Diane Lyden Murphy as a faculty member in 1985 (left) and pictured more recently as dean of the Falk College.

Many know Diane Lyden Murphy as dean of the Falk College, a position she has held since 2005. But her journey and impact at Syracuse extend well beyond her deanship. In many ways, her leadership in the Falk College was shaped by the people and experiences in Murphy’s life before Falk College even existed.

As we approach the end of August 2023 and the conclusion of her deanship, we sat down with Murphy to reflect on her personal journey to academia; her calling to social policy, social justice and feminist scholarship; and her remarkable 45 years of service at Syracuse University.

Below is an excerpt of the story that highlights the evolution of the College of Human Services and Health Professions, now the Falk College, under Murphy’s leadership.

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In 2001, Syracuse University merged the College for Human Development, the School of Social Work and College of Nursing together to form the new College of Human Services and Health Professions (renamed the College of Human Ecology in 2007), led by Dean William Pollard, former dean of the School of Social Work. The merge raised questions from faculty about the future of their programs. What does it mean for the formerly independent disciplines? How would the programs continue as a collective college? “It was a challenging time,” says Murphy.

In the fragile early years of transition, the University began a search for Pollard’s successor. Although a dozen candidates were vying for the job, Murphy wasn’t one of them. But the University leadership identified her as a strong candidate, thanks to her track record of success in leadership and community organizing. She was heavily recruited. Still, many of the university’s leaders openly expressed their doubts about the ability of the college to succeed. She recalls a conversation with one member of University leadership who said, “If I were you, I would take the job and let it fall to its own because it’s never going to work. Let it fall apart and that’ll be the end of it.”

Even Murphy had her doubts. But taking the job under the assumption of failure was unacceptable to her. She would accept the job under only one vision: that it would succeed. “I remember saying to myself, ‘If I’m going to do this, we’re going to do it! If these schools must be arranged like this, then we’re going to build it so that we can live and thrive in this structure. Otherwise, all the programs will go away.’ And that’s what I said to the committee: We’re going to build this thing.” In 2005, she was selected unanimously by full faculty vote.

For Murphy, failure wasn’t an option. The programs themselves—professional programs in health, nutrition, social work, human development and others—were too vitally important to society in promoting health and equity. “I said to the faculty, ‘We’re going to take this college and make it what we want it to be. What we know it is. But we will do it. We won’t let it fail because our subject matters are too important. We can do this together—and we will do this together.’”

Murphy was the perfect choice to join people together to create a new community. “I was raised in a crowd from the time I was a young person in a large family. I move in a crowd. I never make a decision alone,” she says. “I assume that I have other experts around me—we bounce off ideas, we have discussions and we come to collective work that I think represents the best of everyone. And that’s guided me even to the deanship.”

As the college structure was being formed, so was its identity. With Murphy at the helm, the college was built on the principles of social justice and civic engagement. It became a college where putting theory into practice is about more than just gaining practical experience, but about serving others and fostering humility and understanding in diverse global cultural contexts.

Among the merged colleges was a curriculum for sport management, written by faculty in consumer studies, one of the academic programs that had been newly introduced as part of the merge in 2001. In 2004, the Falk College launched sport management built on the framework of social justice and corporate social responsibility. In many ways, a socially minded business program was ahead of its time. But the students embraced it, and since 2006 they have raised more than half a million dollars for local charities and continue to lead discussions about diversity and equity in sports.

With support from Syracuse University alumni David Falk ’72 and Rhonda Falk ’74, the college was renamed the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics in 2011. The Falk College Complex, former home of the College of Law, was dedicated 2015. Falk programs which had been dispersed in eight different locations across campus were finally all together under one roof. “It’s 18 years since I became Dean, and we have built it. We are a huge success on every dimension,” Murphy says. “We’ve done it as a collective. We’ve done it as a community.”

Today, the Falk College boasts impactful interdisciplinary faculty research in human services, health and social equity. The curriculum integrates highly effective theory-to-practice learning models for student training. The Falk College created new undergraduate and graduate academic programs in food studies, esports, and sport analytics at Syracuse University, new programs public health from the legacy of the former College of Nursing, and new programs in exercise science which began in the School of Education. Students also benefit from new global study abroad programming across Europe, Asia and Africa.

But most importantly, every year the college graduates a cohort of students who are prepared to make their communities stronger, healthier and more just places. “When students come and study in the Falk College, they’ve already made decisions about what they want to do in their life. They want to be largely involved in improving the lives of others through their professional career. They bring such joy, commitment, eagerness, and innovation. That’s the everyday lift you get from being around Falk students,” Murphy says.

This past fall, they both interned at , a program in the Institute for Human Performance at Upstate Medical University. Vitality promotes health and fitness among various populations, particularly older adults and those with underlying medical conditions.

Exercise science majors Julia Geronimo (left) and Ally Krevolin (right) interned this past fall at the Institute for Human Performance at Upstate Medical University.

“The students at Vitality work directly with our participants to help supervise, modify and correct their exercises and exercise program,” says Amy Allen, exercise physiologist at and coordinator of the Vitality program.

As the intern supervisor, Allen teaches students how to develop individualized exercise programs for Vitality participants and instructs on proper exercise form. The students also learn to perform fitness assessments to identify participant needs and measure progress.

“Our participants have a diverse range of barriers that make exercise programming more complex,” Allen says. “Students need to be critical thinkers to help our folks achieve their goals.”

Hands-On Training

“My internship at Vitality was my first experience not in physical therapy specifically,” says Krevolin, who has also interned at three other institutions. “I was able to help each of the older adults with their exercise programs and fitness testing. It was beneficial for me to see where people go after physical therapy.”

Interacting with Vitality program participants was a large part of the job. “A typical day begins with welcoming participants and addressing any of their concerns, especially with their exercise program,” Geronimo explains. “I talk with Vitality staff about any notable patient statuses or new patients and will bounce around ideas on how to help them and their fitness.”

“By the end of their internship, my goal is for them to gain a good deal of independence to make corrections and adjustments to exercises and performing fitness assessments with minimal oversight from staff,” Allen says.

According to Allen, student interns say they appreciate the emphasis on working directly with participants.

Ally Krevolin

“Students really improve their interpersonal skills, getting accustomed to approaching and talking with a variety of people regarding their exercise program and just talking in general with a demographic that is often different from theirs,” says Allen. “Oftentimes our interns gain an appreciation for the strengths, abilities and commitment to health in this population.”

“This was my first time working specifically with the geriatric population, which I enjoyed,” says Geronimo. “I was truly surprised with how much I learned at Vitality. My time here allowed me to grow and develop myself in the field of exercise physiology.”

Krevolin says she gained practice motivating others. “It was awesome to see the clients improve, and to see them get excited when they saw all their accomplishments,” she notes.

Krevolin initially planned to major in biology, but then she discovered exercise science. “The exercise science program allowed me to take courses that are hands-on and applicable to my future career,” she says.

In addition, Krevolin says completing experience credits were one of the most important components of her undergraduate program, giving students like her the chance for career exploration.

“Since I came to school wanting to be a physical therapist, I was able to further explore the career and observe in various physical therapy settings,” she says. “This helped me to learn more about myself as well as my career.”

The Orange Spirit

Originally from Pennsylvania, Krevolin always felt part of the Orange family. “My dad went to Syracuse in the 80s, so I grew up loving the Orange,” she says. “When I came to tour here, I immediately felt at home and felt a sense of community.”

Julia Geronimo

The Orange spirit caught Geronimo’s attention, too. She came to Syracuse from California and is a double major in exercise science and psychology.

“I have always known that Syracuse University offers a plethora of opportunities and has a great student life. Everyone who goes to SU loves it there,” she says. “Along with that, it was one of the few campuses that offered an accelerated, early assurance DPT program.”

Geronimo and Krevolin are both enrolled in Syracuse University’s 3+3 DPT (doctorate of physical therapy) program with SUNY Upstate, in which students complete both their undergraduate degree and a DPT in 6 years, instead of the usual 7. Students complete their undergraduate program in three years instead of four, and spend their senior year completing first-year coursework at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Syracuse University is the only health and exercise science program in the region that is a part of this partnership.

“The program enabled me to have a smooth transition into graduate school,” says Krevolin, who begins physical therapy school at SUNY Upstate Medical University in June. “I learned from exercise science that the way you treat your patients is so important. The most important thing that I hope to accomplish is to help others and improve others’ quality of life.”

“I hope to find the opportunity to work at a service place that focuses on collaboration over competition,” Geronimo says. In Spring 2022, Geronimo will intern with Upstate Medical University’s rehab/physical therapy unit at the hospital, and with Syracuse Athletics, working on athlete nutrition, and strength and conditioning.

Alizée McLorg, at right, a senior with majors in public health and neuroscience, went to Kenya twice during her time at Syracuse University, for study abroad and an internship opportunity.

For Alizée McLorg ’20, public health is everywhere—from mentoring young adults in local Syracuse schools to analyzing demographic health surveys in East Africa. Her time at Syracuse has allowed her to do both, and in the process, discover her passion for improving the health of communities around the world.

McLorg was born in Quebec City, Canada, and moved to San Diego, California, when she was young. Excited by the idea of going to college far from home, Syracuse University’s neuroscience program caught her attention. It was a perfect fit for her plans to go to medical school. She enrolled as a neuroscience major. But her first semester of freshman year, McLorg discovered something completely new.

As a volunteer with the Office of Engagement’s Young Scholars program, she mentored middle- and high-school students of refugee families. “This experience completely changed my path and made me passionate about working with under-served communities,” McLorg says. “I was always interested in health. So, after my freshman year, I transferred to to be a public health major.”

Now as a senior with majors in both public health and neuroscience and a minor in mathematics, McLorg reflects on her time at Syracuse University, which took her all the way to Kenya and back—twice. “All my experiences from freshman and sophomore year pushed me to study abroad in Nairobi, Kenya, during fall 2018. When I returned in spring 2019, I was eager to start my honors capstone and was interested in returning to Kenya to do meaningful work.”

She connected with her faculty advisors in the Department of Public Health, who connected her with an internship opportunity through nearby SUNY Upstate Medical University. Along with Upstate faculty and medical students and residents, McLorg returned to Kenya in summer 2019.

Upstate partners with the U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Kenya (USAMRD-K) to support its Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). This is where McLorg focused her internship experience.

“The HDSS site is located in Kombewa, Kenya, a rural community about 30 minutes outside of Kisumu and works to collect important information on the health of the population. It covers approximately 40,000 households and 140,000 individuals,” McLorg explains. “Demographic health surveys (DHS) are used all over the world and are critical to capturing accurate information about a population to create solutions to inequities and health problems.”

McLorg worked directly with the HDSS team. “I observed the collection of demographic health data and verbal autopsy data: a common method of determining cause of death in low-income countries. After observing, I helped administer surveys to health facilities to better understand the available resources.”

In addition, she improved her Swahili language skills and improved her skills with DHS, a data collection format commonly used in developing countries. “I also solidified my interest in social determinants of health and reducing health disparities in low-income countries,” she adds.

A Renée Crown Honors student, McLorg’s internship was also her honors capstone, supported by a Crown-Wise Award to cover the cost of travel and living expenses. McLorg, who typically works full-time in the summer, says the Crown-Wise Award made this trip possible.

After graduation, McLorg plans to attend graduate school and use her skills in international health, implementing and evaluating public health programs for East African and refugee populations.

“My experience in Kisumu helped me understand how to be effective and useful in a foreign setting and how to develop lasting relationships that lend to successful and meaningful projects. I believe this ‘boots on the ground’ work will give me better context and perspective when working in the future,” she says.

“My time in Kenya and with the Young Scholars program brought significant meaning and purpose and have helped me identify my passion for global and refugee health,” says McLorg. “Syracuse University and Falk College have given me tremendous opportunities to identify my passions and connect with like-minded individuals.”

Rachel Brennan

In her hometown of New Haven, Connecticut, senior Rachel Brennan ’20 was encouraged to join the Orange family when she heard alumni talk about their time at Syracuse University. The academic disciplines in the Falk College convinced Brennan that Syracuse University was the place for her. “I remember sitting at an informational meeting about the college and thinking that I was interested in every single major offered,” she adds.

As a senior human development and family science major with a minor in addiction studies, Brennan’s time at Syracuse University has given her exciting experiences both far and near—from study abroad in Sydney, Australia, at the University of New South Wales, to a summer internship at Yale University’s Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH).

Brennan, who plans to pursue a master of social work degree and a career in social work, originally enrolled as a social work major. But she discovered a different path to graduate school.

“After reading the courses offered in Human Development and Family Science (HDFS), I decided to switch my major. I believed the HDFS courses would give me a great foundation in understanding theory and practice when working with children and families that I could then apply to my social work graduate study and field placement,” explains Brennan.

Following her gut helped Brennan discover a passion for research, inspired by her coursework. “I was interested in researching the current opioid crisis after taking multiple courses focused on drug use,” she says. “I had gained a concrete understanding on the impact substances have on the brain through my rigorous courses, and I was drawn to learning more about the impact using opioids can have on an individual’s personal life and overall emotional well-being.”

As an intern in the PRCH, Brennan interviewed individuals recovering from opioid addictions. The study examined the effectiveness of different treatments for substance use disorders provided Connecticut Department of Mental Health. “The interview packet was extensive and asked personal questions about how their addiction took form, if they have co-occurring disorders, and if their substance use impacted relationships with­­­­­­­ their loved ones,” Brennan explains.

“Working hands-on with people struggling with substance use disorders was a powerful experience, and I hope to continue researching the impact of addiction on children and families throughout my graduate studies and future career,” Brennan adds.

After graduation, Brennan plans to pursue a master of social work following a clinical track. “I hope to work in out-patient mental health clinics while working toward my L.C.S.W.,” she says. “My end goal is to eventually have my own private therapy practice where I work with children and families impacted by addiction and other traumatic experiences.”

Nathan O’Donnell

A high school student at the time, O’Donnell decided to join the U.S. Air Force upon graduation. “I felt called to serve my country,” he says. “I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and use the skills that the Lord gave me to serve our nation.”

O’Donnell shares in a family legacy of military service. His father served in the Army for four years, and his two younger brothers are in the Air Force. “Growing up, I was always proud of my family’s accomplishments and service,” he says. “I am very honored to have the opportunity to serve with them and continue to honor our family name.”

His paternal grandfather, Edward Joseph O’Donnell, served in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army for a total of 26 years. He enlisted at age 17 before finishing high school. When he returned to Syracuse after World War II, he enrolled in business administration at Syracuse University in the late 1940s.

Today, his grandson Nathan is following in his footsteps as he finishes his junior year at the University.

Born and raised in Syracuse, O’Donnell has many memories of cheering on the Orange in the Carrier Dome. He always dreamed of attending his hometown university, but he had other goals in mind following high school. “I wanted to serve in the military and have the chance to see the world.”

Little did he know his time in the military would later lead him to study at Syracuse University. “While in the military, I had the opportunity to do a few different jobs,” he says. “I enlisted initially as an F-15 Eagle maintainer and later cross-trained into the medical career field as a mental health technician and substance abuse counselor. I really enjoyed working with my fellow service members and their families to overcome challenges.”

O’Donnell’s experience as a mental health technician inspired him to continue his life of service, this time in the field of human services. That’s when he enrolled in the in . “I am so blessed to have the opportunity later in life to make my dream come true and attend Syracuse.”

With the help of dedicated staff in the school’s Office of Field Instruction and their many connections with agencies and organizations throughout the region, O’Donnell completed an internship at the Syracuse Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center in the fall, where he hopes to start his career as a social worker. “I would first like to work at the VA in order to give back to fellow veterans.” He envisions someday taking his skills to other settings, as well, including the Syracuse public school system.

In the meantime, connecting with others in the University’s veteran community continues to be a major highlight of his college experience. “It has been fun to see what classes we have together,” he says. “We are able to go through the same experiences together.”

O’Donnell says he has found a supportive community at Syracuse: “Overall, my experience as a student veteran at Syracuse has been amazing. There have been so many people that have been put in my path that have been so helpful and welcoming. My transition from military service to civilian and student life could not have gone more smoothly. Syracuse University is truly a place for veterans.”

After completing his bachelor’s degree, O’Donnell plans to continue his education at Syracuse and pursue a master of social work degree.

Barbara “Bobbi” Lee Harris, 1998. (Photo courtesy of the Syracuse University Archives)

Barbara “Bobbi” Lee Harris ’61, Ph.D. ’90, Syracuse University alumna and professor emerita of nursing, passed away in February 2019.

Harris was born in 1939 on Long Island and spent much of her adult life living in Syracuse. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 1961 at the University’s School of Nursing, housed at 103 Waverly Ave. at that time. She completed rotations at the Hospital of the Good Shepard, located in what is today Huntington Hall. She received a Ph.D. in 1990 from the University’s School of Management, now the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. She also held a master’s degree from Boston University, earned in 1967.

She was head nurse at Syracuse Memorial Hospital, now Crouse Hospital, when Chancellor William P. Tolley appointed Harris to the University’s School of Nursing as a clinical instructor in 1965. She was quickly promoted to assistant professor in 1967 and later to associate professor in 1995.

Harris taught leadership and management courses to senior- and graduate-level students in the School of Nursing. Upon her retirement in May 1998, she was named professor emerita of nursing and celebrated 33 years of service at Syracuse University and the School of Nursing, which by then had been renamed the College of Nursing.

Along with two of her colleagues—professors emerita of nursing Rosemary Lape ’56, G’68 and Julia Evelyn “Ev” Osborne ’47, ’49, G’67—Harris studied for one year as part of the Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Fellowship program in Rochester, New York, in 1978 and 1977, respectively. With the experience gained at the fellowship, Lape, Osborne and Harris started a primary care nurse practitioner program at Syracuse University.

Harris was active in the University’s Omicron Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the international nursing honor society, as well as the New York League of Nurses and the New York State Nurses Association. She was involved in the local American Red Cross Disaster Nursing Committee; was a member of the New York State Archeological Society; and was on the board of the Syracuse University Nurses Alumni Association, where she also served as historian.

A prolific and thoughtful writer, Harris wrote a history of Syracuse University’s College of Nursing and a history of the Central Counties Professional Nurses Association. One of her historical projects documented the World War II activities and accomplishments of Central New York nurses and doctors of the 52nd General Hospital, organized at what was then Syracuse University’s College of Medicine, now SUNY Upstate Medical University. She was an avid supporter of the Nurse’s House and the Center for Nursing Research of the Foundation of the New York State Nurses Association.

Kelsey Montondo

Montondo grew up in a single-parent home with her mother and sister. “Although our father had left when I was young, there was never a lack of love or feeling of family. My grandparents acted as second parents, and my grandfather was the father figure every girl needed growing up,” she says. When Montondo was still very young, her grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a nervous system disorder that affects motor skills. She recalls feelings of helplessness and sorrow, accompanied by a desire to understand the condition. Throughout his treatment, she witnessed the best—and the worst—in healthcare: providers with intense compassion, others who seemed to lack empathy, both of whom inspired her. “Each of these experiences solidified my passions and helped me make the decision to pursue a career in medicine. Being on both sides, patient and caregiver, I hope to relate my experiences, both good and bad, to my future in medicine.”

In 2014, she came to Syracuse University. “I visited a plethora of colleges during my search, but none of them gave me the same first impression that SU did.” A large university is something she always wanted to experience, she says, and she is grateful for the campus’ diverse population and the people she has met here. “The sense of community, not only among the students, but also to members of the Syracuse area, who all have a similar bond and love for the Orange, is something that definitely drew me to SU,” she adds. Plus, it was close enough to easily visit family in her hometown of Buffalo.

At Falk College, she majors in to study disease prevention and the promotion of people’s long life and overall good health. “I often get asked the question ‘what is public health?’ and I normally give the sarcastic answer of ‘public health is everything and everywhere,’ which in fact I find to be very true. It is difficult to find something that does not relate to public health in some way,” Montondo explains. She minors in nutrition, a Falk College program that celebrated its 100th anniversary earlier this year. “So many of the courses taught in Falk College overlap, and oftentimes, one cannot be discussed without the other.” She believes Falk programs are inherently interdisciplinary, and in her four years, she has noticed increasing opportunities for students in subjects like the environment and policy.

It was October 2016, the start of her junior year, when Montondo’s grandfather passed away. “Losing the man that raised me, that I looked up to, that I learned from, that pushed me to be the best person I could each and every day was a very hard loss. However, from this loss I also found clarity. I was reassured about my passions and my dreams and to never settle for anything less than what I know I am capable of.”

And Montondo did not settle. This fall, in a competitive selection process, she was named one of 35 Syracuse University students in the 2017-18 Remembrance Scholar cohort, which, she says, is “without a doubt one of my most proud accomplishments.” These scholarships were established as a way to honor the 35 Syracuse University students who, alongside 235 others, tragically lost their lives in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. “Being given the honor and responsibilities that come along with being a Remembrance Scholar is something I will carry with me, not just for this year but for a lifetime,” says Montondo. The Remembrance Scholars will lead a during Remembrance Week on Oct. 22-28 to “Look Back, Act Forward.”

At Syracuse, Montondo is actively involved in a number of research projects, including the Syracuse Lead Study led by , graduate director and Falk Family Endowed Professor of Public Health. Montondo says she has gained new skills from the study and, by working directly with individuals from the Syracuse community, has also discovered a new passion for eliminating health disparities in underprivileged communities.

Montondo also works as a Certified New York State Emergency Medical Technician for Syracuse University Ambulance and Syracuse University Health Services. She serves as president of Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity and volunteers her time at , a summer camp for children of parents with cancer.

Long term, her goal is to become a clinical healthcare provider. She plans to use her public health knowledge to apply preventative medicine to her practice. “All of my experiences thus far at Syracuse have only reinforced in myself that medicine is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” says Montondo.

From left to right: Professor emerita of nursing Carol Brooks ’55, Julia Osborne and the late Dorothy “Dottie” Mae Lott Goodwin G’61 at a celebration for Harris on receiving a Ph.D.

Born in 1926 in Syracuse, Julia Evelyn “Ev” (Starr) Osborne ’47, ’49, G’67, professor emerita of nursing, was one of the first students to enroll in the new Syracuse University School of Nursing, established in 1943 as a response to the rising demand for nurses during wartime. There, she earned her master’s degree and then served as an associate professor for 35 years.

Osborne, who passed away in November 2016,  and fellow Syracuse University professor emerita the late Rosemary Lape ’56, G’68, both received Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Fellowships, which took them to Rochester, New York, in 1977 and 1978, respectively. The fellowship was intended to help more nursing schools offer training in clinical primary care. At this time, nurse practitioners represented just a small fraction of nurses, yet they were starting to take ownership of more and more patient responsibilities while working with physicians.

Osborne, Lape and colleague Barbara “Bobbi” Harris ’61, G’90, Ph.D. ’90 together developed the primary care nurse practitioner program at Syracuse University.

“They did a lot for the School of Nursing,” says Harris, a professor emerita of nursing who explained they hosted health fairs at the University and other places, covering specialized topics as specialists in health assessments. “When [Osborne and Lape] came back,” she adds, “we hosted an alumni get-together in the spring, and those two were the program. They talked about their experience in learning how to do physicals and health assessments.”

For example, in 1981, Osborne and Lape presented “Physical Assessment for the Occupational Health Nurse,” an ongoing program that took place at monthly meetings of the Central New York Association of Occupational Health Nurses, focusing on neurological assessment in the fall and muscular-skeletal assessment in the spring.

During her retirement, Osborne shared her love of the arts with her grandchildren and volunteered at Sunshine Horses, a Syracuse horse rescue facility. Her connection to Syracuse University as both student and faculty will be remembered fondly.

From left to right: Lape’s huband, Willard E. Lape, Jr., daughter Melanie (Lape) Pitts, Rosemary L. Lape ‘56, G’68, Lape’s daughter-in-law, and son Willard E. Lape III at Lape’s retirement party.

Rosemary L. Lape ’56, G’68, professor emerita of nursing, was both a Syracuse University alumna and faculty member. Born 1931 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Lape received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Syracuse University School of Nursing.

Lape, who passed away in September 2016, served as an associate professor of nursing at Syracuse University for 32 years. “The most outstanding thing about [Lape] was that she was the most ethical person you would ever meet,” says fellow professor emerita of nursing Barbara “Bobbi” Harris ’61, G’90, Ph.D.’90.

Lape and her colleague, the late Julia Evelyn “Ev” Osborne ’47, ’49, G‘67, professor emerita of nursing, each studied for one year as part of the Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Fellowship program in Rochester, New York in 1978 and 1977, respectively. With the experience gained at the fellowship, together she, Osborne and Harris started a primary care nurse practitioner program at Syracuse University.

Lape is quoted in a 1978 article, “Nurse Practitioners Examine, Treat Patients,” saying, “I believe that primary care is the future of nursing and I want to be there.”

In the article, Dr. Ungenborg Mauksch, then-director of the Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Fellowship Program in Princeton, New Jersey said, “It is hoped that the program will increase the number of nursing schools offering primary care training to produce nurse practitioners. These specially trained nurses now represent only a small percentage of nurses, but they have shown that practicing jointly with physicians, they can assume responsibility for a major share of the patients seen in practices offering general medical services.”

In the same article, then-Syracuse University Dean of Nursing Thetis Group said, “We are fortunate that Prof. Lape and Prof. Evelyn Starr Osborne will be able to work together as a team in this project.”

Lape’s involvement at Syracuse University will be warmly remembered.

Kay Buschle (left) with the late Alice Reynolds ‘60, professor emerita of nursing who served in the U.S. Army Nursing Corps in London during World War II.

Kay A. (Brown) Buschle ’57, G’62, professor emerita of nursing, earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Syracuse University School of Nursing, and much of her career was spent there as a professor of nursing.

Buschle passed away in January 2017. Her relationship to Syracuse University remains part of the joyful memory of her life.

Buschle was heavily involved in the Syracuse University Nursing Alumni Association and in alumni activities of neighboring SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

“Kay was a leader in the Omicron Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing for decades,” says fellow nursing alumna and colleague Eileen Lantier ’74, G’76, Ph.D. ’92, senior associate dean of faculty, curriculum and alumni at Falk College. “As president of the SU Nurses Alumni Association, she led the creation of a legacy to Syracuse University, the Alumni/Omicron bench can be seen and appreciated in the Orange Grove on campus.”

“She was a very friendly person who was easy to know, and we were a small group of faculty,” says colleague Barbara “Bobbi” Harris ’61, G’90, Ph.D.’90, professor emerita of nursing and fellow nursing alumna.

She and Buschle remained good friends over the years. “When I had a car accident on Route 3, hit a tree, and got taken to a hospital up there, I called her and her husband to come pick me up,” she recalls.

“We were close, and we talked for an hour on the phone, which I don’t do with many people,” she laughs.

Buschle’s kindness was extended to her students, as well. “She just endeared herself to the students. She was always aware of the needs of the students and did whatever she could to help them,” says nursing alumna and professor emerita of nursing Beverly “Bev” Martin ’48, ’59, G’70. She and Buschle both worked with the undergraduate nursing students, and even shared an office for a period of time. “She loved her work.”

Buschle spent her life in Central Square, New York, where she enjoyed boating on Oneida Lake, spending time with family, friends and colleagues, as well as supporting SU athletics as a devoted basketball and football fan.

“She loved the university. She loved the school. She loved the students and she loved sports,” Martin adds. “She just was a wonderful, exuberant person to get to know. And I knew her for a long, long time.”