Dr. Anita Fields-Gold is definitely a Nursing Legend of SWLA. Dr. Anita Fields-Gold first came to McNeese as Director of the Nursing Department which was then housed in the College of Science. ln 1983, when the department of nursing became recognized as a college, she became the first dean and served until her retirement in 2000. ln 2018 she was recognized for her service to McNeese state university as Dean Emeritus of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. The nursing program achieved initial National League for Nursing accreditation in 1981 under her direction. ln 1987 McNeese entered into a formal memorandum of agreement to form the intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing and admitted the first graduate nursing students in 1989. ln 1992 Dr. Fields facilitated the establishment of the Associate of Science in Nursing and the planning and oversight of the construction of Hardtner Hall which was completed in 2000. During her tenure, she served Louisiana as the President of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and the chairman of the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Nursing Homes and has been active in multiple organizations including American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, and American Heart Association. She is a charter member of the Kappa Psi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau international Honor Society for Nursing and has been inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Dr. Fields-Gold has always been a strong advocate for public service and the use of technology in nursing education. She is a strong supporter of nursing faculty and encouraged me to pursue doctoral education from her alma mater, Texas Woman's University. Her leadership has propelled the nursing programs at McNeese forward through program and facility development. lt is an honor to nominate Dr. Fields-Gold for the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award.  

Sadly, Dr. Fields-Gold passed away three weeks after the celebration.