Alumni Newsletter July - August 2025

By Dean Allison Vorderstrasse

Dear Alumni and Friends,

I hope you are enjoying having more hours of sunlight and the remainder of summer! I wanted to send you a update on a few things to look forward to over the next few months and also acknowledge the passing of a beloved emerita faculty member.

Events you won't want to miss:

• Learn about improving medical device safety with eye tracking, featuring Professor Karen Giuliano virtually on Thursday, September 9 at 11:30 am. No cost to attend, webinar is put on by Tobii.
• Homecoming- Saturday, October 4
• Massachusetts Healthcare Summit- Wednesday, November 12

Did you know?

• Associate Professor Lisa Wolf qualified for the Veteran Fencing World Championships.
• Christine Whelan Knapp '72 completed the fifth and final installment of her modern midwife mysteries.
• Assistant Professor Linda Koh '22PhD wrote a children's activity book all about nutrition.
• Karen Meade '30Ph.D. received grant to commercialize her invention, the b3 Buddy.

Christine and Linda both generously donated their books to be featured in our archival display case in Skinner Hall. If you have any UMass nursing artifacts, collectibles, or items you would like us to display, please contact bmonat [at] uma-foundation [dot] org (subject: ) (Ben Monat).

Paying our Respects

Emerita Professor Dr. Karen Johnson sadly passed away over the summer. She taught here from 1966 - 1976 and was a beloved mentor, colleague, and friend, and tirelessly worked with Drs. Barbara Poremba '72 and Ann Sheridan on recognition for the WWII U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. She was particularly fond of catching up with former students at Homecoming and other events, where she would make the trip from Maine to attend. Her joy in life was evident, and it would take just one conversation with her to feel like you had known her for years. Her passing is a huge loss for our community and we send our deepest condolences to her family.

May we enjoy every day, and I look forward to writing to you again when the school year commences.

Best wishes,

Allison Vorderstrasse
Professor and Dean
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing