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Carol J. Peterson, truly a legend in South ��ֱ���� nursing education and higher education in general, was the inaugural recipient of the College of Nursing's Living Legacy ��ֱ���� at its 2024 scholarship banquet in Brookings. 

Peterson, 85, of Brookings, served as the dean of the South ��ֱ���� State University College of Nursing from 1977 to 1987, when she became the vice president for academic affairs. She served in that role until 2009 and then spent 2009-10 as special assistant to the president. Peterson spent the first 15 years of her career in Minnesota as a direct care nurse and a nursing educator. 

Mary Anne Krogh, current dean of the college, created the award to recognize the significant impact that pioneering leaders have had on the College of Nursing through their vision, innovation, and strategic and tactical skills. The award will be given at the discretion of the dean. 

Krogh said Peterson is a fitting first recipient because “she led the college during a time of tremendous change within the health care system. Dr. Peterson’s vision of the importance of nursing excellence during this transformation was critical. She set the stage for the tremendous growth and innovation we see in the college today, both through her work as dean and her leadership as SDSU provost. 

“Additionally, she was dean when I was an undergraduate student at SDSU and this educational experience has provided the nursing leadership framework to guide me throughout my career.” 

When she was appointed vice president for academic affairs, Peterson became the first woman in a permanent central administration position in the South ��ֱ���� Board of Regents system. 

‘Dr. Peterson cannot be replaced’ 

In the September 2008 press release announcing Peterson’s coming retirement, then SDSU President David Chicoine said, “South ��ֱ���� State will hire a successor as provost and vice president, but Dr. Peterson cannot be replaced.” 

Peterson was known for her attention to detail, organizational ability and no-nonsense approach. However, she was revered by those whom she worked with closely. 

In addition to Chicoine, Peterson served under the late Robert Wagner and Peggy Miller, who remains SDSU’s only female president and was both a peer and close friend of Peterson. 

Miller said, “Her great intellect, humor and caring nature made her a special friend to all who had the good fortune to know her. Blessed with great energy and empathy and knowledge and skills, she was called on more than was probably fair to organize and operate both local and national committees and commissions. 

“I never knew her to fail to do her part and use her talents for any worthy cause.” 

Committed to excellence 

Chicoine added, “I was fortunate to work with Dr. Peterson, then Provost Peterson, early in my tenure as the 19th SDSU president. I learned so much about the history, operating procedures and academic culture of our university and of higher education in South ��ֱ���� from her. 

“Provost Peterson was an academic leader committed to achieving and sustaining excellence in service to students, the faculty, the greater South ��ֱ���� community and to furthering the mission of SDSU as a land-grant university.  It was such a privilege to have her as a colleague.” 

Nursing prep translates to academia 

Miller said Peterson’s nursing preparation paved her way to success as a university administrator. 

“She earned credentials from the Mayo Clinic, still one of the nation’s most prestigious schools of nursing. She was also one of the first in the nursing profession to earn a doctoral degree. (Editor’s note: Peterson reports there were only 500 nurses nationally who had earned doctoral degrees at the time she was awarded in 1969.) 

“As a practicing nurse, Dr. Peterson engaged in highly successful grant writing, which brought funds, research and recognition to the hospitals with which she was associated. She brought those same skills to the faculties of the universities and associations in which she later served.” 

A joy to impact students, colleagues 

In a winter 2009 issue of “Calling Home,” an SDSU publication, it was stated, “Peterson could easily have gone on to a presidency elsewhere but chose to finish her career at State, where she gains immense satisfaction from knowing she has touched and changed lives.” 

Peterson is quoted, “One of the greatest joys is the ability to impact people and programs. I could sit with you for 24 hours and tell stories of how I know I impacted a faculty member, or a student, or a program, or the vision of a group of faculty. To hire good deans and see them progress, and to work with good people has always been a joy. 

“SDSU is a great organization where you can work with wholesome, good, problem-solving people who have support for the university and enthusiasm. It’s a more goal-oriented and practical institution than political.” 

Impact on nursing program 

Peterson’s impact in nursing at SDSU includes: 

• Developing and implementing the first Master of Science in Nursing program at SDSU in 1979. It remained the only graduate nursing program in South ��ֱ���� until 1995. Many of its graduates became hospital vice presidents for nursing and faculty members around the state. 

• Securing grant funding to expand the RN Upward Mobility program to Aberdeen and Rapid City in 1982. 

• Consolidating off-campus clinical sites from the Twin Cities to South ��ֱ���� so that undergraduate nursing students could complete all their clinical education in state. 

• Beginning the process to bring on board master’s prepared faculty at a time when most had only bachelor’s degrees. 

By the time Peterson moved to central administration in 1987, the college was delivering its nursing programs to sites around the state, and with the growth in the master’s program, overall enrollment grew from 500 students to 900 during her deanship. 

In an interview that appeared in the fall 2009 “Nursing” newsletter, Peterson said, “My era was really about laying the groundwork for things we could mount later on. Many of the things we did during my time as dean were setting the groundwork for the future.” 

In a follow-up interview after the award presentation, Peterson said, “I’m being honored in nursing and that’s appropriate. I brought that college forward and others carried it along. I turned it around and made it a high impact college with a strong undergraduate and graduate program. It is very rewarding to be recognized for that. 

“After 22 years as vice president and 10 as dean of nursing, I have made my mark. There are many, many programs I helped start or bring to accreditation To be recognized in my senior years is very rewarding.”