UC to Bestow Highest Honor Upon Dedicated Leader in Nationwide Nursing Beverly Malone
Beverly Malone, a force for change in nursing and health care nationwide, will be given an Honorary Doctorate of Science by the University of Cincinnati at Spring Commencement on May 2.
An honorary doctorate is UC's most prestigious award. The special recognition will be bestowed upon Malone, a UC College of Nursing alumna, and three other esteemed recipients during Commencement events held from May 1-2 in Fifth Third Arena. The tradition-rich celebration will be held from May 1-2 in Fifth Third Arena, and it includes multiple ceremonies: the Doctoral Hooding and Masters Recognition Ceremony at 10 a.m. May 1, and Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies (bachelor and associate degrees) will be presented at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 2.
Malone is chief executive officer of the National League for Nursing (NLN) and former deputy assistant secretary for health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Malones tenure at the NLN has been marked by a retooling of the leagues mission to reflect the core values of caring, diversity, integrity and excellence, and an ongoing focus on advancing the nations health.
Her distinguished career has mixed policy, education, administration and clinical practice. Malone has worked as a surgical staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, director of nursing and assistant administrator of nursing. During the 1980s she was dean of the School of Nursing at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. In 1996, she was elected to two terms as president of the American Nurses Association, representing 180,000 nurses nationwide. In 2000, she became deputy assistant secretary for health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Just prior to joining the NLN, Malone was general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, the United Kingdoms largest professional union of nurses, from June 2001 to January 2007. Malone was also a member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
In 2010, she was ranked No. 29 among the 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare Magazine. Malone is a newly elected member of the Institute of Medicine.
CEREMONY DETAILS
Information about the ceremony
including when to arrive, where to park, how to take part via social media and more is available online.
MORE TO LEARN
Further information is available
on the Commencement website.
Tags
Related Stories
University of Cincinnati, UC Foundation launch UC Promise scholarship match
September 29, 2026
A partnership between the University of Cincinnati and the University of Cincinnati Foundation is expanding scholarship support for Ohio students.
From learning to teaching: Bridget Verkamp's full-circle co-op journey
September 25, 2026
When University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Nursing alumna Bridget Verkamp began her registered nurse career on the hematology-oncology unit at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, she already knew the unit well. During her senior year as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) student, she worked on that same unit as a co-op student, gaining the hands-on experience that ultimately led to her being hired after graduation. Now, about a year and a half into her nursing career, Verkamp is experiencing the co-op program from the other side, precepting a UC Nursing co-op student of her own.
UC climbs to No. 3 in the nation for co-ops and internships in 2027 U.S. News rankings
September 22, 2026
In U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings, the University of Cincinnati rises to No. 3 in the nation for co-ops and internships — No. 1 among public institutions — and posts gains in undergraduate business, computer science and psychology.