Beverly Hansen Bradley earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Hamline, a Masters in Health Science at California State University, Long Beach and a PhD in Education at USC. Her career began with clinical nursing, followed by nursing education, and school nursing. At California’s State Department of Education, she implemented the first grant from CDC for school-based programs about HIV Infection; in San Francisco, she managed the school district’s health programs; at San Diego City Schools, she initiated Medicaid billing, a model now used throughout California. Her career culminated as an Assistant Clinical Professor at University of California, San Diego’s School of Medicine. Beverly was President of American School Health Association (ASHA), and named a Fellow and Outstanding School Nurse by ASHA. She is a Fellow and recipient of a Distinguished Service Award from National Association of School Nurses. Dr. Bradley has more than 30 publications in juried journals.
Beverly Hansen Bradley's Acceptance Speech:
I was going to say something that was so clever that a college recruiter would pick it up and print it on a brochure. But instead, I decided to tell the truth…I came to Hamline by default.
I applied for the 3 year nursing program at Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis primarily because I loved the caps their graduates wore. The Dean of Nursing at Swedish reviewed my high school transcript, then looked over her glasses at me and said, “You are far too young.” I was crushed…how could 16 be too young to do anything? I can drive a five speed manual transmission grain truck; change tires; behead, pluck, singe, cut up and fry chickens... coop to plate in less than an hour!
Then she said, “However, they are starting a new four year nursing program over in Saint Paul where you spend the first year on the college campus.” Then she picked up the phone, called the recruiter from Hamline and made an appointment for me. I don’t even know the name of that nurse educator at Swedish Hospital, but she was very wise and she made an extra effort that was a very important boost to my education and to my future career options. I had a wonderful education at Hamline with just enough liberal arts courses to start me on the path to being a life long learner…
…but I still think the cap at Swedish was better.
