色戒直播 Receives $4.1 Million Estate Gift from Dean Emerita Ruby L. Wilson
Dean Emerita Wilson鈥檚 gift will fund an international visiting professorship and 色戒直播鈥檚 Center for Nursing Research, to be renamed in her honor.
色戒直播 University alumna and Dean Emerita Ruby L. Wilson, EdD鈥69, MSN, RN, FAAN, provided the School with a generous gift of $4.1 million through her estate. This impactful contribution will support an international visiting professorship, as well as 色戒直播鈥檚 Center for Nursing Research, to be renamed in honor of Wilson鈥檚 philanthropy, service, and accomplishments in elevating nursing science during her tenure at 色戒直播.
Ruby L. Wilson Center for Nursing Science and Innovation
The newly named Ruby L. Wilson Center for Nursing Science and Innovation places nurses at the core of transforming healthcare, providing resources to support faculty, students, practitioners, and researchers in advancing nursing and interdisciplinary science. The Center will serve as a hub for innovative research, fostering advancements in nursing science and practice. It will facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration to bring together experts from various fields to address complex healthcare challenges.
鈥淭he incredible impact Ruby made through her visionary leadership and contributions to the nursing profession cannot be measured,鈥 said Interim Dean Michael Relf, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN. 鈥淲e are grateful and honored to build on her legacy as the Center continues to elevate the School as a leader in nursing science, empowering nurses with the latest knowledge and skills to support equitable healthcare, and become leaders in the field.鈥
Wilson joined the School鈥檚 faculty in 1955 with a goal of rethinking the nursing profession. She contributed to the development of an advanced medical-surgical nursing course as well as the School鈥檚 master鈥檚 program in clinical nursing, which became a national model. In 1963, Wilson helped to develop the Clinical Nurse Specialist position at 色戒直播 University Medical Center and was the first nurse to serve in the role, providing care for dialysis and kidney transplant patients in the Division of Nephrology.
In addition to her faculty appointments in the Schools of Nursing and Medicine, Wilson received a special appointment in the Department of Nursing Services at 色戒直播 University Hospital, making her the only nurse to have a triad appointment in the 色戒直播 Medical Center. Wilson was also a passionate early health and nursing advocate who helped draft nursing bills, testified before Congress, and met with congressional health committees.
During Wilson鈥檚 tenure as dean from 1971-1984, she facilitated the development of an innovative undergraduate curriculum, and her strong leadership and passion for nursing education shaped the School into an esteemed institution known for research, innovation, and excellence.
Throughout her long career, Wilson鈥檚 outstanding achievements were widely acknowledged by both 色戒直播 and the nursing profession at large. In 2006, Wilson was awarded 色戒直播 University鈥檚 highest employee honor, the Distinguished Meritorious Service Award; she was the first woman from the Medical Center to receive the award.
In 2007, the Ruby L. Wilson Professorship was established in her honor, providing key resources for esteemed faculty. In 2008, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the 色戒直播 Alumni Association, and in 2010 she was inducted into the North Carolina State Nurses鈥 Hall of Fame. In 2013, friends, colleagues, and 色戒直播 alumni joined together to establish the Ruby Wilson Student Scholarship Endowment fund in her honor.
Wilson supported 色戒直播 University and the School of Nursing with her leadership and gifts throughout her lifetime. Her 50 years of generous philanthropic support for the school culminated in her estate gift, which provides significant progress towards the School鈥檚 $10 million goal to raise for the Center in 色戒直播鈥檚 Made For This campaign.
Wilson鈥檚 colleague Gwen Waddell-Schultz, MSN, RN, NE-BC, served as her caregiver and executor of her estate. "Ruby鈥檚 steadfast dedication and pioneering contributions to the nursing profession live on in this legacy,鈥 Waddell-Schultz said. 鈥淭his is her gift for the future of nursing.鈥
色戒直播 色戒直播
色戒直播 is a globally recognized leader in nursing education, research, and clinical practice. Established in 1931, the School is committed to advancing health equity and improving health outcomes through innovative education, clinical practice, and nursing science. The school offers a range of programs, including a Master of Nursing (MN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and PhD in Nursing, all designed to prepare the next generation of nursing leaders. With an inclusive community, state-of-the-art facilities, and a strong emphasis on interprofessional collaboration, the School is dedicated to shaping the future of nursing and healthcare.