STT Nu History: National & International Leadership
Elected National/International Officers from Nu Chapter
Nu Chapter has been fortunate to have several of its members become involved with the Society beyond the local level. These individuals were, in chronological order, Drs. Elizabeth (Betty) Cleino, Jean Kelley, Anne Belcher, Joan Burttram Carlisle, and Kathleen Mikan. These individuals were committed to the purposes and values of Sigma Theta Tau and actively sought executive leadership positions within the Society. Below are descriptions of their activities and accomplishments when they served as regional, national, or international officers for the organization.
Dr. Elizabeth (Betty) Cleino
Betty Cleino was a charter member of Nu Chapter and served on the Preliminary Committee during the formulation stage of chapter development. At the 18th Biennial convention in 1965, Betty was nominated from the floor of the House of Delegates for the position of Research Fund Committee of the national organization. The requirement for membership on that committee at that time was a master's degree. She was elected (and later was appointed Chair of that Committee) from 1965 to 1969. Betty Cleino was one of the first persons' with a doctorate to serve on that committee. Dr. Cleino ran for re-election in 1969 and was re-elected for a second 4-year term.
During Dr. Cleino's tenure on the Committee, the Research Fund Committee was responsible for awarding the Society's research money. Between 1965 and 1969, $40,000 in research funds were awarded to 29 individuals and one award to the American Nurses' Foundation. The Society's money for research came from the membership fees. This was an important phase of professional nursing as Sigma Theta Tau was one of the first sources of money to support research by nurses. Governmental and corporate funding sources for nursing research essentially did not exist. Thus, many of the early scholars in nursing sought money from Sigma Theta Tau for the funding of their dissertation research or to conduct follow-up studies of their dissertations. Many of these early recipients of research monies later went on to become deans of schools of nursing. (Personal communication with Dr. Elizabeth Cleino, March 27, 2001.
Dr. Cleino was credited with rejuvenating "the research fund committee, setting policies, revising forms, standardizing the criteria, and publishing research papers in Image." (Source: Vision of 75 Years: An Anniversary Celebration, page 56) She was the first-full time research nurse at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Tuscaloosa. Her position as a clinical nurse researcher was innovative and creative, not only to the VA hospital in Tuscaloosa, but also to other VA institutions in the state. In her VA position, Dr. Cleino conducted some of the early research on the treatment of mental health patients at home as well as in the hospital.
Dr. Betty Cleino along with her cohort - Dr. Jean Kelley - brought a wealth of visibility and prestige to the Chapter because of their national offices in the early growth years of the Society. Both of these individuals were early leaders, scholars, and researchers in professional nursing. Their involvement and creative work with the Society lead to multiple advancements of the nursing profession at the local, state, and national levels.
Dr. Jean Kelley
Jean Kelley, PhD, RN, FAAN was inducted as part of the third class of inductees for Nu Chapter. Jean was attending graduate school (master's) at New York University in 1958 when Nu Chapter was chartered and because she was unable to attend the chartering ceremony, she was unable to be inducted as a Charter member. Shortly after her return to the University of Alabama with her master's degree, she became involved with the Nu Chapter and served as the Chapter President in 1961-1962.
At the 18th Biennial convention in 1965, Jean Kelley was nominated from the floor in the House of Delegates to run for national Secretary. She was elected and served as national secretary for two terms (four years each) from 1965 to 1969 and from 1969 to 1973. This was a period of rapid growth for the Society as the number of chapters increased from 20 active chapters to 56 during the time Jean was Secretary. The officers served approximately 9,500 members who were scattered across 27 states.
When Jean assumed the role of Secretary, she was entrusted with the Society's official records and correspondence. Since there was no national headquarters, office equipment, or clerical staff at that time, Dr. Kelley managed all the secretarial responsibilities for the Society as an UASON faculty member. Understandably, the School of Nursing provided considerable assistance to Jean and the Society during these early years. Because the National Archivist's position had been eliminated from the bylaws at the time Jean became National Secretary, Dr. Kelley also became the unofficial archivist for the Society and was responsible for collecting materials for the National archives. Needless to say, Dr. Kelley was a busy national officer! Thus, it is easy to understand why Jean was one of the first persons to push for the creation of the position of Executive Director for the Society. The appointment of Mrs. Widmer (in 1967) as the first (part-time) Executive Director of Sigma Theta Tau was a welcome relief for Dr. Kelley.
Dr. Kelley served six years under Dr. Virginia Crenshaw as President and two years under Dr. Ruth Helper's presidency. During Jean's term of office, the Society underwent many organizational changes in the direction of becoming a more scholarly-based honor society. On many campuses, there was little difference between being a social sorority and being an honor society. At that time many chapter bylaws were out of date. Thus, the national officers began to make visits to the chapters to assist them in identifying more with scholarly activities than those typical of social societies. It was also while Jean was on the National Council that the organization initiated (in 1967) the first issue of Image: Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society of Nursing (later to be renamed the Journal of Nursing Scholarship). Other organizational changes that occurred during Jean's tenure on the National Council were that the society became a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, the National Chapter was renamed the House of Delegates, plans were established for chapters to meet at a regular biennial convention every 2 year, and arrangements were made to establish the national headquarters for the organization at the site of its founding -- Indiana University. The national officers also re-evaluated the Society's symbols and re-designed the key and the coat of arms. In addition, the officers decided to search for the society's six founders and were able to bring five of the six founders together at the biennial convention in 1969 in San Francisco. This was the first time the founders had been together since they finished their schooling.
Throughout her professional career, Dr. Kelley has continued to be involved with Sigma Theta Tau. She served on Sigma Theta Tau's Nominating Committee (elected committee) between 1983-1985 and on the Heritage Committee from 1990 to 1992. Dr. Kelley has always been a loyal supporter of Nu Chapter, especially during her tenure as Associate Dean for the Graduate Program. In recognition of her loyalty to the chapter, Nu Chapter honored her with its first Outstanding Nurse Leader award in 1981 and co-sponsored a roast in honor of her retirement in 1989.
Dr. Kelley has continued to remain committed to the Society and active in Nu Chapter throughout her retirement years. In 2001, Dr. Kelley was awarded the chapter President's award for her continued devotion and long-term commitment to the ideals and purposes of Sigma Theta Tau International and for four decades of stellar leadership and support in the growth and development of Nu Chapter.
Dr. Anne Belcher
At the 26th Biennial convention in Minneapolis in 1981, Anne Belcher, a Nu chapter member, was elected to serve as the first Regional Chapter Coordinator for Region 3 which included the chapters in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Her duties included coordinating communication between the state chapters, assisting in educational planning, and consultation. Anne served in this capacity for two terms (1981-1985).
During Anne's term of office she implemented the organization's plans for Regional structure. The idea for having Regional meetings emerged as an important mechanism for facilitating communication between chapters and between chapters and Headquarters. As part of this plan, Dr. Belcher was instrumental in having Nu Chapter host the first Regional Conference which was held in Birmingham in 1982.
In 1983, Nu Chapter presented the Outstanding Nurse Leader Award to Dr. Anne Belcher who at that time was Director of Staff Development, University of Alabama Hospitals and Clinics. She received this award on the basis of superior professional leadership and marked achievement in the field of nursing. Dr. Belcher's involvement with Nu Chapter came to a close when she moved out of state.
Dr. Joan Burttram Carlisle
Dr. Carlisle succeeded Dr. Belcher (pictured on left) as Region 3 Coordinator in 1985 and served in that capacity for two terms until 1989. Joan had previously been President of Nu Chapter from 1981-1983 and was well qualified for the position of Regional Coordinator.
Dr. Carlisle has a long history of involvement and leadership with the Society. Joan's involvement with Sigma Theta Tau began when she was inducted into Nu Chapter in 1975 as an undergraduate student at the UASON. She was elected Corresponding Secretary for the chapter in 1979 and later was elected President in 1981. While serving as chapter president, she involved chapter members in producing an annual chapter newsletter and in compiling and organizing the chapter archives. She increased the visibility of Nu chapter at the local, regional, and national level and was successful in involving and recognizing the achievements of nurses from various practice settings.
In 1982, Dr. Carlisle served as Co-Chair of the first Region 3 Assembly held in Birmingham. This meeting was so highly successful that Joan was invited to Chair the Local Arrangements Committee for the second Region 3 Assembly that was held in Birmingham in 1995. In addition to holding several leadership positions, Joan attended all Sigma Theta Tau International Biennial Conventions between 1981 and 1995 and was the chapter delegate to the 1981 and 1983 conventions.
During Joan's term of office as Region 3 Coordinator, she provided leadership by visiting many of the local chapters in the region and spoke at many of their chapter induction ceremonies. Communication and coordination among all the chapters in the region was a very demanding job as the Society experienced rapid growth during Joan's tenure in office. However, Dr. Carlisle's cordial and stimulating attitude made the job easier.
At the local level, Joan has served Nu Chapter well. Her skills in organization, practicality, and communication have contributed to the stability and growth of Nu Chapter as well as the international society at large. Dr. Carlisle gave much of herself in terms of time, effort, and talent to the organization. The chapter is certainly proud to claim Joan Burttram Carlisle, as one of its outstanding leaders.
Dr. Kathleen Mikan
Kathleen Mikan, PhD, RN, FAAN was inducted into Epsilon Chapter in 1960 at Ohio State University as an undergraduate student. During her professional career in nursing education at five different universities, she has held membership in two pre-Sigma Theta Tau honor societies and three different chapters of Sigma Theta Tau.
Dr. Mikan's involvement at the national level of Sigma Theta Tau grew out of her expertise in the design and production of audiovisual materials. In preparation for the 27th Biennial Convention (60th anniversary), she was invited to serve as the television production coordinator for a videotape collage Richness and Diversity of Nursing which depicted nine roles of the nurse. This was one of the first videotapes produced which was designed to portray the best images of nurses in the diverse roles of scholar, theoretician, researcher, writer, practitioner, educator, policymaker, health advisor, and leader. A Sigma Theta Tau committee scripted the content for the videotape, and the visuals were solicited from chapters and individuals across the United States. The final 25-minute videotape encompassed the use of over 100 difference sources of nursing visuals (motion and stills), including some from the Executive branch of government. UAB's Medical Television studio did the postproduction editing work. The videotape was premiered at the 1983 Biennial Convention in Boston which had as its theme: Image Makers: Richness in Diversity. When shown at the convention, the videotape received a standing ovation from over 1000 nurse scholars. Nu Chapter supported Dr. Mikan's work on this videotape both emotionally and financially. Dr. Mikan, Nu Chapter, and the School of Nursing, UAB were all given due recognition in the videotape's credits. At the convention in 1985, Dr. Mikan received Sigma Theta Tau's President's Award (from Dr. Lucie Kelly) for her creative contributions to the Society.
Subsequent to Richness and Diversity of Nursing, Dr. Mikan was asked to serve as the videotape production advisor for The Chartering Ceremony and Developing A Partnership in Health both of which was premiered at the 1985 Sigma Theta Tau Convention. Dr. Mikan served as a photographer at multiple Sigma Theta Tau events between 1983-1991 including the International Research Congresses held in Edinburgh and South Korea. For her many contributions to the Society, Dr. Mikan was awarded the Sigma Theta Tau National Service Awards in 1985, 1987, and 1989.
In 1985 Dr. Mikan was elected International Secretary of Sigma Theta Tau International. She served as Secretary for 6 years, the maximum allowed by the bylaws at that time. During her tenure on the National Council (International Board of Directors), she participated in Society activities related to conducting a feasibility study, campaign fund-raising, acquisition of a building site, approval of architectural plans, ground breaking, and finally, the dedication of the Center for Nursing Scholarship, the Headquarters for Sigma Theta Tau International. 
These were exciting times for the organization as STTI was first major nursing organization to take on such an energetic extensive fund-raising building campaign. Nurses had to learn how to raise money, an underdeveloped skill for many nurses. However, under the leadership of the Executive Officer, Nell Watts, over 4 million dollars were raised from individuals, chapters, corporations, and friends of nursing for the building. The building was dedicated in 1989, and Dr. Mikan left office two years later.
Besides the construction and dedication of the International Center for Nursing Scholarship and the Virginia Henderson Electronic Library, another highlight during Dr. Mikan's term as Secretary was the acceptance of petitions from the first honor societies outside the US (Canada, Korea and Taiwan) for a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. On behalf of the Society, Dr. Mikan interviewed the founders from each of these countries and produced individual videotapes (one per country) about the evolution of an honor society in each particular country. Dr. Mikan attended the chartering ceremonies in Korea and Taiwan and captured their chartering ceremonies on tape. In 1993 she was the script writer and production coordinator for Beyond National a videotape which illustrated how the current evolution of nursing honor societies in countries outside of the United States parallels the early development of honor societies here in the US in the 1920s and 30s. All of Dr. Mikan's videotapes developed by Sigma Theta Tau International are in the Society's archives.
As an international officer, Kathleen participated in numerous chapter charterings and honor society evaluations. The Society experienced rapid growth in the number of chapters during Dr. Mikan's term of office; they increased from 191 to 302. Thus, there were many opportunities for her to visit and participate in chapter charterings at various universities and colleges in the country. Dr. Mikan was Secretary under the presidential leadership of Vernice Ferguson, Dr. Angela Barron McBride, and Dr. Billye Brown.
Dr. Mikan's background in electronic media qualified her to help the National Council explore how the then rapidly emerging communication technology could be used to advance the enactment of Sigma Theta Tau's Ten Year Plan. While serving on the National Council, she helped the Council explore the possibilities of expanding the Society's uses of communication technology for the benefit of the membership, the profession, and the many publics of nursing. Kathleen was an early advocate for the use of the newer forms of communication technology, such as computers and satellites, and for the development of a national computer information system for nursing. She also was instrumental in creating the first Information Technology Award for the organization.
Through the years Dr. Mikan has served on numerous Sigma Theta Tau Committees -- Public Affairs, Heritage, Publications, Resolutions, Library Scientific, and several Awards Committees. In 1999 she was chair of the Awards Committee for the National Convention and also served on the Convention Protocol Committee in 1999 and 2001. Besides her international activities, Dr. Mikan also made contributions at the local level by serving as Nu chapter president from 1999-2001. In this local leadership position, she continued to be an advocate for the use of electronic communication and was instrumental in creating this chapter's first Web site.
Nu Chapter can be proud of these chapter members who volunteered their time, energy, and talents for the purpose of improving and promoting the Society. Nu Chapter has regional and worldwide visibility because these leaders were committed to advancing the ideals, purposes, and values of the Society beyond the local level.