On July 28, faculty, staff and friends at the School of Nursing sponsored a celebration to honor Clinical Professor Eva Jean Dubois on her retirement.
Welcoming the assembly, Dean Gregg Newschwander thanked Dr. Dubois for her many years of illustrious service to the School of Nursing, and for establishing the Eva Jean Dubois Annual Fund for Excellence in the School. He echoed the sentiments of the group when he said that Dubois had made a significant impact on the program since she started her teaching career in Auburn in 1999 (at Miller Hall) and was responsible for starting several programs that are now part of the curriculum. “The Eva Jean Dubois Annual Fund will support strategic initiatives in the school and preference for the International Study Program in Ecuador,” he added.
Dubois spent 27 years as nurse educator and 21 years as a nurse practitioner, and worked in acute care, critical care, primary care and community education. Prior to teaching in Auburn, she taught in associate, baccalaureate, and master's nursing programs at the University of Arkansas-Monticello and Mississippi University for Women. At Auburn, she led in medical/surgical, leadership, critical care, preceptorship, community courses and various lab and clinical experiences. She clearly impacted MSN nurse practitioner (NP) students and senior undergraduate BSN students. For her exemplary accomplishment in teaching, research, outreach and service, she was the recipient of the 2021 Dr. Jemelene Chastain Moore Distinguished Faculty Award.
Several friends and colleagues spoke at the reception. Dr. Linda Gibson-Young, outreach coordinator for SON said that Dubois had transformed the way AUSON viewed outreach. She noted Dubois’ tireless work as an outreach coordinator, “one of the most dynamic nurse leaders in Alabama and beyond. She was instrumental in outreach programs like TigerCheckTM, Mobile Interprofessional Clinics, Boykin Clinic, and Auburn in Ecuador.”
According to Professor Barbara Wilder, “outreach is definitely a true love for Jean. She thrives in the community setting and provides excellent patient care. One of her dreams is very close to becoming a reality with the start of a mobile clinic partnership with the City of Opelika. The clinic will serve the many underserved areas of Auburn and Opelika.”
Professor Sarah Watts considers Dubois an outstanding leader for nursing. “She is a living legend when it comes to preparing nurse practitioners for practice,” praising her dedication to the NP program.
“The NP program which started with only two faculty members and six students is now a thriving, competitive program with six faculty members and more than 150 graduate nursing students. She was essential to achieving program accreditation and reaccreditation,” added Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Caralise Hunt.
Professor Kathy Ellison marveled at her work in local, state, and global community levels to drive nursing forward. “She used her skills and expertise to provide care to patients through clinics hosted by AUSON and the interprofessional program. She led the integration of the NP program in the interprofessional education program (IPE). She was always interested in providing free or low-cost quality care to socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. Her altruism provided free health care to people in Ecuador, living in poverty and without access to healthcare.”
A friend, Susan Holmes ('81), marveled at the tenacity and dedication to making sure students had a valuable experience both academically and clinically.
Dr. Mary Peterson, a colleague, described the aura Dr. Dubois exuded, as one of grace, dignity and determination. “She celebrated diversity and uniqueness of each individual, and her teaching strategies reflected those fundamental principles.”
For Dubois, retirement means “spending more time traveling, and spending time with family and friends.” She plans to continue to work part-time as a clinical instructor and nurse practitioner for a few years.
Dr. Eva Jean Dubois, we are proud of you, and thank you for your service and dedication to the school and the nursing community!
