Alumni Association History

In 1892, with the help of Isabel Hampton and Adelaide Nutting, Helena Barnard and a group of twenty-five graduates of The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing organized the Alumnae Association. They hoped that an active alumnae group would provide for the continuation of the same pioneering spirit that was so dominant in the School.

The purpose of the Association, as stated in the Constitution, was "the promotion of unity and good feeling among the alumnae, and the advancement of the interest of the profession of Nursing."

A strong independent body, the Nursing Alumni Association has from its inception fostered a tenacious loyalty to Hopkins and a deep commitment to the School of Nursing. The Association was instrumental in advocating University affiliation for the School of Nursing.

The alumni today number over 4,000 and their support remains a critical factor in the success of the School of Nursing. They are visible in all areas of health care delivery, including local, state and national governmental agencies, and private and public health care systems. Our alumni can also be counted among those who will take risks, work with difficult populations, and advocate practice changes as a result of research and creative thinking.

Whether in a local, small town hospital or within the international health care arena, our alumni are all working toward the same goal . . . better health care for all.