Barbara Given, a graduate of the Michigan State University College of Education, is being presented with the Alumni Service Award at the university’s annual Grand Awards Gala on Nov. 12.
Given is a University Distinguished Professor and associate dean emerita of the MSU College of Nursing, where she made a lasting impact on generations of Spartan nurses and led efforts to improve the care of cancer patients during treatment.
Alumni Service Award recipients include alumni who have demonstrated service to MSU and/or commendable public service on a local, state, national or international level. Given received her Ph.D. in Higher Education in 1976. She has donated to the College of Nursing and College of Music to support student scholarships, the arts and behavioral health.
Given’s career in nursing instruction has lasted nearly 60 years, with more than 50 years at MSU. She received over 34 years of National Institutes of Health funding for research focused on the relationship between formal health care and informal patient and family care systems. Among her honors, Given is a 2019 recipient of the American Cancer Society Trish Greene Quality of Life Award and is an MSU College of Nursing Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
“In this pandemic, we have seen wonderful work within the MSU campus community: with our hospital systems, with the homeless and greater community,” said Given.