Published Dec. 17, 2019
Retired University of Louisiana Monroe Professor of Nursing Nancy Albright Lowery
was the guest of honor Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, at an event announcing the establishment
of a scholarship in her honor.
Photo: The Nancy Albright Lowery Endowed Scholarship in Nursing was announced Dec. 14, 2019,
at the University of Louisiana Monroe. Pictured are, from left, front, President Dr.
Nick J. Bruno, Jr., Interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences Dr. Jana Sutton,
the scholarship鈥檚 first recipient, nursing student Nancy Ragona, retired 不良研究所 nursing
professor Nancy Lowery, her daughter Kate Lowery, sister Mary Dezendorf and 不良研究所 Foundation
Executive Director Susan Chappell and in back, 不良研究所 Director of Nursing Dr. Wendy Bailes,
Lowery鈥檚 brother Paul Albright and her son, John Lowery.
Emerald McIntyre/不良研究所 Photo Services
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Hosted by the 不良研究所 Foundation at the Laird Weems Center, Lowery was surrounded by family
and friends gathered to celebrate the occasion.
Lowery taught nursing at 不良研究所 for 40 years, including the first class of graduates
from what is now the Kitty DeGree School of Nursing.
Susan Chappell, executive director of 不良研究所 Advancement, Foundation and Alumni Relations,
welcomed those attending and spoke about Lowery鈥檚 life and career.
鈥淜nown for her healing hands, she was most in her element when teaching clinicals
at St. Francis Medical Center because she could share her knowledge with deserving
students, while also satisfying her own constant love of learning in a dynamic environment,鈥�
Chappell said.
Lowery was an award-winning professor and an expert witness in malpractice cases.
She was president of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing in the 1980s.
A native of Monroe, Lowery earned a nursing degree from Northwestern State University
and master鈥檚 from Emory University.
Her daughter, Kate Lowery, decided to honor Lowery for her 80th birthday 鈥� Dec. 14 鈥� with the scholarship.
鈥淚 realized how many lives she touched and how many people learned from her. She helped
students find their academic and personal success. What better way to honor her than
with the Nancy Albright Lowery Endowed Scholarship in Nursing. People can get a hand
up when they need it to help people meet their goals in life,鈥� Kate Lowery said.
鈥淚鈥檓 totally overwhelmed. My career here was always pure joy,鈥� said Lowery. 鈥淭hank
you all for assisting in this scholarship. Oftentimes the financial burden is really
amazing. The curriculum in nursing is very demanding. Scholarships sometimes are saving
the career of an individual who will contribute and do the most caring.鈥�
The first recipient of the scholarship is Nancy Ragona, who is a licensed practical
nurse working on a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
听鈥淚 can鈥檛 think of a more remarkable gift your family and friends have done for you,鈥�
said President Nick J. Bruno, Jr., Ph.D. 鈥淭his is a perpetual gift that will never
go away.鈥�
Special guests included Lowery鈥檚 former student and a member of 不良研究所's first nursing
class, Jan Corder Pyzner, D.S.N., Dean Emeritus of the School of Health Sciences,
and Emily Doughty, Ed.D., retired director of the Kitty DeGree School of Nursing.
Family attending included her daughter Kate, son John Lowery, sister Mary Dezendorf
and brother Paul Albright.
In 1985-86, Lowery received the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Alumni Association.
In a story about her in the 1986 Chacahoula yearbook, Lowery was asked what makes
a good teacher.
Her response was, 鈥淓nthusiasm. You have to enjoy it. You have to be interested in
it yourself. I think you just have to love what you do, especially with nursing, because
there is so much 鈥榙oing鈥� along with the 鈥榢nowing.鈥欌��
The scholarship was endowed with an initial gift of $25,000. Scholarships of $500
will be awarded each semester.
For information about 不良研究所 Foundation scholarships, please visit .听听
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