Friend of the College Award

KATHLEEN MALONE RUEHLOW
Oconomowoc, Wis.

Thanks to Kathy, nursing students have a space where they can study and collaborate on group projects in the Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Center for Clinical Simulation: the Kathleen M. Ruehlow Student Lounge.

Kathy is an alumna of the Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing, which merged into the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1995. And her interest in the nursing profession as a whole and the impact it has on its community have always been strong. So when she learned of the College of Nursing’s plans for the Center for Clinical Simulation, she stepped forward to help. The end result is a bright, sun-lit space for Marquette’s future nurse leaders to work.

“I find joy and satisfaction in helping others,” Kathy says. “My work in the nursing field has been extremely rewarding, and I hope tomorrow’s nurses discover the same thing.”

Seeing the need for manikin updates, Kathy subsequently supported the purchase of a pediatric manikin and technological updates for another one, further elevating the Center for Clinical Simulation’s state-of-the-science capabilities.

Kathy frequently attends Marquette events and also serves on MSOE’s Board of Regents. She says she defines success by looking at her children.

“My husband and I helped them set and expand their career goals, emphasizing the importance of supporting themselves and the communities in which they live,” she says. “I see my children flourishing. In their workplaces and neighborhoods, they are making a difference.”

Hometown: Oconomowoc, Wis.
Most influential person in her life: “My husband has been the most influential person in my life. He encouraged me to continue my education and become a nurse, one of the best decisions I have made! He believed we have a responsibility during our time on this earth to make a lasting difference. I continue this legacy one footprint at a time. He had great Christian values, which we inspired in our children.”