Nancy Lynch honored with Fairfield University's James Daly School of Nursing Award | Press Releases

Nancy P. Lynch, of Greenwich, will be honored with Fairfield University's James Daly School of Nursing Award at the third annual School of Nursing Lecture taking place Monday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m., at The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Geralyn Radowiecki Spollett, MSN, ANP, CDE, associate director of the Yale Diabetes Center and a Fairfield School of Nursing alumna, will deliver a talk, entitled, "An Economic Tsunami: The Rising Tide of Diabetes."

As chair of the School of Nursing Advisory Board, Nancy Lynch has played a key role in increasing understanding of the nursing field and Fairfield University's role in educating nursing leaders. She and her husband, Roger Lynch, a Fairfield alumnus and trustee, have been active volunteers and generous donors to Fairfield.

The award is named after James Daly, former University trustee, who has been key in shaping the future direction of the School of Nursing. It is given to an individual who is committed to the nursing profession, and to one who shares James's spirit of helping the School through volunteering and by embracing the values of Fairfield University.

Mr. Daly said, "Nancy recognizes that the profession of nursing is an essential ingredient in meeting the healthcare needs of any community. Her leadership and collaboration with the dean and the faculty of the School of Nursing will ensure that academic and clinical nursing programs at Fairfield will continue to excel and innovate."

Jeanne M. Novotny, Ph. D., RN, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing, said, "Nancy Lynch has played a central part in our growth. With her unbridled enthusiasm, she has been instrumental in continuing the School of Nursing's work of being a leader in nursing education. Most importantly, she has been a wonderful friend."

In 2005, Nancy began her tenure as the first chair of the School of Nursing Advisory Board, a leadership group charged with the responsibility of serving as ambassadors for the School. She helped design and implement a two-day retreat to help launch the new Board. The momentum she nurtured as chair resulted in an extremely successful fundraising campaign for the School.

Her expertise and knowledge related to volunteer engagement in support of the School of Nursing was recognized in 2006 by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. During the Association's annual conference, she co-presented with her colleagues from the School of Nursing a workshop entitled, "Nursing School Advisory Board Development and Operation." Professionals from nursing schools around the country were treated to her unique perspective as a volunteer committed to the profession of nursing.

This presentation was shared with the Advisory Board at Fairfield and served as a valuable professional development tool for enhancing board member expertise and knowledge in support of their work at Fairfield. She co-authored an article entitled, "Creating Effective Advisory Boards for Schools of Nursing," which will be published in the November/December 2007 edition of Journal of Professional Nursing .

In 2000, she was honored as Fairfield County's Volunteer of the Year, and she received the first President's Award at Greenwich Hospital in 2002. She has served on the Board of Trustees at Greenwich Hospital for the past six years, and has also been involved in the day-to-day care of patients by volunteering in the Greenwich Hospital Emergency Room. She chaired the highly successful capital campaign for Greenwich Hospital and together with her fellow volunteers helped the hospital to secure over $67 million through private donations.

Mrs. Lynch serves on the board of the VNA Hospice Foundation in Vero Beach, Fla., where she also has a residence, and finds time to work with patients and families at the Vero Beach Hospice House. The Lynches are the parents of three grown children: Roger, Stephen, a 1995 graduate of Fairfield, and Aimee.

The lecture will take place at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Please call the Quick Center box office at (203) 254-4000, ext. 4010.