For immediate release: March 20, 2006

GALVESTON, Texas — Seven alumni of the School of Nursing at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston will be honored during UTMB’s Homecoming activities this week. Six will be inducted into the School of Nursing Alumni Association Hall of Fame and the seventh will receive the Rebecca Sealy Distinguished Alumnus Award. A ceremony is planned for 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 24, at Moody Gardens in Galveston.

Esperanza Villanueva Joyce, Ed.D, CNS, RN, a graduate of the Class of 1975, is the recipient of the Rebecca Sealy Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2006. The award is presented annually during Homecoming to a School of Nursing alumnus who has made outstanding and widely recognized contributions to nursing in a leadership role. Homecoming is March 23-25.

Joyce has more than 20 years of teaching experience in higher education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She is Assistant Vice President of Nursing Education and Director of the School of Nursing at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. As an administrator, she has facilitated curriculum change, and incorporated trends in nursing education, nursing research and community service. Her textbook, “Say It In Spanish: A Guide for Health Professionals,” is in its third printing.

Joyce was the principal investigator in the “Obesity in Children” study funded by the Coastal Bend Health Education Center. She also was principal investigator in “Optimizing Wellness through Screening and Education” and conducted a CHBEC-funded “Healthy Outlook Summer Camp.”

Inductees into the hall of fame are Patricia Blair, Class of ’84; Christell O. Bray, Class of '05; Ernestine H. Cuellar, Class of '05; Mary Anne Hanley, Class of '04; Darlene (Cheyenne) Martin, Class of '66; and Rosalinda Morales, Class of '94.

The School of Nursing Alumni Association Hall of Fame honors alumni who have made significant contributions to nursing through commitment to excellence in patient care, community service and nursing leadership.

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
UTMB Media Hotline (409) 772-NEWS
John Koloen: (409) 772-8790 jskoloen@utmb.edu