Alumni Newsletter June - August 2026
Honoring Liz Theroux and Remembering Dr. Mary K. Alexander
By Dean Allison Vorderstrasse
I hope that you are staying cool and are possibly having some time for a staycation or a getaway. While you're enjoying the sunshine, please read about exciting events you can attend in the fall and watch a candid interview with Liz Theroux, who is retiring after 23 years with the College as our undergraduate program director, and more informally, as a "Mom" to countless students along the way.
One community member we lost whose impact I want to share with you is Dr. Mary K. Alexander ’74 MS, who sadly passed away in May. Dr. Alexander, or Mary K. as she was known, deeply cared about the nursing profession. She loved mentoring nurses throughout their careers and had a keen sense of the important intersections of nursing, advocacy, legislation, and professional connections. Always a straight shooter with a sense of humor and wit, she was a lifelong learner who learned something new from every interaction - whether at her favorite supermarket Market Basket, or sitting in the park in Shrewsbury, where she was known as the "park nurse."
Her lifelong partner was our second dean, Dr. Lillian R. Goodman, who passed away in 2018. Together, they established the Dr. Lillian R. Goodman and Dr. Mary K. Alexander Fellowship, supporting PhD scholars at the College. Her passion was for community nursing and that was a guiding principle for how they established the Worcester State University Nursing Program together.
Mary K. always appreciated when the focus was on the stories behind nurses and deeply cared about the personal connection.
It is my hope that the newsletter below embodies that spirit of connection and helps nurses and community members learn more about one another, what inspires them, and the impact they make.
Celebrating Liz Theroux
Elizabeth Theroux, affectionately known to the College community as "Liz", will be retiring August 31 from the university. She has been the heartbeat of our College, making all who came into her office feel welcomed.
Watch as Liz sat down with Chelsie Field, director of communications to reflect on her impressive career.
Feel free to reply to this email to send your best wishes to Liz! She will be retiring to Baltimore where she plans on being close to family and catching many Orioles games. She will always have a home at our College and University. Thank you Liz for your love and care which you brought every day to your work and mentorship of our students.
Letter of Gratitude from outgoing PhD Program Director
Dr. Rae Walker has been a force for good and a fearless advocate in the seven years they have led our PhD program. Rae has made our College a welcoming home for nursing scholars hailing from the Pioneer Valley, across Massachusetts, and globally. This open letter provides a unique perspective as to the growth of the program, nurse research, invention, and innovation. Thank you, Dr. Walker, for your leadership, care, and dedication to our PhD nurses!
Nursing + Engineering First-Ever Joint Professorship
Dr. Emily Patterson is joining UMass as the inaugural Marieb Endowed Professor of Nursing and Engineering Innovation. This is a joint professor appointment between the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing and Riccio College of Engineering in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.
Her team’s redesign of hospital telemetry alarm systems resulted in up to 59% faster nurse response to code blue alarms across three hospitals and up to a 38% reduction in overall alarm burden, work that informed recommendations from the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation and the international medical device safety standard for alarm sounds.
Welcome New Alumni Babies
Chris Diaz ’23 DNP: "Sharing some happy news regarding the addition of EMCON’s newest villager, Brynn Christine Diaz. Her dads are so in love!! She was born on July 12, 2026, at 12:39 a.m., weighing 7 lbs 9 oz and measuring 20 inches long. Fun fact about her: she was born via Canadian surrogacy, so she has dual citizenship!"
Tunde Olatinwo ’21 welcomed his son Luke in the wintertime and is growing fast! Luke is now six months old and he and family are doing well.
Alumni Updates
Gabrielle Abelard '97, '01 MS received the Melva Jo Hendrix Lectureship Award from the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses.
Deborah Kenny '02 PhD completed a Doctorate in Bioethics (DBE) from Loyola University Chicago, received May 5, 2026. She is also working with a group of established Nurse Ethicists to start a new organization titled, the "Society for Nursing Ethics International", which already has 110 members from 10 countries. Deb was also named to the ANA Ethics Advisory Board, working toward position statements regarding ethical issues in nursing. Deb's new focus will be on educating nurses in Nursing Ethics, differentiating it from Bioethics.
Linda Koh '22 PhD will be inducted into the American Academy of Nursing later this year.
EMCNEI (Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation) Corner
Eye-Tracking Technology Helps Researchers See IV Pump Safety Through Student Nurses' Eyes
The approach, detailed in a study published in the June 2026 issue of Advancing Medical-Surgical Nursing, marks the first known use of eye-tracking technology to evaluate IV smart pumps.
EMCNEI Report: Volume 4
What is the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation? What is the work it does with nurses, engineers, and many other disciplines? Learn more about the center and read the full report.
Events
Saturday, October 10, 2026
11:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Skinner Hall, 651 N Pleasant St
Event Highlights:
- Join our alumni board for a light lunch and afternoon of celebrating nursing, engaging speakers, and a tour of our clinical simulation laboratory.
- Bring the family - student ambassadors will be on hand with children's activities, and our ALANA student group will host a table where kids can learn more about what it's like to be a nurse.
Massachusetts Healthcare Summit
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Student Union Ballroom, Campus Center
Event Highlights:
- Learn from local leaders about issues facing rural healthcare and solutions to address the communities' needs.
- Read a recap from last year's event and save the date. Breakfast and lunch will be included.
In conclusion:
As we prepare for the fall semester, I want to pause and thank those who got us here. Liz Theroux gave our students a home away from home for over two decades, and Dr. Walker's leadership grew our PhD program into what it is today. To every alum sharing good news this season, thank you for staying close to us. As always, feel free to reach out with news of your own, we would love to feature what you are up to.
Sincerely,
Allison Vorderstrasse
Professor and Dean
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing