Our History of Diversity 

People of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds have been an integral part of the School of Nursing for many years, beginning with Minnie Hogan-Clemens, the first African-American to graduate from our predecessor, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in 1890.

Many students and faculty have joined the School over the ensuing years. In 2002, when Afaf I. Meleis, a native of Egypt, became the Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing, her vision for diversity in nursing expanded with the faculty who voted to create the Advisory Taskforce on Diversity and Cultural Competence, a special Taskforce appointed by the Dean.

Soon after, she appointed Dr. Rosalyn Watts as the first director of Diversity Affairs, followed by Dr. Mary Lou de Leon Siantz as the first Assistant Dean of the Office of Diversity and Cultural Affairs. The School of Nursing recently appointed Nancy Tkacs as Assistant Dean for Diversity and Cultural Affairs. Dr. Tkacs will advise the Nursing school on how to diversify its faculty.

To learn more about our long history of diversity, please go to our timeline