News & Events

Baltimore, Md. - Michelle R. Spencer, DNP ’19, MS ’06, BSN ’84, RN, assistant professor and director of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Community/Public Health Nursing specialty at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded the Dr. Peg E. Daw Nurse Faculty Annual Recognition Award in recognition of her contributions to nursing education. Spencer was recognized for demonstrating excellence in “Contributions to Nursing Education,” one of five categories for recognition. The award is part of the Nurse Support Program (NSP) II, a statewide initiative funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). In 2024, the award was named in memory of Daw, DNP, RN-BC, CNE, FAAN, who significantly contributed to and made an impact on nursing and health care throughout the state of Maryland as the MHEC NSP II grant administrator for 12 years. Deans and directors of Maryland nursing programs may nominate one nurse faculty member at their institution for the one-time $10,000 award annually.  “Receiving the Dr. Peg E. Daw Nurse Faculty Annual Recognition award for Contributions to Nursing Education is a great honor,” Spencer said. “It affirms my commitment to excellence in nursing education. I sincerely appreciate this recognition and the support from my colleagues and institution." Spencer joined UMSON in 2010 as an adjunct faculty member, and in 2012 she was appointed to full-time faculty as a clinical instructor, bringing more than 28 years of clinical experience to her teaching role. Her work focuses on addressing health disparities and serving vulnerable populations. After earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from UMSON in 2019, she was promoted to assistant professor. She previously earned her Master of Science in Community/Public Health Nursing and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), both from UMSON. Spencer is responsible for the community/public health courses and clinical experiences for the BSN program, RN-to-BSN program, and entry-into-nursing master’s programs, as well as having responsibility for the MSN in Community/Public Health. Collectively, these programs prepare nearly 1,100 students each year. “Too often exceptional nursing faculty are not recognized for their consistent day-in and day-out contributions to nursing education,” Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing and professor, wrote in a letter of nomination. “Therefore, it is my privilege to nominate Dr. Spencer as an exemplary faculty member and frontline educator helping to shape the preparation of the next generation of nurses.” As an example of her contributions to nursing education and fostering innovative student learning opportunities, Ogbolu cited Spencer’s work over a period of nine years with the Christopher Place Employment Academy, a residential employment program focused on men who are experiencing or are at risk for homelessness, have a history of substance use disorders and related health conditions, or who may be transitioning from jail or prison to the community. Spencer led a clinical group of UMSON students to provide student-led health promotion activities, health assessments, care coordination and care navigation, and connect residents to primary and specialty care, health and social resources, and health management programs. Ogbolu also described Spencer’s leadership role in developing Health Care in the Library, which provides opportunities for small cohorts of BSN students to spend one day per week on site at a branch of Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library. Under the supervision of a clinical instructor, students provide a variety of services, including general health assessments, blood pressure screenings, referral services, support in finding health care providers, health education, and medication education. Students report that the program helps them understand different populations and their varying health care needs, as well as the importance of making care comfortable for the patients they serve.  “The development, implementation, and dissemination of new ideas for community-centered education for nursing students can be of tremendous benefit, and Dr. Spencer's work and that of other School of Nursing faculty members has potential implications for nursing education in Maryland and also at a national level,” Ogbolu wrote. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. - The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has received a $300,000 gift in the form of a three-year pledge from the Mary Catherine Bunting Foundation to continue the work of the School’s Community and Public Health Environmental Initiative (CPHEI). The initiative, founded in 2016 with a gift from Bunting, MS ’72, CRNP, RN, provides health oversight for children and families served by Baltimore City Early Head Start (EHS) centers and Family Support Patty Centers, which are coordinated through the Maryland State Department of Education and offer free educational and health-related services to parents and children. In total, Bunting and the foundation have contributed $1.55 million to UMSON in support of CPHEI. CPHEI is a collaborative effort with the Maryland Family Network to improve overall health and environmental health for EHS center children from birth until age 3 through programs that support early literacy and life-long healthy habits, including nutrition, physical activity, quality family time, and mindfulness. CPHEI delivers health services to 11 EHS centers in Baltimore and three Patty Centers in Frederick, Annapolis, and Baltimore, Maryland, representing more than 400 children and their families; to date these efforts have benefited more than 3,000 children and their families.  EHS services are federally funded and free for families who meet income requirements or qualify for public assistance. According to the 2020 Baltimore City Early Childhood Care & Education Landscape Analysis, there are approximately 41,600 children from birth to age 4 living in the city. While births citywide decreased by 13% from 2014 - 18, births to Latina mothers increased as have the number of births in the northwest, southwest, southeast, and northeast areas of the city. Approximately 23% of residents live below the poverty line, and nearly 40% of families with children live below 150% of the poverty line. More than 630 students from UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and RN-to-BSN programs, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Entry-into-Nursing program, MSN Community/Public Health Nursing specialty, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) specialties participate in CPHEI and provide the critical health services to EHS/Patty Center children as part of the School’s ongoing service learning commitment. The latest funding will support core and essential services identified during a summer 2023 survey of Baltimore City EHS centers, such as: hearing and vision screening with referrals to pediatricians; ophthalmology and audiology; or ear, nose, and throat specialty care, if needed height, weight, Body Mass Index, head circumference, and blood pressure screenings well-child exams and developmental screenings performed by our DNP Family Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner faculty and students medical chart reviews according to the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Healthy Kids Schedule so that children can remain enrolled in EHS case coordination between the EHS center families and pediatricians or dental providers, including referrals for children with developmental or behavioral concerns to specialty care, including Baltimore Infants and Toddlers and Kennedy Krieger Institute, for further evaluation The funding also allows CPHEI to hire a new program manager to coordinate all aspects of the program; help educate nursing students to perform vital health services in EHS, such as hearing and vision screening; and support ongoing and new initiatives within the program, such as nutrition education and counseling, social determinants of health screening, and community gardens. The program manager also helps expand nursing services to EHS and Patty centers by precepting RN-to-BSN students.  “Over the next three years, we anticipate expanding our services to more Family Support Centers that provide early childhood education to pre-school children as well as a variety of services to parents,” said Laura Allen, DNP ’24, MA, MS ’15, RN, NEA-BC, assistant professor and director of CPHEI. “While children are receiving education in classrooms, their parents are taking GED classes, receiving employment skills training, taking parenting classes, and receiving health and wellness education and screenings. The centers provide a wonderful opportunity for our students to practice community/public health and engage with members of the community.”  EHS center staff also noted that essential CPHEI nursing services include technical support to centers to renew their Eco-Healthy Child Care® endorsements through Children’s Environmental Health Network. Since 2016, CPHEI has facilitated more than 40 Eco-Healthy Child Care® endorsements at EHS and Head Start centers by eliminating environmental health hazards in or around the facilities and pursuing free or low-cost environmentally healthy best practices. Other examples of CPHEI initiatives that this funding supports include linking students and staff with the Baltimore City Master Gardeners and University of Maryland Extension SNAP-Ed Program to provide training for and carry out hands-on gardening activities and nutritional education and participation in Maryland Family Network’s safe sleep trainings and initiatives. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. –  For the second consecutive year, the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nursing Leadership and Management (NLM) specialty was ranked No. 1 in the nation among public schools of nursing in the Nursing Administration/Leadership category in U.S. News & World Report’s newly released “2025 Best Online Programs.” It was fifth among all schools of nursing. After being re-envisioned with an updated curriculum aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s new Essentials, the specialty, previously called Health Services Leadership and Management, has been renamed NLM. The program offers leading-edge courses, personalized mentorship, and individual placements in a practicum that supports students’ career goals and takes them beyond their current place of employment to opportunities that refine advanced nursing leadership and nursing administration skills. Placements, which UMSON secures for its students, are with leaders at hospitals and health care systems, universities and community colleges, national and state agencies, and more. In 2024, UMSON ranked No. 1 among public nursing schools in this category and third among all schools of nursing. In 2023, ranked No. 2 among public nursing schools and was tied for fourth overall. This year, UMSON was also ranked by U.S. News for Best Online Program for Veterans at 26th overall nationwide. “We are thrilled to be recognized nationally for our MSN Nursing Leadership and Management specialty,” said Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing. “Our faculty are committed to supporting students’ career goals with great teaching, cutting-edge coursework, and personalized mentoring. We are extremely proud of our many graduates who go on to become health care system leaders, particularly at a time when nurse leadership is so vitally important.” The U.S. News rankings represent the most respected and in-depth evaluation of U.S. graduate programs that are designed to be administered online. UMSON is among the 198 schools ranked, out of 211 that provided enough data to participate in the survey. The magazine ranked UMSON’s overall online Master of Science in Nursing program among the top 81 schools. The publication’s rankings are based on indicators such as student and faculty engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, student excellence, and peer assessment, using data collected directly from each institution. Only degree-granting programs that are offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions are considered, and the programs that score the highest are those applying educational best practices specific for distance learners. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.