Our Community Honors
Dr. Kathleen M. Nokes
According to Lady Margaret Thatcher, “If you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman.” The legitimacy of Thatcher’s statement is personified in Dr. Kathleen M. Nokes, professor at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing at Hunter College, City University of New York, where she has been Acting Associate Dean, teaching in the nursing program. She earned her BSN from Hunter, her master’s from Teachers College and her Ph.D. from NYU. She is a member of the American Academy of Nursing, an original member of the UCSF International HIV/AIDS Nursing Research Network, and a program evaluation consultant for a number of community agencies. An educator/clinician/researcher, she has authored over 60 publications and has received nearly 20 research grants and awards.
Kathy’s total commitment to serving others exemplifies “humanitarian to the nth power.” Quietly doing what she does best, her accomplishments have been remarkable.
She has devoted her career to community/public health nursing, as well as nursing persons with HIV/AIDS. She is a leader in clinical work with elderly people with AIDS, especially as the chairperson of the New York Association on HIV Over Fifty. At Hunter, she developed the first federally funded nursing subspecialty in HIV/AIDS care in the country. She also maintains an active nursing practice in community health, working at the Momentum AIDS Project in New York City as health educator, advocate and consultant. Through her efforts, HIV/AIDS content has been integrated into nursing school curricula throughout the United States.
She was a recent Fulbright Scholar, with the University of Kwa Zulu-Natal, in Durban, South Africa. In previous years she has selflessly sacrificed vacation time, traveling to South Africa at her own expense, to teach/train AIDS caregivers there.
Each year the Alumni Association at Hunter inducts graduates who have distinguished themselves into the Hall of Fame. On May 5, 2006, Dr. Nokes, deservedly, was so honored.
Kathy, with her partner of 27 years, Dorothy Hickey, lives in New York City and Stone Ridge. Δ
Nicole Ressa
Nicole Ressa, founding member and chair of the LGBTQ Community Center Membership Committee, is a recipient of a 2006 GLSEN-Hudson Valley Leadership Award.
She credits the role of her employer, Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley, in receiving this honor. As their Ulster County Education Coordinator, Nicole has done numerous staff training sessions and school workshops designed to combat homophobia.
The award presented on May 20, 2006, recognized her as one of those individuals whose efforts have demonstrated outstanding work in assuring that our schools are safe for all, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Congratulations! Δ