NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

5/01/2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University will award an honorary doctorate of humane letters to Cheryl Reese Wilson of Alexandria at its Spring Commencement Exercises Friday, May 5 at 10 a.m.

Wilson, the chief operating officer at Rapides Regional Medical Center, has been the driving force behind a successful partnership between NSU and Rapides Regional that has expanded health care training in central Louisiana.

"Cheryl Wilson is a visionary who saw the opportunity to improve health care in central Louisiana and worked to make it happen," said Northwestern President Dr. Randall J. Webb. "By providing training close to home, she knew more graduates would remain in the area and she had confidence that Northwestern would provide the best possible educational opportunity. We want to honor Cheryl because she has had a major impact on the future of healthcare in this area."

In 2001, Wilson was instrumental in developing funding to allow Northwestern to offer the Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology in Alexandria. Two years later, she took a leadership role in developing a partnership with NSU to provide students working toward the Bachelor of Science in Nursing the opportunity to do clinical training in Alexandria.

Through guidance provided by Wilson, she coordinated the effort with the College of Nursing to establish an extensive educational center in Alexandria to house both the radiologic technology and nursing programs. The facilities include a fully equipped 10 bed nursing laboratory, classrooms for nursing and radiology students, faculty offices and a computer lab.

"This is a wonderful honor, not only for me, but for my family as well," said Wilson. "My grandfather, Harry "Rags" Turpin, began a strong commitment to Northwestern State University through its athletic program during his tenure as head football coach and athletic director for 30 years until his retirement in 1956. I am proud to follow his footsteps and continue his work of developing students through quality educational experiences in the field of healthcare. The partnership between NSU and Rapides Regional has expanded the outstanding clinical programs of the College of Nursing and the radiologic technology program to enhance the healthcare system in Central Louisiana."

In 2002, Wilson was named to the NSU Alumni Hall of Distinction, the Long Purple Line and has been selected as a Woman of Achievement, Central Louisiana in 2001. The chief operating officer at Rapides Regional Medical Center since 1997, Wilson has also served as interim chief executive officer at Rapides and most recently at Dauterive Hospital in New Iberia. She has 25 years of progressive hospital management experience with HCA. From 1981 until 1997, she worked at Brownwood Regional Medical Center in Brownwood, Texas, where she was chief operating officer in her final two years.

Wilson earned a bachelor of arts in journalism and a master of arts in student personnel services at NSU. She received a master of science in hospital and health care administration at Trinity University.

During her career, Wilson has been active in numerous civic organizations. She is currently a member of the board of the Northwestern State University Foundation, the building committee of the Central Louisiana American Red Cross and serves as secretary of the HHT Foundation International.

A member of First United Methodist Church/ Pineville, she has served as past chairman of Board of Red Cross and campaign chair and on the Executive Committee of the United Way of Central Louisiana.

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