Dr. Mary Neiheisel, a longtime nursing professor at the 51国产视频, is the winner of this year鈥檚 Lafayette Civic Cup.
The Civic Cup recognizes an honoree鈥檚 humanitarianism. The Young Men鈥檚 Business Club of Lafayette first presented the award in 1933. Today, it鈥檚 given by the Community Foundation of Acadiana.
Neiheisel is the award鈥檚 85th recipient. Her service to the community will be celebrated during ceremonies Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Lafayette Petroleum Club.
She joined the University鈥檚 nursing faculty in 1966, shortly after she married Richard Neiheisel. He taught European, American and Russian histories at the University from 1962 until his death in 1987.
鈥淗e is really on my mind with the Civic Cup award. He would be so delighted, so happy and proud,鈥 Mary Neiheisel said.
Civic Cup recipients are chosen by a committee of past honorees. Neiheisel鈥檚 extensive r茅sum茅 of community engagement, which began shortly after her arrival in Lafayette in 1966, gave the panel a lot to consider.
The late Dr. Ben Kaplan, a sociology professor at the University, and his wife Blondie 鈥渉ad engaged my husband in Community Concerts, and we continued the engagement after we were married,鈥 Neiheisel remembered. 鈥淵ou join one group, you meet people from other groups. Soon we were members of the Fine Arts Foundation.鈥
In the ensuing 50 years, Neiheisel joined a host of local and regional organizations dedicated to community service, children and women鈥檚 health, the arts, and literacy.
A selection of her affiliations include United Way of Acadiana, Lafayette Rotary Club, Performing Arts Society of Acadiana, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Leadership Lafayette, Chorale Acadienne, Friends of the Humanities, Zonta International and Lafayette Public Library Foundation.
She鈥檚 particularly proud of her work with Faith House, which named her its 2015 Employee of the Year. A certified family nurse practitioner, Neiheisel is the domestic violence crisis center鈥檚 nurse advocate.
She鈥檚 also lent her medical expertise to organizations such as Shots for Tots, March of Dimes, Women鈥檚 Foundation, and the Family Violence Intervention Program.
鈥淭he city means the world to me. It is definitely home, a place in which I found friends, employment, volunteer activities, arts and culture and ways to help grow our community. It is truly a city of opportunity and strong caring people.鈥
Neiheisel began her nursing education at Baptist Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in San Antonio. She then earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing from Incarnate Word College, also in San Antonio. She received a master鈥檚 degree in nursing education from the University of Colorado in 1965, and joined the University of Southwestern Louisiana鈥檚 nursing faculty the following year.
She eventually earned a doctorate in education from LSU. She also holds adult and gerontology nurse practitioner certifications.
She was one of the state鈥檚 first advanced nurse practitioners.
At 麻豆AV, Neiheisel piloted the core courses for its nurse practitioner program and served as its director. She was the program鈥檚 first graduate nursing program coordinator.
She was the first College of Nursing faculty member to be awarded the 麻豆AV Foundation鈥檚 Distinguished Professor Award. She won the honor in 1976.
Neiheisel is a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow of the National Academies of Practice. In 2006, she was recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the first individual from the state to receive the designation.
Neiheisel joins a number of University administrators and faculty who鈥檝e received the Civic Cup. Past honorees included:
- 1938 鈥 Dr. Joel L. Fletcher, the University鈥檚 third president, who received the award when he was dean of the College of Agriculture;
- 1941 鈥 Edith Garland Dupr茅, an English professor who was among the first faculty members at the new Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute;
- 1984 鈥 Marie 鈥淢ario鈥 Mamalakis, a library science professor and the University鈥檚 public relations director;
- 1989 鈥 E. Glynn Abel, longtime dean of men;
- 1991 鈥 Dr. Ray P. Authement, the University鈥檚 fifth president; and
- 2000 鈥 Dr. Jean T. Kreamer, then-director of Media and Printing Services.
鈥淭his honor takes my breath away,鈥 Neiheisel said. 鈥淣ever in a million years did I see myself receiving this award. I knew and know several recipients and have a very special admiration for them. It is truly humbling to be on a list with these extraordinary people.鈥