November 12, 2025
The UNC School of Nursing celebrated its 75th anniversary on Monday, November 10, with an evening of reflection, gratitude and pride at the Kenan Center. The milestone event brought together alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends to honor the School’s enduring legacy and look ahead to its next chapter.
The evening began with the State of the School Address by Dean Valerie Howard, highlighting the School’s historic achievements and its vision for advancing health for all. (Watch the full presentation here.)
2025 State of the School Address
Following the address, guests gathered for a reception that featured a 75th Anniversary video, a cappella performances by The Loreleis and a series of heartfelt toasts from alumni representing every decade since the School’s founding in 1950.
A 20-foot banner stretched across the room, showcasing a detailed timeline of Carolina Nursing’s 75-year history—from its earliest days to today’s nationally recognized programs and initiatives. Guests paused to trace milestones, rediscover familiar faces and reflect on how far the School has come.
Dean Howard reflected on the School’s past and future, sharing, “It is such a joy to look around this room and see generations of Carolina Nurses gathered together. From our earliest graduates to our newest alumni, you represent the proud story of this School—a story still being written every day. Carolina Nursing will continue to shape the future of health care for the next 75 years and beyond.”
UNC Interim Provost Jim Dean offered greetings on behalf of the University, and guests enjoyed photos with RJ, UNC’s beloved mascot and son of Rameses, who joined the celebration to mark the milestone occasion.
Among the evening’s most memorable moments was a toast from Bette Davis, a member of the School’s first graduating class, read by Veronica Flaspoehler, President of the Carolina Alumni Association. Davis recalled arriving on campus in 1951—when the School, hospital and even the nurses’ dorm were still under construction—and reflected on how far Carolina Nursing has come since those humble beginnings.
“Along with our strong and supportive faculty and the other early classes who joined us in those first four years, we built the foundation of what we all celebrate today. I toast this moment now as I rejoice and recognize students and faculty past and present who made our School of Nursing what it is today.”
Alumni spanning the decades—Jo-Anne Martin (1960s), Denise Darden (1970s), Carol Durham (1980s), Jane and Lucien Ellison (1990s), Meg Zomorodi (2000s), Michael Bury (2010s), and PhD students Alyssa Portes and Taleah Frazier (2020s)—shared brief toasts that together wove a rich story of growth, resilience and community.
As attendees raised their glasses, the collective sentiment was clear: Carolina Nursing’s legacy is built not just on its past, but on the people—past, present and future—who embody its mission to advance health for all.
Carolina Nursing Quarterly
Check out the Fall 2025 issue of Carolina Nursing Quarterly here.