Janie McCray RN to BSN Endowed Fund

The Janie McCray RN-BSN Endowed Fund was established in 2004 by friends and family as a living memorial to Janie honoring her love and devotion to the adult learner. Janie received her associate degree in nursing from Vincennes, and her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Southern Illinois University. She went on to get her master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and finally in 1995 she received her Ph.D. in adult education from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Janie began her teaching profession in 1963 at Barnes School of Nursing. She later continued her teaching career at Bellin School of Nursing in Green Bay Wisconsin, Silver Lake College and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. During this period she began to focus on the adult learner or Nurses returning to obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing. Janie’s Ph.D. dissertation was titled “Learning for Meaning.” In 1995 Janie established the RN-BSN program at the Mennonite College of Nursing, which later became a part of Illinois State University. Janie was instrumental in designing the program to meet the needs of the students and the community. The RN-BSN program has proven to be one of the most dynamic areas of the college, attracting many students to both its campus and on-line programs, many of whom are adult and non-traditional students.

This permanently endowed fund was established in 2004 by the family of Janie McCray to provide financial resources to enhance and strengthen the RN-BSN program. Funds may be used to honor outstanding contributions to the program, fund special research projects, provide financial assistance to students in the program, or other program priority needs as determined by the Dean of the College of Nursing.