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Mennonite College of Nursing Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Annual Report

Annual Report 2016–2017

Mennonite College of Nursing

Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University creates a dynamic community of learning to develop exceptionally well-prepared nurses who will lead to improve health outcomes locally and globally. We promote excellence in teaching, research, service, and practice with a focus on the vulnerable and underserved. We are committed to being purposeful, open, just, caring, disciplined, and celebrative.

Rising

The vision of Mennonite College of Nursing is to be a premier college of nursing dedicated to improving local and global health outcomes.

Photo of Edwards Hall, on the Illinois State University campus.

Letters from the Deans

Judy headshot

Welcome!

If you follow the news, you know that the healthcare industry stands at the edge of change. All of us connected to nursing, and to the larger healthcare industry, feel it. Things, as they currently are, cannot sustain.

So where does that put us?

When I think back on my first year as Dean of Mennonite College of Nursing, one thing stands out to me – as a college, we too stand on the edge. The vision of MCN is to be “a premier college of nursing dedicated to improving local and global health outcomes.” I passionately believe that we have the potential to really embody that statement.

But how? Looking forward into the next year and beyond, I envision a MCN that innovates, educating a generation of nurses prepared to step into more primary care roles. Nurses poised to not only excel as caretakers, but to show great leadership in this time of uncertainty. Nurses who are passionate, engaged with their communities, and dedicated to the vulnerable and underserved.

We are already gaining momentum.

Last year I stated that one of my priorities would be to increase grant funding at MCN, and I am proud to say that we did just that. Mennonite College of Nursing was awarded $2 million in grant funding to support diversity in the nursing workforce by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a $1.4 million Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Grant to prepare FNP students to practice primary care in rural and underserved settings. We are one of only 7 in the country to receive both of these grants, and the only university in the State of Illinois.

This coming year, it is my goal to do more. In order to provide further opportunities to our students, we aim to increase scholarships from 93 to 100 in time for our 100th Anniversary Celebration, and we're looking for new and innovative ways that our donors can get involved. We are exploring an immersive transcultural experience for our students in Panama. In addition, we are continuing to build partnerships with area hospitals, including an exciting new partnership as one of Advocate Health Care health system’s “Preferred Education Partners” and a new “Dedicated Education Unit” at Advocate BroMenn that will feature an apprenticeship-style clinical training model.

I admit, change can be intimidating. However, times of change also open us up to opportunity.

I am excited about what the coming year and this new strategic plan will bring.

One thing, I can assure you, will not change – Mennonite College of Nursing will continue to deliver on the fundamentals that make us strong: community, research, and academic excellence.

Here’s to celebrating the past, while trail blazing into the future!

Best,

Judy

Judy Neubrander
Dean, Mennonite College of Nursing

Milestones and Accomplishments

  • Mennonite College of Nursing was ranked top 100 public colleges by US news and world report
  • Mennonite College of Nursing Pass Rate Infographic.
  • Leadership in health care systems is the first course at ISU to receive quality matters designation.
  • Mennonite College of Nursing path to excellence award infographic.
  • Illinois State University was ranked top 50 best bang for the buck colleges.

Incoming Class Fall 2016

  • Traditional Prelicensure

    GPA: 3.81
    ACT: 27
    Apps Received: 1150
    Enrolled Students: 152

  • Accelerated:

    GPA: 3.4
    ACT: 25
    Apps Received: 81
    Enrolled Students: 23

  • Graduate Programs

    GPA: 3.52
    Apps Received: 97
    Enrolled Students: 48

Welcome to the MCN team
Photo of new faculty and staff at ISU's Mennonite College of Nursing.
  • Back row:
    Emily McMahon - Director, Marketing & Recruitment
    Barbra Oldenburg - Administrative Clerk
    Brenda Johnson - Faculty
    Susana Calderon - Faculty
    Becky LaMont - Success Plan Coordinator

  • Front row:
    Valerie Wright - Director, Undergraduate Programs
    Jennifer Sedbrook - Director, Development

  • New faces not pictured:
    Olanna Pullen - Proud Grant Coordinator
    Kileigh Guido - Academic Adivser
    Carla Leber - Administrative Aide

Faculty and Staff

Mennonite College of Nursing would be nothing without our amazing faculty and staff. For our most up-to-date faculty and staff roster, please visit the MCN website.

Development Update

Photo of MCN Development Director Jennifer Sedbrook.

First, I would like to recognize the incredible work of my predecessor, Jenny Ward. Jenny’s 14 years of hard work with donors and alumni set a great path, creating scholarships and endowed funds that will support our college for years to come. It is my pleasure to continue to build upon the foundation she built.

With the upcoming centennial celebration and the launch of Redbirds Rising: The Campaign for Illinois State, it’s an exciting time for Mennonite College of Nursing. As we honor our history we are paving the way for future students to have an even stronger impact in our world. Support through Redbirds Rising will prepare nurses for the transformation of healthcare, attract top faculty, reinvent our learning spaces, and promote a national model for nursing education. Thanks to gifts from the donors listed in this report, MCN is already more than 65 percent of the way to our fundraising goal of $7.5 million.

Fiscal year 2017 was a great year for philanthropy here at MCN. One of our Redbirds Rising campaign volunteers, Cinda Roth ’65, committed one of MCN’s largest planned gifts through her estate. The gift will provide opportunities for students and will honor her family’s history with MCN through the Peter A. and Ella G. Scholarship. Cinda’s plan to support the College for future generations through an estate gift is meant to honor her family’s strong history and connections to the College. Additionally, we endowed a new scholarship: The John and Karen Parker Endowed Scholarship. The Gertrude E. Skelly Charitable Foundation’s continued annual gifts of $15,000 to $30,000 provides support in the form of scholarships for our accelerated nursing students. Khara Holland ’12, whose career as a travel nurse is highlighted in this report, is a two-time recipient of the Skelly Nursing Scholarship. These are just a few examples of the many ways our alumni and friends are helping MCN rise to higher levels of excellence.

Our college launched several new and exciting initiatives this year, including the Student Leadership Academy and the exploration of a new Master of Science in Nursing – Master of Business Administration program. Both of these initiatives aim to prepare our graduates with the skills necessary to become not only exceptional nurses, but also leaders equipped to push the field of healthcare forward.

Over the past months, Dean Neubrander and I met with amazing alumni in central Illinois, Chicago, Arizona, South Carolina, North Carolina, Colorado and Florida. Each time I meet with Mennonite College of Nursing alumni, I’m struck by your passion and generosity. If we haven’t met, I look forward to getting to know you, and to the great work we are going to do together!

Sincerely,

Jennifer

Jennifer Sedbrook

Scholarship Highlights

  • Infographic showing that scholarship gifts to MCN increased 28% from last year.
  • Infographic showing that 93 scholarships awarded, providing more than $144,000 in funding to Mennonite College of Nursing students.
  • Infographic showing 5 new scholarships and awards were founded.

Highlights List

Around the College Highlights
Photo of Valerie Wright and Becky Lamont.

Redbirds Returning Home

Mennonite College of Nursing is proud to announce the return home of alums Valerie Wright and Becky LaMont.

Read More

Photo of MCN faculty members Blanca Miller, Seon Yoon Chung, Myoung Jin Kim, and Carla Pohl.

Research & Scholarship

Our faculty, staff, and alumni are leaders in their field. This year was no different.

Read More

Photo of scrubs.

$2 Million Diversity Workforce Grant

Mennonite College of Nursing received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support developing diversity in the nursing workforce.

Read More

Photo of nurse and patient.

$1.4 Million Grant to Focus on Rural & Underserved

MCN was selected as one of 50 recipients in the country for an Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Grant, which will prepare FNP students to practice primary care in rural and underserved settings.

Read More

Photo of the Americas Promise Schools Project Team.

Pohl Receives Research Initiative Award

Pohl teaches across the undergraduate and Doctorate of Nursing Practice programs, is a certified nurse midwife, and an expert in public health. Her work with the American’s Promise Schools Project is making a substantial difference in children’s health.

Read More

Photo of Alumni Organization Awards.

Mennonite Nurses Alumni Organization Presents Awards

The Mennonite Nurses Alumni Organization presented four awards - Distinguished Alumni Award, Early Career Achievement Award, Service Award, and the Spirit of Nursing Award.

Read More

Donor Roll

Your support allows us to aim higher.

Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University is grateful to the following students, alumni, parents, friends, corporations, foundations, faculty, and staff for their generous gifts and pledges.

We have made every attempt to ensure accuracy. If your name has been omitted, misspelled, or incorrectly listed, please accept our apologies and contact Director of Development Jennifer Sedbrook at (309) 438-7178 or jsedbro@IllinoisState.edu.

$100,000+
State Farm Companies Foundation
$10,000 - $49,999
Advocate Healthcare
COUNTRY Financial
Bruce and Leigh Fredbloom
Margaret Randolph
Phyllis Schieber
Gertrude E. Skelly Foundation
$5,000-$9,999
Heritage Geriatric Foundation David and Karen Magers John and Joanne Maitland
$1,500-$4,999
Ann and Thomas Baughan
Warren Borchers
Cheryl Carmack
Monte Fisher
Illinois Heart & Lung Foundation
Margaret Johnson and William Greene
Betty Kinser
Janet and Stephen Krejci
John R. Lawrence Family
John R. Lawrence Trust
Mid-Central Gastroenterology Center
H. Catherine and Terry Miller
Joyce and Kurt Moser
John Parker
Brent and Janet Paterson
Elfrieda and Richard Ramseyer
$500 - $1,499
Anonymous
Charlene and Brian Aaron
Cynthia Arbuckle
Kim Astroth
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
John and Evelyn Bertsche
CoBank
Myrtella Cook
Barbara Cothren
Susan Cribb
Michael and Jean Ann Dargatz
William and Irene Dunn
Elizabeth Davis Holder Foundation
Richard Erickson
Jerry Etcheson
Jon and Kathryn Etcheson
Etcheson Spa & Pool Inc
Donald and Ann Fernandes
Lindsey and Nannette Flowers
Nancy Froelich
Nancy Froelich Trust
Mary and Gregory Gossmeyer
Russell and Donna Hagen
Jessica and Shawn Harnish
Patricia Johnson
Stephany Joslin
Dan and Pamela Kelley
Kemp Foundation
John and Elaine Krupka
Gail and Douglas Lamb
Meredith and Thomas Lovelass
F. Dick and Janis Maxwell
Beth McGillivray
Janel and Scott Morgan
Larry and Joyce Morlan
Elizabeth and Jonathan Myers
Janice Parker
Cinda Roth
Mary Ryder
James and Linda Shirk
Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation
Mark and Joni Smith
Rose Stadel
Terrence Tapley
Lynn and James Tatman
Doris Teubel
Scott and Cindy Tinervia
Paul and Mary Ann Watkins
Beverley and Richard Winston
$250 - $499
Anonymous
Michelle and Donald Anderson
Marilyn and John Asper
Daniel and Kathy Barbee
Jay Batten
Bloomington Eye Institute
Ella Bohrer
E. Paula Crowley and Daniel Deneen
Bernard and Dorothy Deany
Daniel G. Deneen Family Trust
Betty Duncan
Howard and Theresa Frank
Juanita and Dale Garrett
Shawn and Rebekah Hayes
Thomas and Jane Heineke
Marjorie Irving
Catherine Kaesberg and Jeffrey Corwin
Sharon and Steven Kelleher
Sheryl Kelly
Thomas and Lynn Kennell
LuAnn and Arnold Ladwig
Joseph and Diane Lecher
Kathleen Martin
Beth and John Mathews
K. Maxwell Irrevocable Trust
David and Jane McCully
Gail Shockly Petro
Nancy Roth
Merry Schmied
Paul and Audrey Slater
Glenn and Mary Stech
Kay and Gary Thompson
University of Wyoming
Sonia and Tim Vercler
Dane and Jennifer Ward
Regina and Christopher White
Kathryn Wood
Karen Wyant
Amy and James Yoder
$100 - $249
Mary and David Althaus
Luann and Christopher Anderson
Darrell and Mary Andris
Sylvia Argilla
Hollis Armstrong
Karen Bailey
Laura and Raymond Baue
William Bayne
Christine Bellas
Marcia Bellas
Celeste Betjemann
Barbara and Andrejs Bocka
Donny Bounds
Marietta Brandt
Marcia Buchs
Madaline and Harry Burns
Lana and Don Burson
Celeste G Betjemann Trust
Seon Yoon Chung
Gregory and Gertrude Clark
Aldine and Lloyd Combs
Mary and Robert Cranston
Donna Cripe
Patricia Decker
Jacqueline and Jamie Deffenbaugh
Karen and John Dennis
Helen and Keith Dohleman
Kelly Farrell
Joan and William Fike
Patricia Finegan
Margaret and Kenneth Fisher
Patty Fredericks
Neil and Deborah Frownfelter
Marcena Gabrielson
Gary Gawlick
Marie and James Gillibrand
Carol and Cloyce Gress
Beverly Grimes
Hank and Joan Guenther
Denise and David Hammer
Angela and Bernie Harrison
Kevin and Mindy Hazard
Anne and Grant Heinold
Darlene and Nathaniel Hiett
Mary and Loren Hodgson
Joyce and Samuel Hofer
Jill and Jason Huber
Joy Hutchcraft
Nicholas Iden
Linda and Joseph Irle
Amy Irving
Jenna Irwin
Cheryl Jackson
Shirley Jackson
Denise and Charles James
Melissa Jarvill
Richard and Julia Johnson
Kim and Colleen Kannaday
Estate of Lois Kaufmann
Ruth and Borhan Khatib
Michelle and Jeffrey Kilcher
Linda Kimber
Mary Anne Kirchner
Christine and Lynn Klopfenstein
Betty and Raymond Knuckles
Mary and Jason Ko
Cynthia and Glenn Kraemer
Greg and Michelle Kujawa
Anita and Andrew Lankowicz
Nina Bieneman
William Lawrence
Donna and Richard Leonard
Kara and Ronnie Lewis
Stephen and Beck Lewman
Todd and Sarah Lindsey
Nancy LoPiccalo
Jane Love
Nancy and John Machens
Munib Mafazy and Rebecca Gearhart
Steve and Cynthia Malinowski
Lila and Arlan Martin
Violette Mathis
Kenneth* Maxwell
Lora McClelland and Michael Simmons
Sue Ann McGinnes
Rebecca and Thomas McMahan
Allen and Bethany Miller
Matthew and Janeen Mollenhauer
Mary and John Moore
Kathleen Morris
Jewel Moulton
Patricia Murdoch
Melanie Murphy
Mary Necessary
Allison Nissen
Ruth Oesch
Jodi and Richard O'Hara
Dianne and Robert Olson
Nancy and David O'Neall
Jenifer Patton
Jamie Penrod
Nancy Petropoulos
A. Darlene and Joseph Poindexter
Mary Punke
Susan and Robert Read
Melynda and Scott Renner
Marlisa and Brian Rieke
L. Annette and Robert Ritchey
Ronald and Martha Ropp
A. Joanne Roth
Vada and Keith Saffer
Rebecca and Lynn Schaffer
Sandra and Kurt Scheidenhelm
Alice and John Schieber
Mary Schilling
Laura and Michael Schmied
Stephanie and Timothy Shea
Nathan Slider
Rex and Lois Smith
Sandra Stanger
Stephen Stapleton
Cynthia Starkey
Jeanette Storck
Loretta and Terry Strange
John and Erma Stutzman
Janet and Dennis Sutter
Mary and Charles Sutton
Trust-Mart
Jason and Kathleen Tucholke
Janet Tuley
Elizabeth and C. John Uphoff
Kay and George Vincent
Sheila and Jerry West
Linda Westfall Shafer
Mary Ellen and Steven Wiegand
Myra and Joseph Wiegand
Denise and Gary Wilson
Thomas and Kay Wilson
Michelle and Leon Wipperfurth
Wendy and Kenneth Woith
Stephanie Wollenberg
Lucille and Robert Zimmerman
$1 - $99
Amelia Adkins
Jean and John Aeschliman
Karen and Anatol Ahijevych
Linda and Stephen Ahrens
Deborah and D. Anthony Antonacci
Linda and Jay Aquino
Megan Arevalo
Luella Armstrong
David Ashbrook
Melinda Bahler
Jacqualine Balch
Wendy and Mark Bardwell
William and Lauri Bates
Mary and Alan Batts
E. Ann Baxter
Matthew Baxter
Channouthe and Eduardo Bedolla
Gregory Bellas and Kirsten Setterholm
Michelle Bender
Nancy and Melvin Birkey
Shauna Bivens
Mary and Charles Blythe
Crystal and Ben Bricker
Leslie Carter and Scott Bross
Ramona Brown
Trina Brown
Emily Bruehl
Kimberly Buck
Marvin and Wanda Burnhardy
Michael Butler
Larry Byrd
Lauren Carr
Delores Carter
John and Sue Chrisman
Jason and Leigh Clay
Joenita and Stanley Clemens
Patricia and John Conte
Jeanne and Warren Cooke
Cooke Revocable Living Trust
Phyllis and Dale Coulter
Diana Currington
Linda and George Cushing
Janice and John Dall
Emily Davis
Margaret and Dirk de Werff
Amy and Stephen Detig
Eugene and Gerda Detweiler
Glenda Dexter-Brown and Philip Brown
Hannah and Robert Dignan
Nancy Diller
Margaret and Virgil Donze
Linda and Stephen Douglas
Susan and Jeffrey Dowell
Shirley Drazewski
Steven and Janet Dressler
Marcile Duehr
Sherry Duley
Paul and Betty Duzan
Mary Dyck
Michelle Ebenroth
Frederick Eisenhut
Marilyn and Gary Elliott
Louis and Connie Fegan
Sally Fehrle
Kathryn and Merle Ferguson
Wilma Fever
Amy Filter
Gary and Judith Fish
Constance Fitch
Janet and Robert Flageole
Herb and Carol Flescher
John and Patti Floyd
Diane Folken
Dee and Dennis Foor
Susan Franzen and Steve Volz
Taylor Froats
Tami and Scott Gadbury
Michelle and Timothy Maurer
Grace Ganieany
Christine and Steven Gardner
Joan and Kevin Glowacki
Deborah and Gary Grady
Joseph and Kelly Grant
Susan and Danny Grant
Sheila and Bill Guither
Teresa Gulley
Doris and C. Robert Haas
Rebecca and Thomas Haas
Dorothy Haeffele
Amy Hagedorn
Rebecca and Paul Hakes
Richard and Betty Hamblin
Jeffrey and Ann Hamer
Beverly Harms
Elizabeth Harper
Rebecca Harris
Clara Harvey
Diana and Greg Hasler
Marilyn Hasty
Christine and Eric Havens
Mary and Charles Heap
Ron and Judy Heiken
Kelli and Matthew Heisner
Jennifer and Tracy Hendricks
Ron and Candy Henkleman
Debra and Bill Herz
Enrique and Teresa Hicaro
Christiane and James Hines
Kristin Horney
Viola and Walter Huber
William and Connie Hueber
Benjamin Hulfachor
George and Juanita Hulvey
Randall and Peggy Jacobs
David Jansen
Julia Jekli
Gay Jensen
Susan and Harry Jiles
Elora Jiskra
Diane and Randy Johner
Arlene Johnson
Erie and Gayle Johnson
Amber Blaser-Jones
Charles Jones
Lacy Jones
Ruth and Robert Juhler
Elisabeth Kapraun
Katherine Kara
Linda and Harry Karle
Todd and Tammy Keating
Julie Kennedy
Cynthia and Michael Kerber
Opal and Thomas Kerchenfaut
Joel and Jennifer Kiedaisch
Mary and Dennis Kinsella
Joseph and Kristie Klingler
Scott and Diane Koch
Susan and William Kohler
Katherine Krall
Kirsten Krauth
Kelly Krise-Evans
Patricia and Gerald Lackey
Marcia and Terry Laesch
Carol and Charles Laible
Bridgette and Jay Lamar
Vickie Lannie
Jennifer and Loel Lanz
Jerry and Wanda Lay
Charlotte Leach
Pamela and Douglas LeConte
Twyla Legner
Sandra and Rodney Lehman
Lila L Martin Trust
Colleen and James Lindberg
Jane and Robert Linder
Rosina and A. Dale Litwiller
Virginia Lockwood
Maxine and Richard Lolling
Morgan Love
Michele and Dennis Ludwig
Susan Lynch
Michele and Thomas Malin
Mary Malinowski
Rosemary and Ellis Martin
G. H. Louis Marting
Michelle Maurer
Pamela McMillen
Lisa and Benjamin Mengarelli
Connie and David Mohr
Angela Montejo
Melissa Moody
Rebecca and Lee Moore
Rachel and Charles Moser
Lee Murrin
Emily Nafziger
Laurel Neitling
Judy Neubrander
Sandra Nielsen
Thomas and Pamela Norris
Teresa Novy
Elizabeth Objartel
Amy and John O'Brien
Alexis Oduyale
Mary and Paul Orns
Dennis and Jane Ortinau
Nancy Paceley-White
Kelli and John Pasley
Michelle Pastwa
Mary and Larry Peterson
Jay Pfister
Jerome Pfister
Linda and Jack Pfister
Judith Pike
Teresa and David Pratt
Jane and Michael Price
Jane and Gregory Randall
Joyce Raycraft
Mary Rebbe
O. Edward and Sue Reitz
Helen Rexroat
Jane Rieger
Victoria Risley
Katie and Matthew Roedl
Lynne and Antonie Romyn
Kaitlin Ross
Julie Rude
Janice and Philip Rush
David and Penny Sapp
Teresa and Doug Saxton
Peter Scaff
Sharon Schertz
Paul and June Schmidt
Erin and Joseph Schmitt
Kelly and Paul Schuler
Becky and Rick Schultz
Jerry Seiver
Ruth Shaffer
Fred and Anita Shears
Velma and Richard Shetler
Stan and Rene Shingles
Allison Silcroft
Renee Simons Trenor
Delores Simpsen
Julie and Kenneth Sinnett
Karlee Skaggs
Gary and Mary Slutz
Marjorie Smith
Mary Alice Smith
Carol Smoots
Gregory and Dawn Spencer
Angela Stancy
Lorraine and Jay Stanwood
Deborah and Stephen Stenger
Kimberly StLeger
Sonia and Gale Stoller
Norma and Jay Strang
Brenda Summerfield
Sonya Taylor
Betty Thomas
Jayme and Gerald Thompson
Laura and Daryl Tolan
Sally and Martin Toohill
Sally Traylor
Emma Tritt and Robert Baxter
William and Loretta Troyer
Amy and James Ulrich
Carol and Richard Vignali
Margaret Volz
Nancy Wagler
Betty Wagner
Wagner Family Limited Partnership
Barb Wahls
Carolyn and Steve Walker
Allison Warzecha
Peggy Watkins
Kathleen Watt
Tenna and Raymond Webb
Willard and Marilyn Weidner
Diana Wells
Lindsey Wheeler
Jennifer and Jason Whitfill
Kathleen and Roger Wiegand
Tricia Wiegner
Arthur Williams
Clara Williams
Bob and Dorothy Wollberg
Mindi and Mark Wuest
Julie Yeager
Kayla and Kevin Yost
Sandra and David Young
Kelly Zehr
Kay and Gary Ziebart
Photo of Mennonite College of Nursing students saying thank you.

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