College of Nursing Says Goodbye to 2 Retiring Faculty Members

Two long-standing faculty members at the College of Nursing retire in 2011, each leaving her mark on the profession and the college in her own way.

Professor Connie Wilson, EdD, a psychiatric nurse for over 46 years and a licensed counselor, retires from the college with 36 years of teaching at UC. Wilson retires to volunteer as president and CEO of the Health Resource Center of Cincinnati—a nurse-managed medical/psychiatric clinic in Over-the-Rhine that Wilson started in 1995 in collaboration with the College of Nursing.

Under Wilson’s direction, the clinic is now staffed by advanced practice nurses, physicians, counselors, psychologists and social workers. The clinic has reached over 55,000 encounters in providing medical as well as psychiatric care at no cost to the client. In addition, two satellites were fostered by Wilson and her staff: Anthony House, a safe haven for heroin-addicted youth located in Corryville, and the Center for Respite Care, a residential facility for medically ill homeless persons funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Senior Associate Dean Lou Ann Emerson, PhD, retires with 46 years of service to the College of Nursing.

Emerson has served in numerous positions starting as an instructor of nursing in 1965, moving to director of staff development at University Hospital and returning to a full-time faculty position after earning her master’s degree. Over the years she assumed many roles in the college such as department head, director for several large educational grants and projects and as an associate dean since 1998. She was on the cutting edge in activities ranging from the use of computer technology for education in the mid-’80s, the movement of nurse anesthesia programs into colleges of nursing and advanced practice nursing in the late ’90s.

Emerson’s contributions to nursing have been global. Her professional activities include significant involvement with Sigma Theta Tau International and leadership positions in other local, state and regional organizations. Collaborative projects for nursing education have taken her to many countries such as Mexico, South Korea and Jordan.

However, throughout her entire career, students have been at the heart of everything Emerson has done; whether it was through teaching, mentoring or advising, she has impacted thousands of students throughout her 46 years with the college.