In Memoriam: Dr. Sandra “Sandy” Funk

The UNC School of Nursing community mourns the passing of Sandra G. “Sandy” Funk, PhD, FAAN, a revered colleague, mentor, and nationally respected leader in nursing research whose influence on the School and the profession spanned decades.

Dr. Funk served on the Carolina Nursing faculty for 37 years, from 1976 to 2013, progressing from instructor to the Frances Hill Fox Term Distinguished Professor. She was instrumental in shaping the School’s research enterprise and mentoring generations of nurse scientists.

As Associate Dean for Research for 15 years and Director of the Office of Research Support for 23 years, Dr. Funk led the School’s research mission with extraordinary vision and rigor. She guided faculty in research design, measurement, proposal development, and research management, helping to elevate the School’s national stature. During 12 of her 15 years as associate dean, Carolina Nursing ranked third or fourth nationally in NIH funding, a testament to her leadership and commitment to excellence.

A noted teacher and mentor, Dr. Funk taught research methods, statistics, and grant writing to master’s and doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, visiting scholars, and faculty. She co-taught a highly regarded grant-writing institute with Elizabeth Tornquist and consulted widely with other universities to strengthen nursing research capacity.

Dr. Funk served as principal investigator or co-investigator on more than $6 million in funded research and as a reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies for over a decade. Her scholarly contributions—more than 100 publications—advanced applied measurement and research utilization and facilitation. She also co-edited six books, five of which received American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year awards, and co-authored Writing Winning Proposals for Nurses and Health Care Professionals, a foundational resource for nurse scholars.

Beyond her remarkable accomplishments, Sandy was known for her dedication and steadfast advocacy for nursing science. Her legacy lives on through the faculty she mentored, the students she taught, and the research culture she helped build at Carolina Nursing and across the discipline.

We honor her legacy and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, former students, and colleagues. Information regarding memorial plans will be shared as it becomes available.