Janet Henne, MPH, RN
BSN ‘54 - Janet’s passionate ties to Michigan State University go beyond her alma mater and tie close to the College of Nursing. She is proud of the close bond she shared with Dean Emerita, the late Dr. Isabelle Payne.

As an assistant to Dr. Payne, Janet began her nursing career at Sparrow Hospital. Wanting to travel the world, Janet later moved to San Diego where she pursued degrees in public health and worked as Executive Director at the Visiting Nurses Association. In 1991, after serving more than 30 years with the organization, Janet utilized her expertise and experiences elsewhere at a locally run speech therapy office.

Janet retired from the nursing profession in 1998 but continues to remain vested in the College and the profession. In honor of her dear mentor, Janet has made a legacy commitment to the College in her estate plans to an endowed professorship fund in Dr. Payne’s name.

Joyce Carson Runberg, BSN, RN, EMT
BSN ‘54 - Joyce has contributed many firsts in the nursing profession. As a graduate of the first nursing class at MSU, she helped the College gain accreditation by passing State Boards.

Joyce went on to practice as a Pediatric Nurse and then transitioned into nursing education with the Bay City Practical Nurse School. She taught a pilot program that educated high school juniors and seniors who would merge after graduation into the school and become graduate practical nurses six months later.

Continuing with her mark of many firsts, Joyce and her husband John took their first emergency medical technicians course on Beaver Island. Joyce went on to work as an EMT for 10 years servicing patients in planes and ambulances from the island to Charlevoix. She then opened her own non-profit organization, B.I. Hospice and Helping Hands, which helped over 200 patients before merging with Munson Hospice of Traverse City in 2008.

Joyce McConnell Rogers, PhD, RN
BSN ‘56 - Joyce has explored her call in nursing and provided a wide array of care and teaching in the Grand Rapids community.

Balancing between field practice and teaching, Joyce began her career as a Scrub Nurse in OB/GYN before becoming an Instructor of Nursing at Butterworth Hospital. With the hospital, she continued as supervisor of the maternity unit as well as an expectant parent instructor. Joyce later transitioned to other locations within Grand Rapids, serving as Director of Maternal Child Development, Infant Mental Health Specialist, Associate Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Faculty at the Kirkhof College of Nursing, Grand Valley State University. She also works as an NCAST Instructor for the Kent County Health Department.

Joyce’s dedication to improving and maintaining high standards of treatment within her communities earned her the College’s 1984 Outstanding Alumni Award for Community Healthcare.

JoAnna Heim Fields, BSN, RN
BSN ‘56 - The national nursing and nursing faculty shortage has been an epidemic affecting the profession for many years. In 1996, JoAnna became the Director of Nursing at King’s Daughters Home in Midland, MI, and worked tirelessly to ensure that the home delivered quality care.

JoAnna’s dedication, leadership and creation of a friendly work environment are attributes her staff noted kept them working at the facility. She was instrumental in ensuring the nursing home received the highest rankings possible.

JoAnna is currently retired from her 22 years at the King’s Daughters Home, but her contributions earned her the College’s 2004 Outstanding Alumni Award. She continues to stay active in the Midland community and can be seen on the highway sporting her LUV MSU license plate.

Mary Ellen Smith Gillette, MEd, RN
BSN ‘57 - The safety and health of children in public schools is crucial and sometimes overlooked. However, Mary Ellen’s contributions to the students of Hillsborough County Public School system in Tampa, FL. are one of continuing strength.

Working in one of the largest school districts in the U.S., Mary Ellen began as supervisor of the school district’s health services before moving to Director of Student Services. Through her leadership, new healthcare delivery systems were developed to create a better learning environment for both the children and staff.

During her tenure, Mary Ellen established programs to allow on-site assessment and treatment of students which lead to a significant decrease in absences from school.  She was the co-founder of the Florida School Health Association and Charter President.  Mary Ellen was honored with the College’s 2002 Outstanding Alumni Award for her efforts to improve the health and well-being of students in local schools and in the state of Florida.

C. Louise Billings Brown, MSN, RN
BSN ‘57 - C. Louise made her mark on the College as the first African American Graduate. She has successfully intertwined her faith in God and her skill as a health professional with her passion for helping people reach their full potential physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

In 2000, she retired as the Public Health Director for the City of Evanston, IL where she directed all operations for this major municipal health department. In this position she enforced Federal, State and Local Public Health Laws on food sanitation, infectious disease, environmental health and nursing home regulation.

As a Community Health Nursing Consultant, she conducted a complete assessment of public health nursing field operations for the Chicago Department of Public Health. In addition, C. Louise is widely recognized as a speaker on such issues as health and wholeness, group interaction, spiritual leadership and community organization.

Elaine Tortelli LaLonde, BSN, RN
BSN ‘59 - From humble beginnings, Elaine knows first-hand the power of a quality education. Inspired by her Italian parents, she was encouraged to pursue higher education to enrich her life. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from MSU, she enjoyed many years working in a variety of hospital and public health patient care positions, including administration.

Elaine is proud of the education she received and has not only maintained close ties with fellow classmates; she has also remained vested in future generations of nursing students.

Elaine and her husband Dale were the first to make a significant leadership commitment to THE BOTT BUILDING for Nursing Education and Research. Additionally, the couple have finalized estate plans to endow a scholarship that will benefit graduate students in the College of Nursing.

Sally Schwem Whitten, MPH, RN
BSN ‘59 - Sally worked for a three county health department for 25 years. The last 10 years she was Director of Personal Health Services. From there she went to an agency that grew to become Visiting Nurse Services of Southern Michigan (VNSSM). Under her leadership both agencies grew in size, scope of programs and services and populations served. VNSSM was granted full accreditation on the first try by both the NLN and JCAHO.

Sally served on numerous boards and committees, was President of the North Avenue Women’s Center Board, is past President of the Michigan Public Health Association and has served on the Board of Directors of Lifecare Ambulance Service since 1986. She co-authored published articles on home care and gave national presentations on nutrition education in home care, strategic planning, and preparing for accreditation.

Sally received Battle Creek’s first Athena Award. In 1992, she received the College’s Outstanding Alumni Award. She has made estate plans to leave a legacy to the College, the place she credits with teaching her integrity, caring, excellence, and persistence.

John Nikkari, PhD, RN
BSN ‘59 - Prior to attending MSU, John was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944. His troop was sent to the Philippine Islands to battle the Japanese. While sailing to new posts after the war, John encountered two typhoons that sank three ships and took over 4,500 servicemen to the bottom ofthe ocean. After the Army, he worked at Newberry State Hospital as a Psychiatric Attendant Nurse.

John made a conscious decision to pursue academic excellence. He left his job to pursue a nursing diploma and became the first male to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from MSU. He went on to receive a master’s degree in Nursing and a PhD in Education.

Throughout John’s career, he held various positions from Assistant Director of Nursing to Director of Nursing Education and Associate Professor of Nursing at Eastern Michigan University.