The College of Nursing is a nationally recognized leader in the education of highly skilled and visionary nurses. Among them are two alumnae who were honored by the university for their service and achievements. The recognitions are part of UT’s Alumni Awards Program, which honors outstanding alumni across the state, nation, and world that bring recognition and honor to the flagship campus.
Rita Silen: Alumni Service Award
Rita Silen exemplifies a life of service and the Volunteer spirit. A proud member of the College of Nursing’s first graduating class in 1974, Silen holds a commitment to her profession and alma mater that spans decades. She is receiving the Alumni Service Award, which recognizes exceptional long-term service and leadership.
After earning her BSN at UT, Silen advanced her career as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. She spent nearly half her nursing career with the Department of Veterans Affairs and dedicated a decade each to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and a trauma center in Missouri.
Driven by a passion for global service, she volunteered internationally in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, focusing on relief efforts for children and women suffering from severe gynecologic conditions. She helped bring hope and healing to underserved communities in some of the world’s most remote areas.
Following her retirement from nursing, Silen embraced a second calling as a photographer, documenting the world through thoughtful candid portraiture and visual storytelling. Her lens captures the essence of people and places, often reflecting the same empathy and attention to humanity that defined her nursing career.
Silen has been a member of the Executive Board of the university’s Alliance of Women Philanthropists for the past 15 years and currently serves as chair. The board’s mission is to educate, empower, and inspire women to be philanthropic leaders at UT.
“Rita Silen’s life and career reflect a deep and enduring commitment to excellence in nursing and service,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the College of Nursing. “We are proud to honor her extraordinary contributions to our college, university, and the world.”
G. Rumay Alexander: Alumni Professional Achievement Award
G. Rumay Alexander is a nationally recognized thought leader, educator, and consultant whose career has elevated nursing, health equity, and inclusive leadership across the country. She is receiving the Alumni Professional Achievement Award, which honors alumni with a record of notable career accomplishments and outstanding contributions to their profession.
A 1975 BSN graduate, Alexander currently serves as a professor in the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and senior equity advisor for the American Nurses Association. She previously served as UNC’s associate vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and the chief diversity officer and president of the National League for Nursing which serves more than 1,200 schools of nursing and 40,000 nurse educators.
Alexander’s other national leadership roles include scholar-in-residence for the American Nurses Association and advisor to the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing. She was recently appointed to the Leapfrog Group’s Board of Directors, contributing to national efforts to improve health care transparency and safety.
Her career spans initiatives from shaping national consensus standards for nursing-sensitive care to creating one of the country’s first minority health administrator programs. Through courageous conversations and a deep commitment to equity, she continues to guide academic, health care, corporate, and faith-based institutions toward inclusive excellence.
“Dr. Alexander embodies the very best of what it means to be a Vol nurse—compassionate, courageous, and committed to leading change,” said Niederhauser. “Her visionary work in nursing education, health equity, and leadership development has left a mark on our profession and society. We are proud to count her among our alumni and honored to celebrate her remarkable achievements.”
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CONTACT:
Kara Clark Cardwell (865-974-9498, [email protected])