Sincere congratulations to Professor Diane Berry, PhD, ANP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, who has been named the first Jane Sox Monroe Distinguished Professor in Nursing effective July 1, 2019.
Endowed by W. Paul Monroe to honor his late wife, a Carolina Nursing alumna, the Jane Sox Monroe Professorship in Nursing was established to recognize a distinguished teacher and scholar at the School who upholds the work ethic and altruistic ideals Jane possessed.
Jane Sox Monroe was a member of the second graduating class of the School of Nursing in 1956, and she used her nursing education in many ways. She started her carer as a public health nurse, helped begin the nursing program at Lenoir Rhyne University, served as Chairman of Catawba County Board of Health, and worked in the area of geriatric nursing, a patient population that was very special to her.
Jane and Paul have provided generous support to the School over the years — in 1994 Paul honored his wife by creating the Jane Sox Monroe Endowed Scholarship, and in 2002 the couple donated $250,000 to the School to fund the building of the W. Paul and Jane Sox Monroe Human Patient Simulator Laboratory for Clinical Care Skill Development.
The establishment of this professorship aims to further Jane’s legacy by supporting the teaching and research of a distinguished professor who will impact future generations of nursing students.
A prominent researcher and advocate for individuals from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds, Dr. Berry is a perfect fit for this professorship. Her current research aims to improve nutrition and physical activity among overweight Hispanic mothers and their young children in order to inhibit the development of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease later in life.
Many thanks to W. Paul Monroe for making this professorship possible, and congratulations again to Dr. Berry!