First class of nursing students to graduate from Iowa State

Student News Health and Wellness News
By Whitney Baxter
12/17/2019

For the first time in Iowa State’s history, a group of graduating nursing students will walk across the stage and accept their diplomas during Saturday’s commencement ceremony.

The five students started their journey to obtaining their bachelor of science in nursing degree in the fall of 2018 – the first time nursing classes were offered at Iowa State. Students are required to already have their associate’s degree in nursing prior to enrolling in Iowa State’s nursing program.

The decision to start an RN to BSN program was the result of a need verbalized to Iowa State’s president by Des Moines Area Community College representatives and area healthcare leaders.

“They really were looking for an option for community college students and other nurses who only have an associate’s degree to have a baccalaureate-level program they could finish their degree with that was at Iowa State…and could really be a part of the opportunities in Ames,” said Virginia “Ginny” Wangerin, clinical assistant professor and director of Iowa State’s nursing program.

Read the full story on the Food Science and Human Nutrition website.

Key contacts

Virginia “Ginny” Wangerin, clinical assistant professor, Food Science and Human Nutrition, 515-294-6374 wangerin@iastate.edu

Dawn Bowker, clinical assistant professor, Food Science and Human Nutrition, 515-294-6080, dmbowker@iastate.edu

Tessa Sklenar, nursing student, sklenar@iastate.edu

Shirley Ohene-Yeboah, nursing student, shirleyo@iastate.edu

Alaina Bohnert, nursing student, abohnert@iastate.edu

Whitney Baxter, communications coordinator, Food Science and Human Nutrition, 515-294-9166, wjsager@iastate.edu

By Whitney Baxter
News