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A guiding light at Loyola Nursing

Power of Nursing Leadership honors Lee Schmidt with SAGE award

December 3, 2021

Ask anyone at the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing about Lee Schmidt, and they will tell you about a trusted advisor who is always willing to offer mentorship and advice to a colleague or student.  

“On my journey as the Dean, Lee has been my guidepost,” says Dean Lorna Finnegan. “He has helped me navigate the complexities and culture of a new work environment; he has been a sounding board through many challenges; and he has paved the way for me to move forward in shaping a vision for the School of Nursing.”  

For the past 15 years, Schmidt has been a dedicated servant leader at the School of Nursing and is currently the executive associate dean for Academic Affairs and assistant dean for the PhD in Nursing Program. During his tenure, he’s built a strong reputation as a go-to mentor for students and faculty alike, always willing to offer his guidance or support.   

So, when the time came to submit nominations for the Power of Nursing Leadership, Schmidt was the clear choice for the annual SAGE award, which acknowledges a nursing leader who mentors and supports the leadership of today while always looking for ways to mentor the nurse leaders of tomorrow. 

“Lee is the perfect example of an ideal SAGE - influencing, sharing wisdom, offering possibilities, guiding, and offering enlightenment – to everyone he connects with,” says Finnegan.  

The Power of Nursing Leadership Host Committee agreed, because on November 4, 2021, he accepted the SAGE award at the annual event alongside his colleagues Susan Buechele, assistant dean of Graduate Clinical Programs, and Carol Kostovich, assistant dean of Innovative Educational Strategies and Simulation, who were both awarded Pinnacle Leader awards.  

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“I am very blessed every day to be surrounded by my colleagues, who bring qualities of SAGE to their work,” says Schmidt. “They influence me in profound ways, which is why I was so honored and humbled to accept this award.” 

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“What is most significant is that Dr. Schmidt does not see his role as mentor or advisor as an isolated, ‘one-time’ event nor one worthy of recognition. Quietly and humbly, he continues to serve others as a SAGE and servant leader,” reads his nomination letter, written by Buechele and Kostovich along with fellow faculty Mary Byrn, department chair of Family and Community Health Nursing, Jorgia Connor, assistant dean of the BSN Program, and Regina Conway-Phillips, department chair of Health Systems and Adult Health Nursing. 

In fact, all five faculty credit their current leadership roles to the mentorship of Schmidt. “He mentored each of us to become leaders,” they write. “We began as faculty members, and we are now in major leadership roles in the School of Nursing due to his influence and encouragement. As Assistant Deans and Department Chairs, we continue to learn and receive guidance from him so that we can grow and flourish as leaders.”  

Please join the School of Nursing in congratulating Dr. Lee Schmidt on this outstanding recognition!