Dean's Diamond Circle
Join Our Supporters
Generous alumni and friends support the School of Nursing through their membership in the Dean’s Diamond Circle. We celebrate our donors each year with a festive dinner in the spring, reflecting on the University of Rochester School of Nursing's accomplishments and honoring alumni achievements.
Dean's Diamond Circle membership begins at the $1,000 annual giving level.

Dean's Diamond Circle Event
The annual Dean’s Diamond Circle dinner recognizes individuals who have made an impact on the UR School of Nursing and community. Each spring, school leaders, supporters, and students reflect on the previous year’s accomplishments and present the following awards:
- Dean’s Medal
- Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Legacy Award
- Humanitarian Award
- John N. Wilder Award
Nominations will be accepted through November 30, 2023
Deans Diamond Award Recipients 2023

Dean's Medal
Margaret H. Kearney, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor Emerita Maggie Kearney is a nationally recognized expert on rigorous qualitative research. Her early research centered on socially high-risk pregnant and parenting women's health perceptions and decisions. She specialized in to the study of health behavior using systematic naturalistic approaches to analysis of open-ended interviews and observations.
More about Margaret
Legacy Award
Dennis L. Kitzman
From early years growing up in the “Brighton Brickyards” to his time as a standout three-sport athlete at his beloved Brighton High School to his decades-long career at Rochester Telephone Corporation, Dennis Kitzman is Rochester through and through. And together with his late wife, Harriet Kitzman, PhD, RN, FAAN, he has left an indelible mark on the city that has been so integral to his life—and the School that was the cornerstone of his wife’s remarkable career—most recently by establishing the Dennis L. and Harriet J. Kitzman Endowed Fellowship Fund.
Read more about Dennis
Distinguished Alumnus
Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP, CGNC, FFNMRCSI, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN
Dr. Morrison-Beedy currently serves as the Chief Talent and Global Strategy Officer and Centennial Professor of Nursing at The Ohio State University. In this role she is committed to developing the next generation of nurse leaders and scientists and creating global citizens. She has successfully established student education, faculty research endeavors, and collaborative global partnerships across multiple continents. She holds international distinguished visiting professorial appointments in England, Spain, Philippines, Portugal, Scotland, Italy, Greece, and Thailand. Prior to this, she served as Dean of the University of South Florida College of Nursing and Senior Associate Vice President of USF Health.
More about Dianne
Award Recipients by Year
please contact Andrea Allen, senior director of advancement and alumni relations, at
(585) 276-4336 or andrea.allen@rochester.edu.