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Scarborough Woman Named Dean Sacred Heart University's College of Nursing

FAIRFIELD, Conn. –Mary Alice Donius is the dean of the new College of Nursing at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. 

Mary Alice Donius

Mary Alice Donius

Photo Credit: Tracy Deer-Mirek

Donius, a resident of Scarborough, N.Y., came to Sacred Heart one year ago, having previously served as dean of the School of Nursing at the College of New Rochelle for seven years. Her prior experience includes director of Medical Center Education for Sound Shore Medical Center in New Rochelle, N.Y. 

“The nursing faculty members have been very important to the way the nursing program has grown in its educational offerings, and commitment to the profession," she said in a press release. "Their commitment to the advancement of this institution has been so significant that it’s been upgraded to a college, and that’s a huge accomplishment for SHU.”

For the fall semester, the College of Nursing will have approximately 500 undergraduate and close to 900 graduate nursing students, according to a press release. About half of the 1,400 students are online students. The college will employ 30 full-time faculty members.

Donius initially was attracted to Sacred Heart because of its mission.

“I felt it was very congruent to what I believe nursing education and practice is all about,” she said in a press release. “. . . The focus is on educating the entire person while emphasizing social justice and community service. For the university, it’s not just about developing future employees, but rather citizens prepared to lead satisfying and meaningful lives in a global community. This is a mission that’s founded in the Catholic intellectual traditions, and one that I’m proud to serve."

Sacred Heart University, the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, offers more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its main campus in Fairfield, Conn., and satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland, according to a press release.

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