Politics aside, any year in which the state governor speaks on campus is a big year. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear spoke at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Frontier Nursing University’s campus in Versailles, Kentucky, on September 9, 2022. By then, the year had already been quite busy as the campus was bustling almost every week with students attending Frontier and Clinical Bounds.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony kicked off a series of events in the fall. Gov. Beshear, who was also joined at the ceremony by a number of state and local leaders, spoke highly of FNU’s impact on the community and the state.
“This is the type of advancement we need across Kentucky,” Governor Beshear said. “What this university is doing is going to be a part of a transformational moment here in Kentucky, and I can’t wait to see the special ways that it helps all of us move forward and become the leaders and not the followers in this country that we’ve always known Kentucky should be.”
The ribbon-cutting was immediately followed by a Land Acknowledgment Ceremony led by Native American elders Helen Danser and Venus Evans. The ceremony included the unveiling of a sign that now stands at the head of FNU’s 5K walking trail. The ceremony and sign acknowledge the land as the original home of the Shawnee and Cherokee people. The sign reads:
“Frontier Nursing University wants to acknowledge that Versailles, Kentucky is the traditional territory of the Shawnee and Cherokee people. Frontier Nursing University acknowledges this legacy and finds inspiration from this land. We honor the land itself and those who remain stewards of this land throughout the generations. Territory or land acknowledgment is our way of recognizing the Indigenous presence in our everyday life.”
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FNU Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMNHP-BC, APRN, with Native American elders Helen Danser and Venus Evans.
Later that month, FNU held its first in-person commencement ceremony since 2019, with the previous three ceremonies being held virtually due to the pandemic. For the first time, the ceremony was held at the historic Rupp Arena in nearby Lexington. Both the ribbon-cutting ceremony and commencement weekend also offered opportunities for many visitors to tour the campus for the first time.
Events like these and others, such as FNU’s first Day of Giving event, National Nurse-Midwifery Week, and National Nurse Practitioner Week celebrations, made 2022 a year to remember. All of those events are covered in great detail in the 2022 President’s Annual Report. Additionally, the Report reflects on the university’s progress toward the goals set in the 2022 strategic plan and takes a closer look at the people and programs behind the plan’s success. This comprehensive year-in-review also includes the many awards, announcements, and newsworthy events of 2022, including the 12th annual Diversity Impact Conference, a fifth-consecutive INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award, and a second consecutive Great College to Work For recognition.
In addition to these events and stories, the 2022 President’s Annual Report also includes data and information on university enrollment, diversity, retention, and precepting and finishes with a look at the university’s 2023 strategic plan. The 2022 President’s Annual Report is available to read online or download here.