Each year, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) honors two graduates for their outstanding service to the university and their community. These awards were given at the annual Homecoming and Courier Conclave held at Wendover in Hyden, KY. This year we were proud to announce the following award recipients:

Distinguished Service to Society: Kerri Schuiling

The Distinguished Service to Society award recognizes an alumnus who goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service in his or her community. Dr. Kerri Schuiling holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, master's degree from Wayne State University and baccalaureate degree from NMU. And of course, her midwifery certificate through FNU’s program. She is certified as both a women's health nurse practitioner and nurse-midwife.

Kerri currently serves as Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan.  She has also served as dean of NMU's College of Health Sciences and Professional Studies. Schuiling has also held positions as the Dean of Oakland University's School of Nursing and Associate Dean and director of NMU's School of Nursing. She served FNU for seven years as Education Director and Curriculum Coordinator providing the basis for the excellent curriculum delivered by FNU today.

Dr. Schuiling has received several awards for her work in women's health including induction as a fellow in the American College of Nurse-Midwives and recipient of the ACNM'S Kitty Ernst award, which is given in recognition for innovative, creative endeavors in midwifery and women's health care.

She is co-editor of the book Women's Gynecologic Health, which received the ACNM Book of the Year Award, is on the editorial board of the journal Applied Nursing Research and is the founding co-editor of the International Journal of Childbirth, the official journal of the International Confederation of the Midwives. She has published more than 42 peer reviewed papers and book chapters.

She is currently on the statewide Task Force for Nursing Practice and chair of the Research Standing Committee of the International Confederation of Midwives. Most recently she was selected for induction as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, which is one of the nursing profession's most prestigious honors.

Kerri’s contribution to advanced nursing and midwifery education has been outstanding to say the least.  FNU is honored to award her the 2015 Distinguished Service to Society Award.

Distinguished Service to Alma Mater: Joan Slager

The Distinguished Service to Alma Mater honors an alumnus who has continued to provide support to Frontier through volunteer efforts and/or donor support.  Dr. Joan Slager  is a graduate of Class I of the CNEP (FNU) program in 1991. She earned her MSN from Case Western Reserve University in 1993 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Oakland University in 2008.

She is the Director of Midwifery at Bronson Women’s Service in Kalamazoo, MI, a large full-scope midwifery practice which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, receiving ACNM Foundation’s With Women for a Lifetime Gold Commendation.

Dr. Slager lectures nationally on both clinical topics and the business aspects of practice, particularly in the area of billing and coding. She is the past chair of the ACNM’s Business Section, past chair of the ACNM’s Division of Standards and Practice, and is currently serving as Treasurer on the ACNM’s Board of Directors.

She is a Fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and a recipient of the Dorothea Lang pioneer award. Joan and her colleagues at Bronson have served as preceptors to nearly 100 nurse-midwifery students - 62 of those students have been Frontier students!

FNU is proud to honor both Dr. Kerri Schuiling and Dr. Joan Slager with these awards!