Hooding ceremony added to Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing celebration

The Class of 2025 awards celebration for the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Chan Medical School on Friday, May 30, launched a new tradition: hooding for 56 graduating Doctor of Nursing Practice students. These students will process already hooded into UMass Chan’s 52nd Commencement on Sunday, June 1, while six nursing PhD students will be hooded during the event. 

Jill Terrien, PhD’07, MS’97, ANP-BC, associate professor of nursing and associate dean of interprofessional and community partnerships, led the hooding. Joan Vitello-Cicciu, PhD, the Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Chair in Nursing, dean of the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and professor of nursing, presented awards and provided opening remarks. 

“As nurses, you are often entrusted with some of the most personal and profound stories people will ever tell you,” Dean Vitello-Cicciu said. “I encourage you to be mindful stewards of those stories—listen deeply, honor people’s truths and approach every story with compassion and empathy.” 

Chancellor Michael F. Collins presented the Chancellor’s Award, the highest honor a graduating student can receive, to DNP student Robin Young, MSW, MS, RN, AGACNP-BC. Young enrolled at UMass Chan after working as a social worker for 18 years. 

“Her nominators described her as an incredible person, one who exemplified professionalism, determination and empathy in all that she does, consistently going above and beyond to support her colleagues, patients and community,” Chancellor Collins said. 

For her DNP scholarly project, Young partnered with the interprofessional Center for Experiential Learning & Simulation at UMass Chan to develop a simulation experience that enhances education and transgender and gender diverse health care. Young has started a position as a palliative care nurse practitioner at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Her advisor is Kenneth Peterson, PhD, MS, RN, FNP-BC, the Marcellette G. Williams Scholar and associate professor of nursing. 

Vitello presented the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing Dean’s Award to graduating PhD student Lauri Toohey, RN, MSN’08, GNP-BC, ANP-BC, AGPCNP-BC. Toohey is a geriatric nurse practitioner, associate chief of geriatrics and palliative care for Reliant Medical Group and an instructor in nursing for the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing who has mentored students in the PhD program. Her dissertation, “My life, my choice, my happiness, my voice,” looked at adults 85 and older aging in place in their Central Massachusetts homes. 

“Lauri Toohey is an incredible person,” Vitello said. “She exemplifies professionalism, determination and empathy in all that she does, consistently going above and beyond to support her colleagues, patients and community. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and genuine care for others set her apart as a truly outstanding individual.” 

Toohey’s faculty advisor is Nancy Morris, PhD, ANP, professor of nursing and medicine. 

Amanda Cornine, PhD’21, RN, CNE, assistant professor of nursing, received the Faculty Daisy Award, which recognizes contributions a faculty member makes to the future of nursing.

The full list of award recipients is below.