Nov. 14, 2011 | Being invested as the inaugural holder of the Linda C. Hodges Dean’s Chair capped off a remarkable first month on the job for University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Nursing Dean Lorraine Frazier, Ph.D., R.N.

Taking over as dean at the beginning of October, an Oct. 18 investiture ceremony celebrated Frazier’s honor as many colleagues, family and faculty attended the event at the Fred W. Smith Conference Center at the UAMS Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute.

“This is a wonderful honor that mirrors my commitment to our mission within the College of Nursing,” Frazier said. “I am so pleased to not only be here at UAMS, but to be working alongside such talented and accomplished professionals.”

Formerly a professorship that was recently elevated to a chair, the honor was held by former College of Nursing Dean Claudia Barone, Ed.D., R.N., who stepped down as dean this year. It is named after the longtime dean who held that position from March 1989 until she retired in October 2006.

Hodges is credited for greatly expanding the College’s academic programs to include the state’s first online higher education academic degree program, an outreach program for nursing students looking to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees; several master’s specialty tracks, including the first nurse practitioner program in Arkansas; and the state’s only nursing Ph.D.

The Hodges Professorship was funded in part with money donated by Daphine D. Doster, Ph.D., who was active in establishing the first nursing school in Arkansas to offer a bachelor’s degree in the early 1950s. In 1952 she was named acting dean of the University of Arkansas School of Nursing and was instrumental in establishing a four-year baccalaureate nursing program. Doster retired in 1971 but never stopped giving her time and money to help produce nursing professionals in the state. When Doster died in 2000, she left funds to establish the professorship to recognize Hodges’ leadership of the College of Nursing.

Professorships are supported by $500,000 in gifts, while chairs are supported by $1 million. A gift from a donor who wished to remain anonymous was instrumental in the professorship’s advancement to a chair.

“We are honored to have Dr. Frazier here as a part of our team at UAMS and leading the College of Nursing,” said UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D. “Today we not only celebrate this accomplishment, but also a new era of leadership at UAMS of which we are very proud.”