The University Of Texas At Austin: What Starts Here Changes The World
The School of Nursing

Distinguished Graduates Fall 2007

 

Mary Elizabeth Thomas
Outstanding Graduating PhD Student

Mary Elizabeth Thomas is co-recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student award. Before starting the doctoral program at the School of Nursing Mary Beth experienced 22 years of progressive management responsibility in several health care organizations. She is currently the Director of Nursing Practice and Education for the Texas Board of Nursing and she held this full time position while completing the doctoral program. Her research was focused on the topic of nursing error reporting systems and their role in patient safety. While a doctoral student a number of articles related to her research were published. Mary Beth is active in the Texas Nurses Association (TNA) and served as Treasurer to the State Board of Directors of TNA from 2001 until 2004. She was a member of the Nurse Practice Committee for the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners in 1997-2004. She is a lifetime member of the UT Austin School of Nursing Alumni Association. As a doctoral student she made numerous presentations at a variety of workshops and professional meetings sponsored by groups such as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Nurses Association, Texas Health Care Association, and Board of Nurse Examiners.

 

Lorraine Phillips
Outstanding Graduating PhD Student

Lorraine Phillips is co-recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student award. Lorraine received an institutional National Research Service Award in Women’s Health Nursing upon entering the doctoral program. Throughout her doctoral program she worked as a research assistant and she indicates that this experience was invaluable to her as she developed her research projects. In addition, she worked as a teaching assistant for both master’s and doctorate courses in research methods. As a doctoral student, Lorraine disseminated her research findings in a number of peer-reviewed publications. One of these publications has been recognized nationally for its unique contribution to the knowledge base related to employment of persons with multiple sclerosis. Lorraine also shared her research in poster presentations at local and national conferences such as The Center for Health Promotion Research Conference at the School of Nursing. Leadership activities at the School of Nursing include her membership on the Master’s Program Curriculum Committee and the Research Core Revision Committee. In 2004-05 she was secretary for Epsilon Theta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. Lorraine is now an assistant professor at The University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing in Columbia, Missouri.

 

Matthew Lewis
Outstanding Graduating BSN Student

Matthew Lewis is the recipient of the Outstanding Graduating BSN Student award. While at UT Matthew served as Financial Director and
as Vice President of the University of Texas Nursing Student Association. He was a member of the Longhorn Association of Men in Nursing, UT Austin Student Senate and the Appropriations Committee. He also served as a transfer student mentor and was active in several community volunteer
projects at a local church, a food bank in Houston and Longhorn Halloween. In spring of 2007 Matthew was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society and was recognized as a UT Distinguished Scholar. Faculty references commented on his “broad knowledge base and insightful problem solving abilities” and his genuine interest in the “thoughts, feelings and
experiences of individuals.”