Commencement 2020
Thursday, May 14, 2020, 1 p.m. EDT
2020 Graduates, with their families and friends, celebrated their graduation here via Livestream. Graduates and guests are also invited to attend the May 2021 University-wide Bicentennial Commencement on the National Mall.
GW Nursing Graduation CeremonyTune in to watch our virtual graduation celebration.
Posted by The George Washington University School of Nursing on Thursday, May 14, 2020
Letter from Dean Jeffries
Dear Graduates,
First, congratulations!
Whether today marks your first graduation, your second, or even your third, I urge you to stop and appreciate all that you have done to reach this moment. While we had planned to celebrate this milestone and your significant accomplishments in the GW Smith Center today, we must instead be diligent in our commitment to community health and maintain social distance. But although we’re apart today, we are together in spirit and purpose. With the onset of this global pandemic, I am reminded daily of the great impact nurses and health care providers have on society and it makes me proud. While circumstances are not ideal, I hope that today still brings great joy for you, your family and friends, as we celebrate your graduation virtually.
As we mark this day, I do hope that you will reflect on your time at GW Nursing. You spent countless hours absorbing new knowledge and skills, questioning and debating ideas, and learning from your faculty and fellow students. At a time where competent and compassionate healthcare providers are needed more than ever, we are honored to have played such an important role in preparing you for the next stage of your nursing career.
In the coming days and weeks, some of you will be starting at the bedside; others will move into advanced practice nursing, academe or leadership roles. Regardless of the position title or setting, our graduates are known to represent the best of the profession. In recognition of some of these outstanding members of our community, we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of GW Nursing this year by honoring 10 alumni with the Inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award. It was important to us to acknowledge your colleagues whose professional accomplishments have significantly contributed to the advancement of nurses and nursing. I know that each of you will continue to uphold this tradition of excellence.
The faculty and staff at the George Washington University School of Nursing remain proud of you, your accomplishments thus far, as well as your promise for future impact. We wish you only the best, and hope to hear from you soon and often.
Sincerely,
Pam Jeffries
Celebration Program
Please download the program PDF to view digitally and follow along with the ceremony, or print at home.
If you would like a program PDF formatted for professional printing, please email us at [email protected] for the file and further instructions.
Join us in recognizing our 2020 graduates as we celebrate
GW Nursing's 10th anniversary and the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife
153
B.S.N. candidates
202
M.S.N. candidates
30
D.N.P. candidates
18
Post-grad Certificate recipients
Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Suzanne Miyamoto
Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Chief Executive Officer, American Academy of Nursing (AAN)
With nearly two decades of policy, advocacy, and leadership experience, Dr. Suzanne Miyamoto directs the operations of AAN to achieve its mission, vision, and strategic plan. Prior to her position at the Academy, Dr. Miyamoto served as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Chief Policy Officer where she supported the membership as a policy analyst, advocate, and strategist at the federal level. She simultaneously led the Nursing Community Coalition - the largest national nursing coalition from 2008-2018. During this time, Dr. Miyamoto worked on such critical legislation as the Higher Education Reauthorization Act in 2008, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, the Affordable Care Act in 2010, and most recently the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act in 2018.
Remarks From The Dean
Pamela Jeffries
Ph.D., RN, FAAN, ANEF, FSSH
Dean, GW Nursing
Pamela Jeffries, professor and dean of the George Washington University School of Nursing, is internationally known for her research and work in nursing and health care education. Throughout the academic community, she is well regarded for her scholarly contributions to the development of innovative teaching strategies, experiential learning techniques, new pedagogies and the delivery of content using technology. Dean Jeffries is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and the Academy of Nursing Education. She also serves on the board of the American Academy of Nursing and is a member of the National Academies of Sciences’ Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education.
Student Speaker
Glenda Tisdale
D.N.P. ‘19, M.S.N. '11, RN
Supervisor/Lead, Home Telehealth Program, Richmond Veterans Administration
Dr. Glenda Tisdale completed her D.N.P. studies in August 2019 at GW Nursing. She currently serves as the supervisor and lead for the home telehealth program at the Richmond Veterans Administration. She also serves as the Home telehealth liaison for the Richmond VA’s national telehealth program, VISN 6, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and joint commission. She holds her Associate's Degree in Nursing, a B.S.N. from Old Dominion, as well as an M.S.N. and D.N.P. from The George Washington University. Dr. Tisdale has consistently been a patient advocate, an innovative thinker, and an avid seeker of greater knowledge. She has an extensive nursing background with concentrations in adult med/surg, mental health, orthopedics, oncology, and health informatics.
Awards Presentation
Pamela Slaven-Lee
D.N.P., FNP-C, CHSE, FAANP
Sr. Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Clinical Associate Professor
Pamela Slaven-Lee is a clinical associate professor and senior associate dean for academic affairs. Prior to GW, Dr. Slaven-Lee held faculty appointments at Georgetown University and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. She is a Sigma Thera Tau Leadership Academy scholar. Her principal areas of practice include leadership, administration, family practice, internal medicine, pathology, gastroenterology, hepatology and simulation-based learning. Dr. Slaven-Lee is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE), providing curricular support, leadership, and coordination of on-campus simulation-based learning events. She is licensed in Washington, D.C., and Virginia as a family nurse practitioner.
National Anthem Singer
Marisa White
B.S.N., Cohort 20
Marisa is a nursing student from the Washington, D.C. area and is in cohort 20. She would like to congratulate the students who have completed the program and her fellow cohort 20 classmates who will be completing their program in the summer.
Awards and Special Recognition
D.N.P. Scholarly Project Award
The Outstanding Student Award for D.N.P. Scholarly Project recognizes the project of a GW Nursing D.N.P. student with the potential to directly or indirectly influence outcomes related to health care, practice or policy. The recipient of this award exemplifies leadership in nursing practice and demonstrates scholarly rigor, innovation and contribution to the profession.
Recipient:
LaKeshia L. Evans
Nominated by Dr. Joyce Pulcini
Community Service Award
The Outstanding Student Award in Community Service recognizes a GW Nursing student that has demonstrated exemplary academic and clinical performance, commitment to community service and has promoted teamwork and collaboration among their peers.
Recipient:
Karen (Kat) Hamblin
Nominated by Dr. Cathi Cox
Nurse Midwifery Award
Through a partnership with Shenandoah University, GW Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing in Nurse Midwifery. Each year, GW Nursing recognizes one student in the Nurse Midwifery program that has made outstanding contributions to the classroom and demonstrated excellence during their time at GW Nursing and Shenandoah University.
Successful candidates have demonstrated commitment to improving patient and family health, are viewed by their colleagues as role models, and embody the values and mission of GW Nursing.
Recipient:
Lilian Stolzfus
Nominated by Dr. Mayri Leslie
The Excellence in Clinical Practice Awards recognize APRN students who have made outstanding contributions to the classroom and demonstrated clinical excellence during their time at GW Nursing. Successful candidates have demonstrated commitment to improving patient and family health, are viewed by their colleagues as role models, and embody the values and mission of GW Nursing.
Clinical Excellence for Family Nurse Practioner Award
Recipient:
Danielle Viola Seier
Nominated by Dr. Kathy Leoffler
Clinical Excellence for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Award
Recipient:
Elizabeth Redmond Bailey
Nominated by Dr. Linda Briggs
Clinical Excellence for Psychiatric Mental Health Award
Recipient:
Rebecca Merchiori
Nominated by Dr. Rhonda Schwindt
Clinical Excellence for Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Award
Recipient:
Michael Fanelli
Nominated by Dr. Rilko, Dr. Venzke and Dr. Schuler
The Pam & Joe Jeffries Nursing Innovation Award is awarded to a GW Nursing graduate student who demonstrates innovation and the use of technology in nursing practice or education that will impact the culture of health, patient, communities, and/or nursing faculty or students. The selected award recipient also celebrates the core attributes of creative nursing leadership and entrepreneurship, valued by the procession in practice and education.
Recipient:
Amanda Bridges
Nominated by Dr. Richard Ricciardi
The DAISY Award, provides national recognition and appreciation for Extraordinary Nurses in honor of nurses, nurse faculty and nursing students who go above and beyond to make a difference in the experience of patients and families while in the clinical setting.
The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 by members of the family of Patrick Barnes. Patrick was 33 years old when he died of complications of the auto-immune disease immune thrombocytopenic purpura or (ITP). Like many families that go through this kind of horrific loss, the Barnes family wanted to do something positive to honor the very special man Patrick was. So, right before Pat’s death, they came up with DAISY- an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The family was very impressed by the clinical care Patrick’s nurses provided, but what really overwhelmed them was the unwavering compassion and kindness that his nurses brought to his bedside. As a sign of gratitude, Pat’s family created The DAISY AWARD®. Today participants include over 2600 healthcare organizations and 200 colleges & schools of nursing, including GW Nursing.
Recipient:
Alexa Avery Flowers
B.S.N. graduate
Recipient:
Jonathan Ryan Walker
B.S.N. graduate
The George Washington University School of Nursing has partnered with GW Hospital to offer the Nursing Scholars Program opportunity to registered nurses who hold an Associate Degree in Nursing (A.D.N.), and for those pursuing the Accelerated Bachelor of Science Nursing.
Graduating GW Hospital Scholars:
- Nicholas Anderson
- Valeria Davila
- Brittany Defenderfer
- Sarah Gold
- Aimee Hernandez Sanchez
- Yvette Mikinka
- Mohammed Rhamati
- Eva Ruiz
- Sarah Tivade
The MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC) and GW Nursing have an innovative partnership called Washington Squared (W2 ). MWHC is a hospital with nearly 1,000 beds and is part of a non-profit health system with 10 hospitals, over 30,000 associates and numerous specialty and primary care clinics as well as home care. MWHC is a dynamic hospital with strong research and a commitment to high-quality care in which nurses are highly valued as critical team members.
The W2 program offers tuition support to Accelerated BSN (BSN) students and the promise of employment and professional growth at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC).
Washington Squared graduates:
- Stephanie Naya Albright
- Elnora Leerese Allen
- Stephanie Altoz
- Carlika Barbee
- Marybeth Beitzel
- Mackenzie Hope Bradley
- Patricia Mae Casipe
- Titus Shepherd Cheng
- Caleb A Chiaia
- Bridget Crimmins
- Lauren Damiani
- Katherine de Juan
- Kaitlin Chandler Di Cesare
- Leah Marie DiGiandomenico
- Marcella Anne Fegler
- Shawn Steven Glocker
- Ann E Green
- Alicia Hall
- Gabriella Hammer
- Carolin A. Hanna
- Victoria M Hinson
- Brianna B Jennings
- Sophia Jean Kraus
- Holly Eileen Kulp
- Lindsey Langstraat
- Molly Elizabeth Laufer
- Marissa Christine Lim
- Gabriella Marie Mansilla
- Timnit Mathewos-woldu
- Nicole Sarah Miller
- Sara Mutnick
- Anna Noreman
- Marcus Lawrence Oglesby, JR.
- Roseline Ayodeji Oyeleye
- Khyati Patel
- Michelle Pearce
- Gisselle Cristina Perdomo
- Margaret Anne Powars
- Lauren Rispoli
- Liza Maree Sitz
- Lauren N Stephens
- Andrew Paul Swineford
- Kathryn Vanek
- Veronica Vicens
- Mary Emily Young
GW Nursing values veterans and offers a supportive learning environment specifically tailored to vets. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) veterans option offers a customized curricular roadmap, which is based on prior education, military service, and experience.
Veteran B.S.N. graduates:
- Kwaku Ofosu Asante
- Rahamat Ayewa
- Lufthansa Ilas Castro
- Bernarda Sofia Chaparro
- Bradley Jay Crofts
- David Falcon, III
- Eric Fiawoo
- Aaron Jay Raflores Franco
- Zackary Gamer
- Karen Kathleen Hamblin
- Sarvinoz Hasanova
- Alison Polgreen Hoffman
- Crystal Chrishina Jones
- Dambar Bahadur KC
- Courtney Gail Kessler
- Meskir Kidane
- Daniel Kraft
- Sarah LaCasse
- Gabriel Lee Krengel
- Ashlee Ledet
- Kailisa Marie Martin
- Martin Chukwuma Mbakwe
- Tarick Khalid Muhammad
- Lardell Mario Oliver
- Roseline Ayodeji Oyeleye
- Ariel Lauren Plante
- Bernadette Romero
- Demarques Sanders
- Robert Wayne Scribner, Jr.
- Windsor Siles Santillan
- Virnequa Sykes
- Galinda Kenyetta Thomas
- Philip Antonio Thomas
- Cassandra Andrianna Timblin
- Dan Wilburn
- Shadrea Jamila Williams
- Kayla Woods
- Jiatian Yue
- Kimverlyn Yue
- Eric Matthew Zink
Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
- Mary Leveillee
Project Title: Evidence-Based Practice Initiative for Staff Training to Reduce Adult Psychiatric Inpatient Restraints & Injuries
Primary Advisor: Dr. Beverly Lunsford - Ann Lo Basso
Project Title: Mitigating Delirium for the Elderly Post-Operatively Without Medication
Primary Advisor: Dr. Beverly Lunsford - Kyla Newbould
Project Title: Effect of Care Transition Referral on Readmission Rates of Geriatric Patients Discharged form the Emergency Department
Primary Advisor: Dr. Beverly Lunsford - Glenda Tisdale
Project Title: Impact of Telehealth Education Versus Standard Care on Increasing Self-Efficacy Scores and Diabetes Knowledge in Adult Diabetics
Primary Advisor: Dr. Qiuping (Pearl) Zhou - Tracy Willett
Project Title: Nurse’s Perception of Safety Culture and Patient Safety following Implementation of a Handoff Communication Process between Pre-operative and Operating Room Nurses
Primary Advisor: Dr. Karen Kesten
- Naydu Lucas
Project Title: Multidisciplinary Team Approach to Prevent HF Readmissions in Rural Areas
Primary Advisor: Dr. Qiuping (Pearl) Zhou - Mercy Oigbokie
Project Title: Using Multi-faceted Validated Tools to Evaluate the Functional Outcomes and Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Elective Spine Surgery and Associated Referral Patterns for Post-hospital Rehabilitation: A Quality Improvement Project
Primary Advisor: Dr. Qiuping (Pearl) Zhou - Stephen Risch
Project Title: The Effects of Non-pharmacological Interventions Consisting of Earplugs and Eye Masks, Reducing Environmental Factors to Improve Self-reported Sleep Quality in ICU Patients
Primary Advisor: Dr. Qiuping (Pearl) Zhou - Beth Zimmerman
Project Title: Impact of Nurse Led Coaching on Inpatient Fall Rate
Primary Advisor: Dr. Jean Johnson
- Leilani Attilio
Project Title: Feasibility of Overdose Prevention Educational Training Program Among Peer Recovery Coaches in Washington DC
Primary Advisor: Dr. Erin Athey - Amanda Bridges
Project Title: Using Five Wishes to Improve Advance Care Planning in a Maryland Primary Care Practice
Primary Advisor: Dr. Richard Ricciardi - Rhonda Brockington
Project Title: Quality Improvement: Enhancing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Skill and Patient-Centered Communication Knowledge for Nurses
Primary Advisor: Dr. Karen Whitt - Victoria Donaldson
Project Title: Implementing a Digital Imaging Platform using Tissue Analytics in a Level 1 Trauma Center
Primary Advisor: Dr. Mercedes Echevarria - LaKeshia Evans
Project Title: The Development, Implementation and Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Biohazard Training Program within a Pediatric Ambulatory Practice
Primary Advisor: Dr. Joyce Pulcini - Lynda Goodfriend
Project Title: The Effect of Hypertension Education on Knowledge, Lifestyle Behaviors and Blood Pressure Management Among Parishioners in a Faith-Based Setting
Primary Advisor: Dr. Qiuping (Pearl) Zhou - Chayna Hardy-Taylor
Project Title: A Systems Perspective for Integrating a Community-Based, Family-Centered Nutrition and Exercise Program into a Preexisting Physical Extracurricular Activity
Primary Advisor: Dr. Mercedes Echevarria - Elisabet Harms
Project Title: A Nurse Led Pre-Operative Patient Education Intervention Effect on Anxiety Levels in General Surgical Patients
Primary Advisor: Dr. Majeda El-Banna - Kimberly Jean-Louis
Project Title: Utilizing a Mentorship Approach to Address the Underrepresentation of Ethnic Minorities in Senior Nursing Leadership
Primary Advisor: Dr. David Keepnews - Christina Junker
Project Title: Time for Quiet: Reducing Nighttime Interruptions in the ICU (TURN IN-ICU)
Primary Advisor: Dr. Karen Kesten - Karen Mack
Project Title: Change Agent Impact on Pain Management Experience through Lavender Aromatherapy: Evidence-Based Practice Project
Primary Advisor: Dr. Mercedes Echevarria - Hillary Mayers
Project Title: Combating Pediatric Obesity with a Community-Based, Family-Centered Pediatric Obesity Prevention Program
Primary Advisor: Dr. Mercedes Echevarria - Ji Min
Project Title: The Effects of Diabetes Self-care Management Education Paired with Behavior Change Support Program Using Mobile Technology in Improving Disease Knowledge, Self-care Activities, and Health Outcomes in Adult Type II Diabetes
Primary Advisor: Dr. Cynthia Allen - Nailya Muganlinskaya
Project Title: Implementing the AMI READMITS Risk Assessment Score within a Referral Protocol to Increase Referrals for Follow-up Among Patients with Type I Myocardial Infarction
Primary Advisor: Dr. Laurie Posey - Rachel Parmer
Project Title: Implementation of a Provider in Triage Program in a Level III Emergency Department
Primary Advisor: Dr. Joyce Pulcini - Leah Prescott
Project Title: Increasing Adult Influenza Vaccination Rates in the Primary Care Setting
Primary Advisor: Dr. Christine Pintz - Aileen Renolayan
Project Title: Educational Session to Improve the Knowledge and Confidence of State Agency Surveyors in Deficiency Citation of Immediate Jeopardy Findings in Nursing Homes
Primary Advisor: Dr. Mary Jean Schumann - Joseph Smith
Project Title: Improving Patient and Provider Engagement by Utilizing Ask Me 3®
Primary Advisor: Dr. Christine Pintz - Megan Sutton
Project Title: The Effect of an Education Program to Improve Home Health Care Nurses’ Knowledge and Retention of Heart Failure Care
Primary Advisor: Dr. Karen Whitt - Malvis Tamon
Project Title: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Protocol in the Emergency Department
Primary Advisor: Dr. Cynthia Allen
The Nightingale Pledge
I solemnly pledge myself in the presence of this assembly to practice my profession faithfully.
I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug.
I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession and will hold it in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty and with pride will I devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.
GW ALMA MATER
Hail Alma Mater
To thy spirit guiding,
Knowledge thy closest friend
In its strength abiding,
Pledge we fidelity
Ne'er its place resigning,
Hail thee George Washington!
2021 Commencement
The class of 2020 is invited to join GW at the bicentennial Commencement on the National Mall in May 2021. Specific details will be shared when they are available.