Columbia Nursing Celebrates 125 Years of Nursing Excellence
Our History
The History of Columbia University School of Nursing
Columbia University School of Nursing's impact began over 125 years ago when it opened its doors in 1892. It was then that Anna C. Maxwell, the school's first dean, set the standard for nursing education and service that would become the foundation for Columbia Nursing's excellence for decades to come. It was Maxwell's pioneering spirit and unwavering belief in the power of nursing that opened new horizons for the profession and paved the way for today's nurse clinicians and scientists.
Today, this legacy lives on, as Columbia University School of Nursing continues to innovate, lead, and transform the education and profession of nursing.
Explore the timeline below to learn about Columbia Nursing's history and milestones.
If you would like to learn more about our rich history of excellence and leadership, historical documents, yearbooks, announcements, annual reports, student handbooks, and alumni magazines are available digitally at the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library of Columbia University Archives and Special Collections site.
Milestones
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1892
Presbyterian Hospital Training School for Nurses is founded. Later renamed the Columbia University School of Nursing, it is one of the first nursing schools in the nation.
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1892
Anna C. Maxwell becomes the school’s first dean. She served as dean until 1921.
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1894
The school’s first class of 21 graduates.
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1899
The Alumnae Association of the Presbyterian Hospital Training School for Nurses in the City of New York is incorporated.
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1904
Florence Nightingale Hall, the school's first residence, opens on East 71st Street, opposite Presbyterian Hospital.
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1904
Students staff Presbyterian Hospital’s new visiting nurse service, predecessor to the hospital’s department of social work, one of the first in the U.S.
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1921
Helen Young serves as dean. She serves as dean until 1937.
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1928
Maxwell Hall, the school’s new home, opens within the new Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and plays a central role in helping to create the first medical center.
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1937
The School of Nursing joins Columbia University.
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1937
Margaret Conrad serves as dean. Conrad is the first leader of the school under its new affiliation with Columbia. She serves as dean until 1950.
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1949
President Dwight D. Eisenhower (far left) congratulates graduates of the class of 1949.
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1950
Eleanor Lee serves as dean. She serves as dean until 1950.
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1956
Columbia Nursing becomes the first school to award a master's degree in nurse midwifery.
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1958
Sylvia Whitehead, one of the school’s first African American student graduates from Columbia University School of Nursing.
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1961
Elizabeth Gill serves as dean. She serves as dean until 1968.
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1964
The Alpha Zeta chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society is formally installed.
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1968
Mary Crawford serves as dean. She serves as dean until 1976.
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1970
The first male students, Ramon Lavandero '72 and John Mladinich '72, are admitted into Columbia Nursing.
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1976
Helen Pettit serves as dean. She serves as dean until 1981.
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1981
Joann S. Jamann-Riley serves as dean. She serves as dean until 1985.
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1984
Oncology nursing specialty is introduced in collaboration with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
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1984
The Georgian Building becomes the new home to Columbia Nursing students.
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1986
Mary Mundinger serves as dean. She serves as dean until 2010.
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1996
Columbia Nursing becomes the first school to be named a World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Advanced Practice Nursing, a designation recognizing its expertise and commitment to advanced practice nursing.
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1997
Columbia Nursing establishes Columbia Advanced Practice Nurse Associates (CAPNA), the first independent primary care faculty practice. CAPNA nurse practitioners are compensated at the same rate as primary care physicians.
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1998
Columbia University School of Nursing Alumni Association is established (2018 Board of Directors pictured).
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2004
Columbia Nursing is among the first schools to develop and offer a doctoral degree in clinical nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
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2010
Bobbie Berkowitz serves as dean. She serves as dean until 2018.
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2014
Columbia Nursing breaks ground at the site for the school's new building.
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2015
The Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare moves into Columbia Nursing via an $11.1 million, 10-year grant.
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2016
Columbia Nursing hosts the Global Nursing and Midwifery Clinical Research Development Initiative in Amman, Jordan. Experts from 22 countries in the eastern Mediterranean region identify methods to address critical regional health needs.
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2016
Columbia Nursing renames CAPNA as the Nurse Practitioner Group and opens a location in Washington Heights.
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2017
Columbia Nursing’s new building opens. The school celebrates 125 years of transforming the education and profession of nursing.
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2018
Lorraine Frazier serves as dean.
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2019
Columbia Nursing forms its first Student Council in two decades.
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2020
Columbia Nurses serve on the COVID-19 pandemic front lines, including vaccination efforts.
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2021
Columbia Nursing becomes the first nursing school to offer a Certificate of Professional Achievement in Transgender Health Care.
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2021
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia Program launches.
