Graduation 2018

NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing’s 2018 graduation ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street, New York, NY.

In addition to celebrating the Class of 2018, NYU Meyers Dean Eileen Sullivan-Marx, PhD, RN, FAAN, will present Debra A. Toney, PhD, RN, FAAN, with the 2018 Helen Manzer Award. Dr. Toney will also deliver the keynote graduation address.

“Debra Toney’s career has been dedicated to eliminating health disparities and inequities in the neediest communities through patient-centered care. She is also passionate about the field of nursing and creating the next generation of minority nurse leaders,” said Dean Sullivan-Marx. “We are honored to welcome Dr. Toney as we celebrate the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing Class of 2018.”

Dr. Toney has more than 30 years of clinical and leadership experience in nursing and community-based health promotion programs.  She began her career as a critical care nurse and progressed into leadership roles in support of the nursing profession and improving healthcare.

Dr. Toney is currently the Director of Quality Management at Nevada’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center, Nevada Health Centers, Inc., comprised of 18 health centers.  She is responsible for ensuring high quality and cost-effective healthcare throughout the centers’ integrated practice of medical, dental and behavioral health services. 

Dr. Toney has a history of public and community service.  She was appointed by the Governor of Nevada to serve as a member of the Office of Minority Health and served as its first chair, where she provided leadership and direction for the statewide office. She also served as the 10th President of the National Black Nurses Association and is the founder of the Southern Nevada Black Nurses Association.  This year she was elected president of the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations. Dr. Toney is a graduate of the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows Program, participates in the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nurses Campaign, and served on the board of the American Academy of Nursing. 

The NYU Meyers Helen Manzer Award recognizes exemplary leadership on behalf of the health of the nation. Previous recipients of the Helen Manzer Award include Donna Shalala, PhD, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Claire Mintzer Fagin, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean emerita of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and an NYU Meyers alumna (’64).