³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ School of Nursing to Celebrate 90th Anniversary
³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ's (³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ) School of Nursing will celebrate its 90th anniversary on Saturday, September 27, 2025. This special occasion will begin with a commemorative Mass in McDonough Chapel at 4 p.m., followed by tours of the School of Nursing and Simulation and Integrated Learning Center (SILC) in the Warde Academic Center. The celebration will conclude with a cocktail dinner at Ridge Country Club at 5:30 p.m., where ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ community members will have the opportunity to celebrate with alumni and friends from decades past.
"As dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ, I've witnessed firsthand how our nursing program transforms lives, not only through academic excellence but through the deep compassion and service that are at the heart of our Mercy tradition. For 90 years, our program has empowered students to become not just skilled nurses but healers, advocates, and leaders, who carry the spirit of Mercy into every patient interaction. This legacy continues to shape the future of health care, one student at a time," said Charlene Bermele, DNP, RN, CNE.
³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ's nursing program, accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, has a long history of innovation. In 1935, Saint Xavier launched the first integrated baccalaureate nursing program in Illinois and has been offering graduate programs since 1963. Through the years, the programs have evolved to improve patient outcomes and meet the increasingly complex changes of health care systems. In 2021, the University's state-of-the-art Simulation and Integrated Learning Center was opened, offering an immersive, realistic learning environment for students to practice a variety of simulated nursing scenarios. U.S. News & World Report ranks ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ's undergraduate nursing program third in Illinois and graduate program second in the nation.
Members of the ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ community are invited to join in celebrating the School of Nursing's remarkable milestone -- 90 years of advancing nursing education inspired by Mercy values. ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ invites alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends to celebrate the proud legacy, vibrant community, and exciting future of ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ nursing. Be part of this special moment to honor the generations of ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ graduates who have made a lasting impact in the world of health care.
For more information and to register, visit ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ's Nursing 90th Anniversary webpage.