For Immediate Release August 22, 2005

For More Information Contact: Mary Pat Poskon, 317-274-4019 mpposkon@iupui.edu

Director of IU School of Nursing Diversity and Enrichment Program is Elected to National Office

INDIANAPOLIS - Lillian Stokes, PhD, RN, FAAN, the director of the IU School of Nursing's (IUSON) Diversity and Enrichment Program since 1996, was recently elected to a two-year term as the president of the national Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. Stokes served as vice president from 2003-05, as well as editor-in-chief of the organization's journal for four years prior and has been an active participating member for over 36 years.

Stokes is also an associate professor at IUSON who has been a member of the faculty since 1972. A highly regarded national leader in the development of culturally competent care, IUSON has been the beneficiary of her leadership as she has spent almost the last decade developing creative programs on cultural competency to showcase the range of subject matter of concern to today's nurses.

In addition, Stokes has facilitated raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship monies for minorities through her work within Eta Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority and other community groups. Specifically, she inaugurated a Spring Fling variety show as the Eta Chi Chapter service project, which annually brings together talented health professionals for the purpose of raising monies for minorities to attend area nursing schools.

"Lillian's election to president of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. is a testament to her national reputation as a leader and a direct result of how well-respected and supported she is by her peers," said Marion E. Broome, IUSON university dean and professor. "Under the leadership and vision of Lillian, this professional organization will be positioned to move ahead with exciting new initiatives, just as Lillian has done so very well in advancing many initiatives here at the IU School of Nursing."

Stokes earned her bachelor's degree from North Carolina Central University and her master's and doctoral degrees from Indiana University in Bloomington. Prior to teaching at IUPUI, Stokes served as a staff nurse at several hospitals in Virginia, Illinois, and Indiana. Active in many community and nursing organizations both locally and across the nation, she is a member of the American Nurses Association, the Indiana State Nurses Association, the National League for Nursing, the Indiana Citizens League for Nursing, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Sigma Theta Tau, the Midwest Nursing Research Society, Links, Inc., Coalition of 100 Black Women and Witherspoon Presbyterian Church.

Stokes has also received numerous honors throughout her career including the 2001 Distinguished Alumni Award from North Carolina Central University, Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 2001, the American Nurses Association's Mary Eliza Mahoney Award in 2000, the 1998 Distinguished Hoosier Award from Governor Frank O'Bannon, and the Madame C. J. Walker Outstanding Woman of the Year from the Center for Leadership Development in 1996.

Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. is a professional association for registered professional nurses and student nurses (male and female) representing many cultures and diverse ethnic backgrounds (http://www.chietaphi.com.

Founded in 1932, Chi Eta Phi works to provide Service for Humanity (Sorority motto). Its members make outstanding professional, civic, social and cultural contributions in their communities on national and international levels.) More than 8000 Registered Nurses and Student Nurses hold membership in Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. There are over 90 graduate chapters and 50 undergraduate chapters located in 26 states, District of Columbia, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and Monrovia Liberia, West Africa. Membership is by invitation and is both active and honorary.

To learn more about the IU School of Nursing, visit http://nursing.iupui.edu/.

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