Since 1989, the College of Nursing and the Carolina Alumni Association, in collaboration with the Alpha Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, has recognized excellence in nursing graduates. The criteria include the demonstration of significant contributions to the field of nursing, improvement of society through volunteer and community efforts, and a high standard of integrity and character.
Our recipient this year, Jeannie Hanna, is certainly an outstanding reflection of all of these criteria.  She is 1981 BSN graduate of our university. In 1990 she received her Masters of Science in Nursing in Nursing Administration from USC. She currently serves as the Director of Integrated Health and Productivity for the Hershey Company in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This position is responsible for development of a corporate health and productivity strategy and program development for 14,000 employees with a focus on enhancement of employees’ health through reduction of health risks and improvement of physical and mental well-being. The outcomes achieved are improved productivity, performance, and engagement as well as reduction in health care costs.

Ms. Hanna has served on numerous local, state, and national offices for the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses . She is currently on the AAOHN Board of Directors Northeast Region, the AAOHN Journal Editorial Review Board, the Steering Committee of the Council of Nurse Leaders and is on the ICOH Scientific Committee for Occupational Health. She is a nationally and internationally recognized lecturer on health and productivity, business skills, wellness and fundamentals of occupational health nursing. Her expertise affords her many speaking engagements across the globe.
               
She is a member of many professional organizations including American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Council of Nurse Leaders in Business and Industry and others.  She is also a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Leadership Fellow.
               
Congratulations to Jeannie Hanna, the USC College of Nursing 2009 Outstanding Alumni.