Decker College celebrates alumni, donors and students at Homecoming brunch

Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences held a Homecoming Brunch on Oct. 14 as part of Binghamton University’s Homecoming 2023 celebration. The event was held at the University’s Health Sciences Building in Johnson City, N.Y., home to Decker College since 2020.

More than 100 alumni, students, faculty, staff, friends and families gathered at the inaugural event to celebrate Decker College. According to Courtney Wheeler ’14, MPA ’18, alumni and events coordinator at Decker College, alumni from 1985 to 2023 attended the event and had the opportunity to reconnect with former classmates and faculty/staff, and to meet current students.

“Whether you graduated from the School of Nursing, Decker School of Nursing or Decker College, you are part of a wonderful legacy of caring for others, educating the next generation of healthcare professionals and advancing research,” said Mario R. Ortiz, dean of Decker College, during his opening remarks.

Ortiz briefly updated attendees on recent changes at the college, including new academic programs and growth in faculty/staff: “I want to assure you that as we continue growing Decker College, we’re doing so based on data – looking at the most significant healthcare needs and programs that will attract prospective students.”

A highlight of the Homecoming Brunch was the conferral of four alumni achievement awards:

• Sheldon Fields ’91, MS/Cert ’95, Dean’s Alumni Impact Award
• Michael Kaneshiro Chou ’09, Accomplished Alumni Award
• David Klimachefsky ’12, Decker Connection Alumni Award
• Adenike Okeowo, MS ’17, DNP ’19, Decker College Emerging Leader Alumni Award

In addition, the event recognized donors and beneficiaries of the Decker College Nursing Assessment Kit Sponsorship program. This initiative provides nursing students with assessment kits that are required for clinical and practice experiences free of charge.