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Friends and family filled Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre to capacity as they celebrated the accomplishments of the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s Class of 2026 on May 12. “You most assuredly deserve the awards we bestow upon you today; you worked hard, stayed up late, started your day early, and sacrificed so much,” 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, during her welcome. “Yes, you truly earned your degree and should be proud of your accomplishments. “But you must also acknowledge that you did not reach this moment alone,” the dean continued. “Throughout this journey, we all have champions - individuals who you relied on for support and encouragement, including your family, friends, and classmates who gave you the confidence to persevere, especially when you were sleep deprived, juggling many family and work responsibilities, and felt unsure about whether you would make it or not.” For siblings Lexi, 28, and Ryan Vipavetz, 25, who both graduated with Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, supporting each other was automatic. “I loved having a sibling in the program,” said Lexi Vipavetz, a recipient of UMSON’s prestigious Conway Scholarship, who has accepted a job offer for a nursing position in an intermediate care unit at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. “We could carpool to class, study together, and hold each other accountable.” “I found it very rewarding to have my sister in the same school and cohort as me,” Ryan Vipavetz added. “We were never really at a point in our lives where we had the same classes until now. We both held each other accountable for studying and completing assignments.” The Vipavetzes weren’t the only set of siblings among the graduating class: Avigail and Nissim Zarinmanesh also earned their BSNs. This year’s ceremonies – celebrating Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing Entry-into-Nursing (MSN-E) graduates in the morning and Master of Science in Nursing and doctoral graduates in the afternoon – honored 455 total graduates and resulted in 262 new nurses entering the workforce. During the ceremonies, 226 BSN degrees; 94 master’s degrees, including 60 MSN-E; 122 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees; one Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree; and 12 certificates were conferred. Karen E. Doyle, DNP ’20, MBA, MS ’91, BSN ’85, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer of the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), was presented with the 2026  Dean’s Medal for Distinguished Service, which each year recognizes someone external to the School who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to advancing UMSON and its mission. The medal is handcrafted by University of Maryland, Baltimore President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, an accomplished blacksmith. Doyle has more than 40 years of nursing experience. In her current role, she oversees nursing practice, patient outcomes, operations, strategic planning, policy formulation, and regulatory compliance for UMMC’s Downtown and Midtown campuses, which includes 5,000 employees and more than 2,500 nurses. She serves as an adjunct associate professor at UMSON and since 2015, she has served on the School’s Board of Advisors. “To be recognized for leadership, service, and contributions to nursing education by this extraordinary institution that I love so much is profoundly meaningful to me,” Doyle said in her remarks upon receiving the medal. “I want you to know that I remember: Six months out of nursing school as a young trauma nurse ready to set the world on fire, I was crying with my mother, saying, ‘I am never going to make it as a nurse.’” She reminded the graduates that the nursing profession is a calling. “This role is sacred,” she said. “You may not remember every exam question or every care plan from school. Trust me, you won’t. But you will remember the first patient who trusted you, the family who looked to you for reassurance, the moment you realized that your calm presence changed the trajectory of someone’s worst day. That is the privilege of nursing.” Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, professor emerita at the University of Virginia School of Nursing, received an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from UMB and was presented with the degree and hooded during UMSON’s ceremonies. Cipriano is nationally and internationally recognized for her contributions to advancing the nursing profession and increasing its impact and influence on policies to improve national and global health care. She is the immediate past president of the International Council of Nurses, a federation of more than 140 national nurses’ associations, and past president of the American Nurses Association. “Nurses are an incredible asset to the nation and the world,” said Cipriano, who spoke at both ceremonies. “As we serve the public good in every phase of our careers, we follow an ethical duty to care and maintain a social contract with society. As new nurses, or those now obtaining their bachelor's degrees, as you enter these roles, it may seem a bit daunting, the responsibilities ahead of you, and that's to be expected. The world knows we cannot have health and we cannot have health care without nurses.” Nurses are barely in the spotlight, despite them numbering 5 million in the nation, Cipriano continued. “Yet over the course of history, nurses have always taken on the challenges of today and tomorrow to change the world for the better.” During the morning ceremony, Beryl Kilonzo, an MSN-E graduate, delivered remarks on behalf of the graduating class, reflecting on her journey from volunteering at a local hospital in a small village in Kenya to becoming a nurse. In Kenya, she met a nurse “with a heart bigger than the space that she worked in,” Kilonzo said. “That was my first real encounter with nursing. As a teenager, I watched this woman give care for little to no pay and still show up every single day. She didn't do it for recognition. She did it because people needed her. I remember telling her, ‘One day, I want to become a nurse.’ And she looked at me and said, ‘This is work that requires heart and passion.’” She told her fellow classmates, “As you step forward from this place, I hope that we never forget what brought us here, the calling to serve, the discipline to keep learning and the compassion to treat every patient like a whole human being. May we never become so skilled that we forget to be gentle.” The afternoon ceremony was full of jubilation, with family and friends blowing whistles and rallying behind their graduates with cheers of “That’s my nurse!” “Our master’s students bring strong clinical foundations and are poised to lead across diverse settings, integrating evidence-based practice, innovation, and compassionate care,” Ogbolu said. “Our DNP graduates, as clinical practice experts and system thinkers, are equipped to drive change at scale — leading quality improvement, influencing policy, and translating evidence into practice to improve outcomes for patients, families, and communities. And our PhD students, as research scholars and educators, will continue a legacy of innovation and discovery for nursing.” Allison Marie Hamilton, a DNP graduate and the ceremony’s student speaker, explained that her journey through school wasn’t always graceful. But it was those who helped support her — faculty, friends, family, coworkers — and her ability to keep her eyes on the long-term plan that got her to that stage, even when the “short-term felt impossible,” she said. Being an adult learner also helped, she said, adding that she and her classmates didn’t just survive their challenges, but rather learned how to navigate them with purpose. “I can vividly remember feeling depleted after a long day of constructive criticism from a preceptor in the middle of winter — the time of day when it feels like night, but it's only 4:30. And I thought, ‘You know, thank goodness, I still have my RN license. I can go back to being a bedside nurse.’ But despite that day — or two — of tears and reservations, we are here today,” Hamilton said in her speech. “But today isn’t just about us. Graduation is a celebration of every person who nudged us forward when we were running on fumes. We’re here because they carried us through the moments when we weren’t sure we could carry ourselves.” While those graduating in the afternoon ceremony may have “a few more letters behind” their names, Hamilton said, they have spent their careers caring for others, and their purpose as nurses remains the same. “We have a voice — a voice to advocate for our patients, a voice to improve our systems, a voice to strengthen our communities,” she said. “This degree doesn’t change who we are; it magnifies who we’ve always been.” Allison Marie Hamilton, center, the DNP student speaker, celebrates with fellow graduates as she recesses from the Convocation ceremony, amid cheering faculty members.

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) continues to be recognized for its academic excellence, as evidenced by its graduate programs once again ranking in the top 10 nationwide for public schools of nursing, according to the newly released 2026 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools.” The School’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs are both ranked No. 6 in the nation among public schools of nursing. Its MSN Nursing Leadership and Management specialty has maintained the No. 1 spot among public schools. Three DNP specialties are also ranked. The latest rankings reflect UMSON’s reputation as a School that continues to excel in educating nurse leaders, advancing the science of nursing through innovative research, emphasizing practical learning, and fostering its commitment to serving the community. The number of respondents to the U.S. News survey included 147 Master of Science programs and 154 DNP programs out of 682 accredited nursing schools surveyed. “We are immensely proud of our students, faculty, and staff, whose dedication and excellence continue to make UMSON a leader in nursing education,” 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. “These rankings affirm our commitment to advancing the field of nursing through rigorous education and impactful research.” Among UMSON’s rankings: MSN Nursing Leadership and Management specialty – ranked No. 3 overall and remains No. 1 among public schools of nursing Overall DNP program – ranked No. 14 overall and remains No. 6, tied, among publics Overall MSN – ranked No.17 overall and moved up to No. 6, tied, among public schools of nursing DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty – ranked No. 9, tied, overall and No. 4, tied, among publics DNP Family Nurse Practitioner specialty – ranked No. 11 overall and remains No. 4, tied, among publics DNP Nurse Anesthesia specialty – ranked No. 35 overall and moved up to No. 4 among publics The U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on a variety of indicators, including student selectivity and program size, faculty resources, and research activity, and on survey data from deans of schools of nursing that are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education. In late 2025 and early 2026, U.S. News surveyed 682 nursing schools with master's or doctoral programs. Of those, 147 master's programs, and 154 DNP programs provided enough data to be eligible for inclusion in the ranking. Many institutions were ranked in both, using some overlapping nursing school data that applies to both the master's and DNP programs involving research grants and faculty counts. ### 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)’s Yvette Conyers, DNP, RN, FNP-C, CTN-B, CFCN, CNE, CWCN-AP, FADLN, FNAP, assistant professor and associate dean for strategic engagement and impact, has been inducted as a Distinguished Practitioner and Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP). NAP membership honors health care professionals who have excelled in their field and are dedicated to furthering practice, scholarship, and policy in support of interprofessional care. Members are elected by their peers for their commitment to advancing collaborative health care. Its Class of 2026 comprises distinguished practitioners from 17 health professions. “Receiving this distinction is deeply meaningful to me because it honors the hands‑on, community‑rooted work that has shaped my career,” Conyers said. “From partnering with local organizations to working alongside interprofessional teams on the ground, my passion has always been meeting communities where they are and building trust‑driven solutions that improve health and equity. This fellowship affirms the power of collaborative, grassroots nursing leadership to create lasting impact.” Her induction took place March 14 during NAP’s banquet and awards ceremony in Indiana. Conyers, who joined UMSON in 2023, is a nurse practitioner, educator, and health equity advocate with more than two decades of experience in health care, academia, and community engagement. Specializing in wound and foot care nursing, she is nationally certified in both areas with a clinical focus on preventing amputation disparities in historically underserved populations. She is a recognized leader in advancing health equity through culturally responsive care, policy influence, and restorative practices that foster trust and healing in marginalized communities. Her work is grounded in the belief that addressing structural inequities and social determinants of health is essential for improving patient outcomes and advancing justice in health care. Conyers is committed to mentoring and preparing diverse nurse leaders who are equipped to deliver inclusive, community-centered care. Through curriculum design, restorative justice events, and advocacy-driven education, she cultivates learning environments where nursing students can explore their biases, engage in critical reflection, and become change agents in their communities. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a Family Nurse Practitioner post-master’s certificate from St. John Fisher College in New York; a master’s degree in nursing education from Roberts Wesleyan College in New York; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Rochester in New York; and an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing from Monroe Community College in New York. ### 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 2,100 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.