The Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Nurses Alumni Association celebrates our alumni from St. Luke’s Hospital Training School for Nurses, Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing, Presbyterian-St. Luke’s School of Nursing and RUSH University College of Nursing.
Read the Year in Review to learn more about the association’s work on behalf of the alumni community.
Preparing future nurses, advancing the college
The mission of the association is to support RUSH University College of Nursing in producing highly prepared nurses while promoting the college and its alumni as innovative leaders in nursing education, practice, research and service.
The association’s Board of Directors represents all nursing graduates and works to prioritize and strengthen the college’s strategic areas. Association leaders are nominated and elected by members of the alumni association biennially.
Learn more about the expectations and what you can expect from RUSH as a board member.
Meet our 2022-2024 Board of Directors
Thomas O. Starr, DNP, MSN, RN, CNL, NEA-BC, CCRN-K, (MSN '14, DNP '18), President
Melissa Browning, DNP, APRN, CCNS, LSSGB (DNP '09), Immediate Past President
Wende Fedder, DNP, MBA, RN, FAHA (DNP ‘11), Vice President
Stephanie D. Yohannan, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC (DNP '16), Secretary/Treasurer
Steven J. Brockman-Weber, DNP, RN, MS (HAS), NEA-BC, FACHE, CENP (DNP '15), Director
Kristina K. Davis, MS, MSN, MPH, RN, CNL, CPHQ (MSN '16), Director
Kathleen M. English, MSN, RN, CNL, CNP, CCRN (MSN '16), Director
Ben J. Farber, DNP, RN, CNL, NEA-BC (DNP '14), Director
Sheila “Mimi” Guiracocha, DNP (DNP '21), Director
Barbara K. Hinch, DNP, ACNP-BC (MSN '94, CERT '95, DNP '07), Director
Mike Kremer, PhD, CRNA, FAAN (PhD '97), Director
Bridget O'Brien Fagan, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, AOCNP (DNP '98), Director
Carissa Quinn, DNP (DNP '16), Director
Alexandra Sophia Sontag, MSN, DNP, CNL, RN, APRN, FNP-BC (DNP '17), Director
Diane Yeager Smith, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC (MSN '86), Director
Kathryn D. Swartwout, PhD, APN, FNP BC (MSN '89, PhD '07), Director
Alumni association strategic plan
In 2017 the Board of Directors developed a three-year strategic plan to help guide its work. Through conversations with college administration, an alumni survey and focus groups, the board identified three priority areas. From this work, the board developed a comprehensive three-year plan focused on the following:
- Strengthening alumni pride
- Supporting the college
- Engaging current nursing students
Golden Lamp Society
The Alumni Association established the Golden Lamp Society in 1973 as the donor recognition society for individuals and families who support nursing education and research at RUSH with annual gifts of $300 or more. It is named in honor of Florence Nightingale, a pioneer of modern nursing, education and philanthropy. It was her tireless dedication to her patients that earned her the title "The Lady with the Lamp."
Join the Golden Lamp Society today.
Support nursing alumni and student programs