Ada Lindsey, PhD, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing from 1995 to 2003, left her mark as a leader that served with grace and professionalism to all who studied, worked and taught within the college’s walls.
“As dean, she was definitely a leader, but always in a professional and courteous manner,” said Nancy Waltman, PhD, faculty emeritus who served 42 years at the college and worked with Dr. Lindsey on obtaining research grants. “She was my friend and one of the people I have most admired in my life.”
Dr. Lindsey died on Sept. 16, at her home in Tucson, Arizona, at age 89.
In her time at UNMC, she oversaw the implementation of new distance learning technology methods such as teleconferencing, desktop video conferencing, asynchronous and synchronous Internet courses; received major research funding from federal and private foundations; and attained national recognition for nursing education programs.
Jan Atwood, PhD, faculty emeritus in the college, said Dr. Lindsey supported the faculty’s pursuit of ambitious goals. Dr. Atwood particularly remembers the “quietly creative and wise” direction she received as founding associate director of the Cancer Prevention, Control and Population Sciences Unit at the UNMC Eppley Institute in 1996.
“Ada Lindsey was responsible for a myriad of faculty with responsibilities outside of the College of Nursing as part of their jobs,” Dr. Atwood said.
Dr. Lindsey’s contributions to the college are apparent more than 20 years after her retirement, including scholarships and two college nursing awards named in her honor.
Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, DNP, dean and professor in the UNMC College of Nursing, described Dr. Lindsey’s impact on nursing and nurse education as “profound,” saying “her legacy will continue to inspire generations of nurses and leaders.”
“During my last visit with her, she was so proud to talk about the people she worked with and what they were able to accomplish during her tenure as dean,” Dr. Sharp-McHenry said. “She was a trailblazer, a visionary leader and a steadfast champion of excellence in nursing education research and practice.”
Dr. Lindsey received her Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing from The Ohio State University School of Nursing and her PhD from the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Prior to arriving at UNMC, she was dean of the University of California Los Angeles School of Nursing from 1986 to 1995, with another 20 years of administrative appointments beginning in 1965. She also served on multiple local, regional and national nurse and nurse education organizations. After retiring as UNMC dean in 2003, she assumed the title of dean emeritus.
Upon her retirement in 2003, Dr. Lindsey looked back on her career with fondness and optimism that her contributions would continue to propel the UNMC College of Nursing forward.
“It has been an honor for me to serve as dean, and I have every confidence that the UNMC College of Nursing will continue to move forward and be the major contributor of nurses for Nebraska,” she said.