Professor Frank Hicks
All Stories

After overseeing the birth and rapid growth of the Carthage nursing program, Frank Hicks is leaving the College this month to take a senior faculty position closer to his Chicago home.

The director and professor of nursing will become chair of the Department of Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing in the College of Nursing at Rush University, where he previously developed and implemented a pair of master’s degree programs before coming to Carthage in 2014.

Here, Prof. Hicks coordinated the launch of the College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in 2015 and helped to create the RN-to-BSN program, which welcomes its first cohort in spring 2021. In just four years, nursing became the most popular major on campus, with 243 students in the program as of fall 2019.

“My time at Carthage has given me a deep appreciation for the liberal arts and its ability to develop good thinkers and problem-solvers, which is what we need in the health science professions,” he says.

He points to several highlights in his six years with the College, including:

  • the BSN program’s accreditation (by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) in 2018
  • the first graduating class in 2019
  • faculty members’ development “into excellent and dedicated educators who are embracing the program and making it their own”
  • the recent approval of the RN-to-BSN program, led by Professor Cheryl Petersen

“I have been honored to be a part of a variety of nursing events and ceremonies, and at each event I witnessed Dr. Hicks’ thorough preparation, steady leadership, and innovative programming skills,” says Professor Jackie Easley, dean for the Division of Professional Studies. “Thanks to Dr. Hicks and his entire team of faculty and staff in the Nursing Department, Carthage’s program is well-positioned to continue to grow and thrive, serving our southeastern Wisconsin community for many years to come.”

A recent fundraising initiative brought in more than $250,000 toward equipment, transportation, and scholarships for Carthage nursing students — including the Smeds Fellowship in Population Health, which is awarded to students who commit to tackle local health challenges. Edward and Alice Smeds, both 1957 alumni and ardent supporters of the program, established the fund and matched gifts toward it on Giving Day 2020.

Carthage provost David Timmerman has appointed Professor Trish Flannery as interim director of nursing. She has more than 25 years of clinical experience as an emergency department nurse, educator, and coordinator, as well as more than 15 years of experience as a paramedic.

“I feel very good about the state of the nursing program and department at Carthage,” Prof. Hicks says. “Together, I know Drs. Flannery and Petersen will lead the department to its next level of excellence.”

The new position at Rush will shorten his commute by more than an hour. His last day at Carthage is Aug. 15.