MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine M. McGrath

561-297-1168, kmcgrath@fau.edu

FAU Dedicates Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing Building

State-of-the-art facility offers valuable resources for students, faculty and community

            BOCA RATON, FL (February 3, 2006) – Florida Atlantic University dedicated the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing building on FAU’s Boca Raton campus today.  The state-of-the-art, 75,000 square foot, three-story building was made possible by a $10 million gift from local philanthropist and business owner, Christine E. Lynn.

            “Today marks a great day in nursing education at Florida Atlantic University,” said FAU President Frank T. Brogan.  “The unique environment housed within these walls will educate and inspire the next generation of nurses that will care for all of us.”

            The College of Nursing building embodies a distinctive design philosophy, guided by principles of Feng Shui and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).  The building houses an auditorium, classroom and seminar space, offices for staff and faculty, in addition to specifically designed spaces for students and the community, including a holistic practice area, sacred space for contemplation and self-renewal, and a healing labyrinth garden. 

            Another feature of the building is a museum that offers an opportunity for reflection on the beauty and uniqueness of nursing as a discipline and profession.  In addition to artifacts, it will house a collection of scholarly works on Caring (the essence of nursing) and personal papers of leading theorists in Caring.  Colleagues from around the world will be welcomed to study, research and advance the knowledge of Caring in nursing.

            “Mrs. Lynn has provided an invaluable gift that will be enjoyed and utilized by many,” said Dr. Anne Boykin, dean of FAU’s College of Nursing.  “This gift comes at a crucial time in the history of the profession when the need for nurses and skilled nursing is so great.  The healing environment of the beautiful state-of-the-art college supports limitless possibilities for advancing Caring in nursing through teaching, research, practice and service.”

            As well as housing the Christine E. Lynn Center for Caring, the new building is also the home of the Quantum Foundation Center for Innovation in School and Community Well Being, the Nursing Leadership Institute and the Center for the Study of Neurological Disabilities.

            “I am extremely excited about the opening of the new College of Nursing,” said Christine Lynn.  “This college will benefit humanity for decades to come and I am humbled and honored to have been able to make this project a reality.”

            In addition to Mrs. Lynn’s gift, contributions from the following individuals and groups were also made in support of the College’s missions and goals and will thus name various areas of the new building: Libby and Harry Dodson; the Quantum Foundation; Ron and Beth Blake; Robert Adamson; William T. Kemper; and Mary Anna Fowler.

            Other speaker’s at the event were: Patricia Welch Dittman, chair of the State of Florida Board of Nursing and alumna of the FAU College of Nursing; Betty Zinman, chair of the FAU Foundation; and Nancy Blosser, member of the FAU Board of Trustees.

-- FAU –

Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is committed to nurturing the wholeness of persons and environment through caring.