Death
Dr.
Barbara Lowery, Associate Provost and Professor of Nursing
Dr.
Barbara Lowery, Associate Provost and Independence Professor of
Nursing, died at Penn Medical Center, on October 10 at the age of
64. "Barbara has been one of our most beloved faculty members,
and I am sure you will miss her sage, steady advice and warm, engaging
personality as much as I will," said Provost Robert Barchi.
A
member of Penn's faculty since 1970, Dr. Lowery has been "a
tireless leader" in the School of Nursing, having served as
chair of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (1978-1984), Director
of the Center for Nursing Research (1986-1994), and Director of
the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Nurse Scholars Program (1986-1991)
and as Associate Dean for Research in the School (1990-1993).
Dr.
Lowery served on the President's Task Force on Women from 1970-71
and was one of the founders of WEOUP (Women for Equal Opportunity
at the University of Pennsylvania). She served as the president
of the Penn Chapter of AAUP from 1980-81. Dr. Lowery was the faculty
liaison to the University Trustees from 1981-83. She has been the
consummate University citizen, playing a leadership role in several
central offices including Interim Secretary of the University (1997),
Ombudsman (1984-86) and most recently, Associate Provost responsible
for faculty appointments, promotions and grievances. She also served
as Chair of the Faculty Senate (1994-95).
At
the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of the Faculty Senate on April
19, 1995, Dr. Gerald J. Porter, the then-Past Chair of the Senate,
made a motion to submit a tribute to Dr. Lowery who
"for
the past year, provided the Faculty Senate with strong leadership.
Through hard work and with an unerring sense of fairness she has
steered the Senate through sometimes contentious issues. In her
own quiet way she has been a vigorous advocate for the faculty
in consultations with the administration. Seeking no personal
fame she is firmly committed to the precept that the strength
of the University is its faculty."
"Beyond
her capable leadership and keen grasp of University policy and practices,
Barbara has been best known on our campus for her exceptional judgment,
her profound sense of fairness and her extraordinary grace under
pressure. She has left a legacy of leadership and strength of character
that we all aspire to. We have lost an extraordinary colleague and
friend," Dr. Barchi said.
Dr.
Afaf Meleis, Dean of the School of Nursing said, "The School
of Nursing mourns the loss of Barbara Lowery who was known for her
role in advancing psychiatric nursing science, but better known
by her nursing colleagues as a voice of reason, great integrity,
and compassion as an innovative thinker and problem-solver. Known
as a committed mentor for researchers, teachers, and clinicians,
both inside and outside the University, we will miss her scholarship
and her warm wisdom for a long time to come. However, she left with
us a legacy that will always remain and she will never be forgotten."
Dr.
Lowery took her B.S.N. magna cum laude, from Villanova in
1966, her M.S.N. at Penn in 1968 and her Ed.D. in educational psychology
from Temple in 1973. Villanova University named her a Distinguished
Alumna in 1985. She was a longtime fellow of the American Academy
of Nursing and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and was
elected in 1991 to the National Academy of Sciences' Institute
of Medicine.
Dr.
Lowery served as chair of the National Council of Nurse Researchers
(1987-89); was a member of the Philadelphia Mayor's Commission
on Mental Health (1982-83); was chair of the Invitational Conference
on Directions in Care of the Chronic Mentally Ill, NIMH (1983);
was chair of the Mental Health Behavioral Sciences Research Review
Committee, NIMH (1990); was a member of the Search Committee for
the Director of NIMH (1990-91).
Author
of over 40 papers, member of several editorial boards and participant
in more than 20 funded research and training projects, Dr. Lowery
was also the associate editor of Nursing Research (1978-83)
and was on the editorial review board of Archives of Psychiatric
Nursing (1985-present) and was an editorial consultant to Advances
in Nursing Science (1985-present) and was on the editorial review
board of Nursing Research (1978-present).
She
was a consultant in psychiatric nursing and nursing research in
Hawaii, the Peoples' Republic of China, Israel and Australia.
In
addition to her administrative responsibilities, Dr. Lowery--the
Independence Foundation Professor of Nursing since 1991-- "never
stopped teaching, something she loved and devoted herself fully
to" Dr. Barchi added. In 1979, she was the recipient of the
Lindback Award for Teaching Excellence. The Association of Women
Faculty and Administrators (AWFA) presented the Leonore Rowe Williams
Award to Dr. Lowery in 2000 "for providing a role model of
distinguished academic achievement and outstanding public service
at Penn for all women to emulate."
A
Barbara J. Lowery Scholarship Fund has been established; checks
made out to the fund should be addressed to: Barbara J. Lowery Scholarship
Fund, 420 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6096.
Dr.
Lowery is survived by her husband of 43 years, Donald; and two sisters,
Darlis Braddock and Nancy Bizup.
To
Report A Death: Almanac appreciates being
informed of the deaths of current and former faculty
and staff members, students, and other members of the
University community. Please send information or call
(215) 898-5274 or e-mail almanac@pobox.upenn.edu.
However, notices
of alumni deaths should be directed to the Alumni Records
Office at Room 545, Franklin Building, (215) 898-8136
or record@ben.dev.upenn.edu.
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Almanac, Vol. 49, No. 8, October 15, 2002
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