Rosalyn M. Ghysels

Rosalyn M. Ghysels attended Calvin College and graduated from John Hopkins University with her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, followed by her Master of Science degree in Nursing from Columbia University. She dedicated her career to nursing education, teaching first at the Blodgett School of Nursing, and later serving as the Director of Grand Rapids Community College’s LPN program. She went on to establish, direct and teach in their Associate Degree Nursing Program in the late 1960’s. This program was innovative, as the current models of the time were diploma programs for Registered Nursing credentials.

Service to others was always at the core of Ms. Ghysels’ personality. She took time during her professional career to coordinate the development of nursing schools in underserved areas of Texas. She also was an active volunteer with the Red Cross Disaster Services into her mid-eighties. As she says, “I have always wanted the opportunity to help, particularly in areas of great need.”

After spending time in Rehoboth, New Mexico, she saw the importance for Native American nurses to serve this community. She established this scholarship to assist students in their nursing education with the hopes of encouraging students from Rehoboth to provide quality nursing care to their community upon graduation.