” by the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations. The two are also no strangers to traveling for their education. Adegbola trekked from Jamaica, where she received her diploma in nursing, to Hunter College in New York for her undergraduate and master’s degrees. Carr attained all of her predoctorate nursing in Memphis but commuted from Tennessee to Texas several days a week throughout her degree program here. While the university’s School of Nursing is among the largest in the nation, according to the school’s Web site, Carr and Adegbola were the first doctorate program participants and graduates. Associate Dean Mary Lou Bond played a key role in beginning the program and seeing the two graduates through their work and dissertations. “We designed the program to develop leaders ready to improve health care for all vulnerable populations,” she said. “Drs. Adegbola and Carr will provide that leadership.” Nursing associate dean Jennifer Gray said the two relied on their spirituality to see themselves through the time spent and hardships overcome to achieve their degrees. “Drs. Adegbola and Carr exemplify nurses who committed themselves to earning a Ph.D. and made numerous sacrifices along the way to the goal,” she said in an e-mail. “As nurses and African-American women, they are an inspiration to nurses, and especially to minority nurses, that higher education is a desirable goal.” The graduates said they enjoyed their time at the university and feel they were part of a family in the school. “The faculty at the university made us feel collegial,” Carr said. “Now I have a Texas family.” Adegbola said she was pleased to graduate in the inaugural class. “Our professors offered us so many opportunities,” she said. “It was very special to me to be a part of the first class.” The program has 32 students on pace to receive their Ph.D.s in the near future. Carr is a nursing professor at the University of Memphis, and Adegbola teaches in the nursing field at El Centro College in Dallas. Views: 1800 | E-mail   Be first to comment this article Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com All right reserved

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 12 February 2008 03:25 PM )

 

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