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October 20, 2003 |
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Mike
Andrei
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Daemen College Names Five as Distinguished Alumni for 2003
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Daemen College has named five graduates as Distinguished Alumni for 2003. M. Janice Nelson ‘66, of East Syracuse, was recognized for career advancement; Brian F. McQueen ‘77, of Whitesboro, New York, and Susan A. Conners ‘69, of Snyder, were honored for outstanding community service; Town of Tonawanda resident Jeanne G. Healy,’86, was recognized for outstanding dedication to the College; and Joyce E. Fink ‘52, of Williamsville, received the 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award. All five awards will be presented at the 2003 Daemen College Homecoming Weekend, November 7-9.
Janice Nelson, a former education major, has been honored several times over her career, for her work and development of the nursing profession, through her employment and organizational involvement. She has held the positions of assistant professor in nursing service at Adelphi University; associate administrator and director of nursing for University Hospital in Syracuse; co-director of the nursing education program at SUNY Upstate Medical Center, and professor and dean of SUNY Upstate Medical Center. Nelson was the founding dean of the College of Nursing within the SUNY system at the Health Science Center in Syracuse, in 1986. Unusual for its time, the curriculum was designed as a combined baccalaureate and master’s degree program, to prepare students for advanced practice in a clinical specialization. Since its founding, the College has been fully accredited twice by the National League for Nursing. Additionally, Nelson has served on the boards of Visiting Nurses System; Foundation for the NYS Nurses Association; and Central Counties Professional Nurses Association. She formerly served on the Governor's Task Force on Life and Law; NYSNA Task Force on Structure; Central New York AIDS Steering Committee. She has been inducted into the Nursing Hall of Fame at Teachers College, Columbia University, and received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Nursing Education, also from Columbia. She has received the Community Mentor award from the Omicron Alpha Chapter of Sigma Thea Tau International; the Award for Nursing Excellence from the Central Counties Professional Nurses; and the alternate fellowship award from the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, DC. Nelson also wrote and published the The Nurse as an Educator, a winner of the American Journal of Nursing book of the year award. Brian F. McQueen ‘77, was recognized for outstanding community service. McQueen holds a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Daemen. He also earned a certificate of advanced studies from the State University of New York at Cortland. He is currently principal of Westmoreland Road Elementary School. After receiving his administrative certification, McQueen became an assistant principal, and was promoted to elementary principal after creating an innovative plan, designed to reduce behavioral infractions among students. The plan concluded with a field trip to a water park for those who had achieved the goals set in the program. But, it was his many years in the volunteer fire service that spurred McQueen’s nomination. He has written a fire safety curriculum guide for teachers; created a children's fire safety expo (which educated more than 17,000 students over 13 years); and served as chair for the Fire and Life Safety Committee of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York. For the committee, McQueen designed a statewide essay/poster contest, and a fire and life nationally distributed safety calendar, using artwork from students across the state. He has served as chair of the Governors Task Force on Fire Safety, and was named Firefighter of the Year in 1994 by the Whitesboro Fire Department. McQueen is also a volunteer fire chief in Whitesboro. Susan Conners ‘69, who majored in French, was nominated by fellow Daemen alumna Bonnie Bright '76, for her long time work with the Tourette Syndrome Foundation. Conners has appeared on national television programs, and conducted support groups for adults, children, and parents affected by Tourette. She publishes the Western New York Tourette Syndrome Association quarterly newsletter, and has conducted presentations on Tourette at over 300 schools and service agencies in the Western New York area. Conners also sponsors many outings throughout the year for parents and children with Tourette Syndrome, and is active on the national level as well, providing in-service information and training for teachers, medical professionals, lawyers and law enforcement agencies. She was chairperson for,and a presenter at, the 1992 Regional Tourette Syndrome Association Conference; the 1994 Regional Leadership Conference; the 1997 Northeast Regional Conference; and the 1993 National Tourette Syndrome Association Conference in Houston, Texas. Professionally, Conners has been a teacher of secondary French for 33 years in Williamsville Central Schools, including 13 years as chair of the Secondary Language Department. Jeanne G. Healy,’86, a Town of Tonawanda resident, was recognized for outstanding dedication to the College. Jeanne received a bachelor of arts degree in natural sciences, cum laude, from Daemen, and also holds an Ed.M from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is presently a job locator and career counselor in the Student Employment Center at Niagara County Community College. Prior to earning her degree, and in the years following, Jeanne held several positions at Daemen. These included serving as an administrative assistant in the Daemen Counseling and Career Development Office (1978-86); director of career development ((1986-90); director of alumni affairs (1990-98); and director of special events (1998-99). During her years as alumni director, Jeanne established alumni chapters in West Palm Beach, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; and Albany, New York. She also worked to strengthen and expand relationships between Daemen and its early graduates, from the former Rosary Hill College. Throughout her tenure, she served as a key link to the alumnae of Rosary Hill, while simultaneously engaging and involving alumni from Daemen College. Joyce E. Fink ‘52, a former art major at the former Rosary Hill College (now Daemen College), was named Daemen’s 2003 Distinguished Alumna for her strong commitment to the College. As a former employee, Fink worked closely with Rosary Hill College’s President Emeritus, the late M. Angela Canavan, OSF. She has hosted appeal lunches to increase annual fund participation, and led many other special campaign efforts. Some of her current affiliations include the Sisters of St. Francis of the Third Order Regular Communications Committee; the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo Board of Trustees; and the Bishop’s Council of the Laity Executive Committee vice chair. Fink has also previously served on a wide range of area community and professional boards and organizations. Some of them include the Rosary Hill College Advisory Board; United Fund of Buffalo and Erie County; Kenmore Mercy Hospital Board; chair of the Christ the King Seminary Board of Trustees; American Association of University Women Board of Directors; Sisters of St. Francis Development Council; the Diocese of Buffalo Office of Communications Media Advisory Board; and the Burchfield-Penney Art Center Council. Fink has also been honored by the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo; received the Buffalo Art Directors Club Gold Medal Award; the SUNY Chancellors Award for Excellence in Professional Service; Diocese of Buffalo St. Paul Award in Communication; and Christ the King Seminary Annual Cure of Arts Award, for exceptional service to the Diocese of Buffalo. She has received the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart Distinguished Alumna Award. Most recently, she chaired and coordinated the 50th anniversary gift from the Rosary Hill College Class of 1952, establishing a tradition continued by the Class of 1953. And this past June, Fink was honored by being named to the Hall of Fame of the SUNY Council for University Affairs and Development in Saratoga Springs.
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