End of Year Awards Celebrate Faculty, Staff Contributions

Feelings of gratitude and appreciation filled the room as School of Nursing faculty and staff celebrated the annual End of Year Awards on May 28.

The annual ceremony honors School of Nursing employees' contributions to education, research, clinical practice, and the School’s overall workplace culture and community.

“We graduated more than 200 outstanding students, continued to teach and mentor the next generation of nurses, made new discoveries in how we care for people from all backgrounds, and expanded access to quality care in our communities,” said Dean Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN. “Every one of you has played a part in these achievements, and I am deeply grateful.”

The following faculty and staff members were honored with special awards:

Drs. Jeremy A. Klainer and Pamela York Klainer Endowed Dean's Discretionary Award in Nursing:

• Assistant Professor Lauren Ghazal, PhD, FNP-BC: “APP-ONC: Advanced Practice Providers Caring for Cancer Survivors Outside of Oncology Settings”
• Assistant Professor Dillon Dzikowicz, PhD, RN, PCCN: “Bridging Innovation and Impact: Establishing the Cardiovascular Physiological Nursing Hub”

Mary Dombeck Award:

• Faculty: Marie Flannery, PhD, RN, associate professor and PhD program director
• Staff: Peter Bertoldo, MBA, senior financial analyst

Most Promising New Investigator: Dillon Dzikowicz

Professional Advancement Award: Lauren Ghazal

Outstanding Scholarly Practitioner Award: Laura Paytash, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, graduate clinical education co-coordinator and simulation educator

Outstanding Faculty Colleagues:

• Sue Stanek, PhD, MSN/Ed, RN, director of the Center for Lifelong Learning
• Kathy Hiltunen, MBA, RN, assistant professor of clinical nursing

Outstanding Staff Colleague: Eric Eggert, educational media specialist

Outstanding Staff Member of the Year: Elaina McKie, academic programs & PhD administrator

Dean’s Appreciation Award: Senior Associate Dean for Research Sally Norton, PhD, RN, FNAP, FPCN, FAAN

Josephine Craytor Nursing Faculty Award was presented to the following master's faculty members, in recognition of their work to adapt the School's Nurse Practitioner programs to a new hybrid-online format. 

• Beth Palermo, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, ACNP-BC, interim director of NP programs
• Lynne Massaro, DNP, RN, FNP-C, ANP-BC, FAANP, specialty director, Family NP and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP programs
• Susan Blaakman, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN, Psychiatric Mental Health NP specialty director
• Erin Baylor, DNP, RN, PCPNP-BC, ONP, FNAP, CHSE, Pediatric NP specialty director and director of simulation
• Joseph Gomulak-Cavicchio, EdD, MSEd, education innovation coordinator, graduate programs

The following staff and faculty were also recognized for milestone years of service and commitment to the School.

10 years:

• John Eaves, MBA, associate dean for operations & finance
• Autumn Jones, Passport Health office manager
• Kendra Pokhis, client engagement manager, Employee Wellness
• Peggy Rapp, staff accountant

15 years: Kelly Bellenger-Fedele, human subject research coordinator

20 years:

• Ann Delario, administrative assistant, ABSN program
• Jason DeVoe, MBA, director of business operations, Employee Wellness
• Philip Frey, educational technology manager
• Sandy Gasserlick, building operations specialist
• Karen Kirkey, clinical site & preceptor administrator

25 years: Jeanette Hunt, clinical & experiential learning administrator, master’s programs

Retiring faculty members were also celebrated for their years of service, leadership, and lasting contributions and impacts.

Lisa Norsen, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC retired after an extraordinary 35 years at the School and 48 years with the University. Norsen has been recognized as a true pioneer in nursing, a dedicated leader, and a champion for wellness and innovation. The UR Nursing alumna was one of the nation’s very first nurse practitioners to practice in an acute care setting. Her leadership has shaped our programs, inspired her colleagues, and improved the lives of countless individuals in our community, most recently as she served as the chief wellness officer for our employee wellness programs.

Lynne Massaro DNP, RN, FNP-C, ANP-BC, FAANP, retired after 16 years at the School and 20 years at the University, where she served as Specialty Director for both the Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP programs. She is recognized for launching the nurse practitioner residency program at Highland Family Medicine, and for her dedication to clinical education, global health initiatives, and mentoring future nurse practitioners.

Patrick Hopkins, DNP, APRN, C-PNP, NNP, retired after 31 years at the University, and 20 at the School of Nursing. As specialty director of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program, former co-director of our accelerated bachelor’s program, and a beloved teacher and colleague, Patrick brought an energy, humor, and passion to the School that have made a lasting difference for students, faculty, and staff.

Linda Migliore, MS, RN, NPD-BC, CNL, retired after 44 years at the University and five years teaching at the School, where she led the Clinical Nurse Leader and Leadership in Health Care Systems programs. In 2025, she received the Dean’s Teaching Award at Commencement in honor of her dedication to mentoring students and building strong academic-practice partnerships. Her legacy includes shaping curriculum, inspiring future nurse leaders, and leaving a lasting impact on the School and its community.

John McIntyre, MS, RN, CNL, CCRN-K retired after 43 years at the University and 17 years at the School, where he advanced simulation and experiential learning for nursing students. He played a key role in developing interprofessional education, bringing together nursing and medical students for collaborative, real-world training. McIntyre’s leadership in critical care and commitment to student success have left a lasting impact on the School and its graduates.

Lydia Rotondo, DNP, RN, CNS, FNAP, who served as the driving force behind UR Nursing’s education mission and graduate programs, is retiring after leading as senior associate dean for graduate education & innovation and director of the DNP program. She launched the annual DNP Summit, guided the School through a successful 10-year reaccreditation, and helped the School earn national honors like the Apple Distinguished School designation and National League of Nursing Center of Excellence status. Rotondo’s leadership brought significant change: she expanded DNP program access for master’s-prepared nurses, championed the use of simulation in clinical education — helping pass new state legislation — and created innovative programs like the iROC mobile learning initiative. Her vision and advocacy have made a lasting difference for our students, faculty, and the future of nursing.

Subscribe to the School of Nursing's monthly newsletter for more updates.