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Meet the 2009-2010 Nursing Alumni Association Board
 Sharon Buursma is the President of the Alumni Association. Sharon's background includes a 1965 Bachelor of Science from the College of Nursing at Michigan State University, where she graduated with honors. Sharon also holds a Master of Business Administration with Distinction, which she obtained in 1990 from Grand Valley State University. Sharon embarked on the Nursing profession because she wanted to make a positive difference in the world, and nursing seemed to be the most interesting and exciting way to do so. Her passion and determination for the career have kept her very busy since graduation. After earning her first degree, Sharon worked for two years as a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department and Hemodialysis at Sparrow Hospital. After studying at New York University and in Chicago, Sharon returned to Grand Rapids and became a coronary care and intensive care nurse. She soon discovered her love for business management and quickly became the President/Chief Executive Officer of the Visiting Nurses Services. For the next 20 years, the organization grew to become the premier home health agency in West Michigan. Later Sharon was promoted to the merged Visiting Nurses and Spectrum Health Senior Executive Team's Executive Vice President. In 2004, Sharon retired from her full-time career. She stays busy now as a stock and option trader, golfing, spending time with her grandchildren and various volunteer work. Some of her current activities include: Visiting Nurse Services Foundation Board of Trustees, Grand Valley University Foundation Board of Trustees, mentoring and coaching students and young executives and Go Red for Women, American Heart Association.
 Patrick Crane is the Vice President of the Alumni Association. Patrick graduated from the College of Nursing at Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in 2003, and then again in 2007 with a Masters in Nursing Education. Even before graduating, he secured a position as an Instructor at the College of Nursing at Michigan State University, where he currently remains. Patrick is also employed as a staff nurse and charge nurse at a local Emergency Department, on a per diem basis. Patrick's passion for nursing began long before pursuing the career professionally. He originally felt the desire to improve the health of individuals within the community. Also having a strong interest in science and humanities, nursing seemed like the perfect fit. To this date, Patrick views his greatest professional accomplishment as earning his Master's degree in Nursing. His greatest reward within the profession is having the trust of his patients and seeing them transform into healthy individuals.
 Lyn O'Connor has been appointed Secretary of the Alumni Association. Lyn graduated from the College of Nursing at Michigan State University with a Master's in 1985. Before obtaining her Master's, Lyn graduated with an AND from Lansing Community College, and then with a Bachelor's from the University of Michigan. After graduation, Lyn worked for the Michigan Department of Corrections as a Health Care Administrator and part-time as a Nurse Practitioner. She stayed here for 17 years until retiring from the position. Though retired, Lyn continued to work for the MDOC until January of 2007. At this time she began work for the College of Nursing at Michigan State University as a Nurse Practitioner and at the Ingham County Jail, a job she enjoyed thoroughly and found it as interesting as she did challenging. Lyn also keeps busy with volunteer work. She assists at the Turner Dodge Mansion in Lansing, the American Red Cross, the Greater Lansing Food Bank, the Westside Neighborhood Association and Advent House Ministries. Lyn is a proud mother of three, and has many retirement goals she is still striving towards.
 Stephanie May joined the Nursing Alumni Board this fall as the Colorado State Champion. She completed her Bachelors of Science from the College of Nursing at Michigan State University in 1988 and in 1993 received her Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from the University of California, Los Angeles. Currently Stephanie has a hospital appointment at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Aurora, Colorado and academic appointments at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and is also a clinical coordinator for Texas Wesleyan University at University of Colorado Management of graduate student clinical education. Stephanie chose Nurse Anesthesia as a profession in high school based on her love of science and it was cemented after meeting a CRNA at her high school career night. When asked, what legacy do you want to leave behind in your professional career? Stephanie answered, "I wish I could impart to all healthcare professionals is the value to the patient in our working as a team. Some of the power struggles in healthcare benefit no one and decrease job satisfaction for everyone. MSU taught me the value of collaborating, listening to and assisting each other towards a positive patient outcome. The patient meets goals faster and everyone goes home at the end of the day feeling good about what they gave.”
 Mary Wierenga is currently the Florida State Champion. Mary's career in nursing was inspired by her great-aunt, also in the profession. Mary's nursing education began in March of 1968, as she had already earned her diploma and was completing her Bachelor of Science in the College of Nursing. After graduating from Michigan State University, Mary was placed on a special program within the University to work with the faculty and learn about teaching methods. After five months, Mary went to the University of Florida for her Masters of Nursing, returning to Michigan State afterwards to teach Medical Surgical Nursing. In 1976, Mary resigned from Michigan State University to complete her doctoral degree. In 1979, Mary joined the faculty at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. During her time at UWM, Mary had several funded research programs including a NINR Grant for Lifestyle Modification. She also held various administrative positions: the Associate Dean of Research, Director of the Doctoral Program and Associate Dean of the UWM Graduate School. In 2003, while the Director of the Doctoral Program, Mary began the first doctoral online program. Over the years Mary has kept busy with several volunteer programs, including the Wisconsin Nurses Association, the American Diabetes Association and the Midwest Nursing Research Society. While Mary is currently retired, she still teaches a course a semester from her home in The Villages, Florida. She also has consulted with several nursing doctoral programs.
 Andrea Schewe h as been appointed the Illinois State Champion. Andrea graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the College of Nursing at Michigan State University in 1970. Her career in nursing was first inspired by her Grandfather who worked as an ophthalmologist in Flint, Michigan. He encouraged her into the profession, a career in which she thoroughly enjoyed. Since graduation, Andrea has enjoyed extensive experiences within the field. Her first position after graduation was at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan in the neonatology department. She then moved on to Lansing Pediatric Associates as a staff nurse and than to Health Central as a nurse practitioner. Andrea then served as a Public Health Nurse in Northern Michigan. She managed a Pediatric Office with four pediatricians in St. Charles, Illinois until her retirement in 2005. Andrea is married to Bill Schewe, has three children and six grandchildren. She is also a proud twelve-year survivor of breast cancer. Andrea is currently active not only on the Alumni Board but in her church supporting parishioners with health care issues and assisting community members to doctor visits.
 Judith Fouladbakhsh joined the College of Nursing Alumni Board July 1, 2009 as the Southeast Michigan State Champion. A native of New York state she completed her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1969 and 1975. In 1978 she moved to southeast Michigan with her husband and joined the faculty of the College of Nursing at Wayne State University. Judi received her PhD in 2006 from the College of Nursing at Michigan State University. Judi is currently working on three research projects: A Pilot Study of Gentle Yoga for Lung Cancer Patients, Patterns and Predictors of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Cancer Population, and Gender, Symptom Experience and CAM Practices Among Cancer Survivors.
 Marilee Soltis is currently the Mid-Michigan State Champion. Marilee graduated from the College of Nursing at Michigan State University in 1979 with a Bachelor's in Science. Marilee was inspired at a young age with the passion to take up the nursing profession. At the age of 12, Marilee was struck with a life-altering illness. She believes that the compassion and aid the nurses showed her during this time motivated her into providing patients with the same treatment through her chosen career. After graduating from Michigan State University, Marilee worked at Sparrow Heath System where she stayed until 1991. At this time, she and her husband moved to Virginia. They stayed in the south for 13 years, and during this time Marilee worked at the Medical College of Virginia and then as the Director of Nursing at a Continuing Care Retirement Center in Richmond. Her family moved back to the Lansing area in 2005. Since then, Marilee has worked as a Nurse Surveyor for the State of Michigan Complaint Investigation Unit. While her profession keeps her busy, Marilee finds time to serve as a Eucharistic Minister at her church and volunteers her time once a month at Sparrow Hospital.
 Marci Mechtel is a faculty member and and is the Graduate Programs Champion for the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Her career in nursing was first inspired by her Grandmother, who worked as a nurse for 50 years. Marci saw the benefits a personable atmosphere within nursing, and knew the profession was for her. Marci's background includes obtaining a Bachelors of Nursing in 1988 and a Master's degree focusing in Nursing Education in 2006, both from Michigan State University. Before graduating with her Master's, Marci worked for three years at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan in the pediatric intensive care unit. After her work at Sparrow, Marci worked for fifteen years at Johns Hopkins Hospital in the pediatric intensive care unit. She also served as a member of the PICU transport team that serviced the mid-Atlantic regional with both air and ground transport. She also spent time as a pediatric clinical instructor for Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Marci is currently the course coordinator for Michigan State's Nursing 440, a pediatric class.
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