Beth Sharer, Head, Division of Health Sciences at IUPUC, has been awarded a 2019 IUPUI Spirit of Philanthropy Award for her work in transforming the nursing program at IUPUC during the last 10 years. From graduating just nine students in 2009 to now over 100 annually, the nursing program has benefited from Beth's passion, innovative solutions, and consistent fundraising. 

Since 1989, the Spirit of Philanthropy Award has been presented to individuals and organizations that have demonstrated dedication and commitment to the academic and cultural well-being of IUPUI, IUPUC and their faculty, staff and students through generous donations, volunteerism and other notable investments.

Sharer has worked diligently with other IUPUC divisions to create seamless pathways into the new accelerated second degree pre-licensure track, and as a result of her efforts, students who have a bachelor's degree in another field but who do not have a prior nursing degree can earn a BSN with four semesters of full-time study. Most recently, Sharer’s efforts brought an MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner Program to IUPUC.

In addition to securing funding for faculty scholarships for those seeking tenure and doctoral degrees, Sharer annually secures nearly $100,000 in student scholarship funds. She also established and funds the Sharer Preceptor of the Year Award that recognizes the integral part preceptors play in nursing education at IUPUC.

Sharer is a Seymour, Indiana resident who has more than 30 years of healthcare experience, including almost every clinical area of nursing. She holds a Doctor of Health Administration from Central Michigan University, and has taught nursing in LPN, ASN, and BSN programs. She has been at IUPUC since 2009.

For more information on this, and all Indiana University awards, go to https://honorsandawards.iu.edu.